Wet wells are now a thing of the past

The most ​dangerous ​phrase in ​language is "​we've ​always done it ​this way". When ​it comes to ​pumping sewage ​this is not ​only true, it ​is dangerous if you don't keep up to date on the latest technologies. Visit a lift station or pump station in a sanitary sewer network and you will find a wet well with submersible pumps, a valve chamber and sometimes a grinder upstream of the wet well to prevent large debris from entering the pump and causing clogs or severe damage to impellers and other components of pumps.  Since the inception of sewage pumping there has been a wet well. There are many problems associated with a wet well that we are to well aware of - odor, gases, clogs and now " flushables".

Today, however, we have another option. If you are involved in any aspect of a   wastewater lift  station   and are older than age 30, you may be relying on outdated technology and data.

Below is a quick test that will evaluate your knowledge and determine if you are keeping up to date on the latest technologies.

If you are responsible  for managing, authorizing, justifying the expense, specifying, installing, making a profit, or operating lift station pumps are you aware that:

• The modern lift station no longer requires a wet well.
• The modern lift station no longer needs a valve vault.
• The modern lift station no longer uses float switches.
• The modern lift station no longer uses trash baskets.
• The modern lift station no longer uses bar screens and rakes.
• The modern lift station no longer needs a grinder or macerator.
• The modern lift station no longer emits odors.
• The modern lift station no longer corrodes or rusts.
• The modern lift station no longer has issues with Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG).
• The modern lift station has pumps that clean themselves.
• The modern lift station ends wet well cleaning forever.
• The modern lift station has a stone and grit trap that is easily serviced if needed.
• The modern lift station is managed remotely via desktop, laptop, or smartphone.
• The modern lift station allows impellers to be changed in 15 minutes if needed.
• The modern lift station reduces the need for site visits.
• The modern lift station will allow motors to start and stop up to 150 times per hour.
• The modern lift station will allow motors to run dry for up to 150 hours.
• The modern lift station will typically pay for itself within 5 years.
• The modern lift station can easily be retrofitted in an existing wet well.

Since 2003 Western European countries ( France, Portugal, Spain and others)  have had this  technology available to them.   With over 1500 installations operating people are seeing the benefits of the modern lift station.

 There is more, but why would you not want to have an easier, less costly installation, and continue to use the old wet well system and the submersible pump types that have been specified since the 1930's.

It is time to rethink how we pump sewage and other wastewater and get away from " how we've always done it" to how we should do it today. 

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Taxonomy

• Centrifugal Pumps & Pumping Systems
• Sewage Treatment
• Industrial Wastewater Treatment
• Wastewater Treatment
• Wastewater Collection
• Sewage
• Wastewater Treatment Plant Design
• Water & Wastewater
• Water & Wastewater Treatment
• Water & Wastewater