Wastewater Pump Stations 101: Working With Municipal Authorities

The design and construction of most wastewater pump/lift stations require review, inspection and approval by municipal authorities. In residential, commercial and industrial developments the municipal sewage agency will usually take ownership of the lift station after it is completed. As a result, communities don’t accept just any pumping system; there is often a lengthy specification with functional, structural, mechanical, electrical and communication requirements.

Fast design review, installation and approval help everyone. In the case of a residential, commercial or industrial development, the municipality probably won’t issue building permits until the lift station is completed. The challenge is to submit a design that meets all the community’s requirements and can be constructed quickly. To expedite approval by the agency, Romtec ensures that each lift station is designed, supplied and installed per the approved specification.

Frequently, municipalities, are also in a hurry to get pumping systems in place and operational. There can be many factors such as existing sewer lines that must tie into the new pump station, construction in streets and system upgrades to meet environmental requirements.

Efficient process to meet all sewer agency requirements

Romtec Utilities streamlines the sewage lift station process, saving time and money, while providing complete sewage pumping systems of the highest quality and value. Romtec assists developers, consulting engineers and public works agencies by providing complete pumping system design, manufacturing, delivery and installation. Romtec Utilities consults with local sewer authorities to incorporate their lift station design standards. Requirements, which vary from agency to agency, include factors such as:

• Peak design flow and peaking factor for wastewater flow to station
• Structural design to meet uplift, seismic load and other requirements
• Flow metering to measure effluent pumped to wastewater treatment
• Standby electrical generator (permanent on-site or portable plug-in) to ensure uninterrupted station operation
• Lining or coating of the concrete wet well, if applicable, for corrosion protection
• Odor control system to reduce production of hydrogen sulfide gas and related odor
• Building or shelter to house electrical controls, generator and other equipment

Excavation day: the first or last step?

Depending on how you look at it, the day that excavation for the new pumping system begins can be seen as the first day of lift station construction, but it also marks the last step in the pump station design review and approval process. Municipalities want the highest quality wastewater pump stations for the public, and they rightfully enforce many requirements to ensure they get the best. Romtec Utilities is pleased to work closely with sewer authorities and developers to ensure their new sewage lift station is correctly designed and supplied with all the right equipment and function, and that the complete package pump station is installed with the greatest quality and speed possible.