The wastewater lift station in an urban municipality is old. The pumps are nearing the expiration date of their service life span, the controls require modernization, as well as the access hatch has deteriorated. While the concrete wetwell is solid structurally, it requires to be upgraded.
Do you think the station should be demolished and rebuilt? Not necessarily. One of the most important questions to ask is whether or not the current infrastructure can support an efficient pumping system that is in line with modern standards without compromising reliability and capacity.
Image credit: romtecutilities.com
The retrofitting of a pumping station that is carefully designed can save valuable infrastructure while also replacing components no longer meeting the operational standards.
Start With the Structure Nobody is Trying to Replace.
It’s expensive and time-consuming to replace the wet-well because it is buried in the ground, connected to pipes, and is necessary to collect wastewater.
The concrete structure can be retained to make it easier to dig and build.
The degrading of the area around the access hatch might make this difficult. Romtec Utilities has identified wet-well hatch replacement as a crucial retrofit. Instead of affixing a new hatch to concrete that is deteriorating, replacing the entire top layer could provide a more durable solution. This will allow for greater access to the structure, and extend its lifespan, without needing to completely rebuild the wet well.
A better pump alters the engineering
If a neighborhood in the area has grown substantially since its initial lift station was constructed. It’s possible that the current pumps aren’t adequate to handle the increase in the flow of wastewater.
A station’s upgrade may be accompanied by higher horsepower pumps. However, the choice of equipment cannot be made independently of the rest of the system. Pumps that have higher horsepower might require modifications to discharge elbows, piping and pipework along with electrical controls, valves and other parts.
Engineers also need to evaluate the requirements of the hydraulic system, including the flow rate and the total dynamic head. A larger pump installed without taking a look at these requirements could cause problems in operation instead of resolving them. Planning for future expansion during initial design will allow for a much simpler process to add more capacity later on.
Make sure that the wastewater is moving during construction.
Retrofitting an existing pump station may present the challenge of a completely new one. In contrast to other replacement projects, the station will require continued operation throughout construction.
Contractors continue to work and the wastewater will continue to flow. According to the project it is possible that a temporary bypass pumping system may be necessary to maintain service as the existing equipment is taken down or new equipment is installed.
Romtec Utilities took on this challenging task at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Brunswick, Georgia.
The work involved replacing two of the old wastewater lift stations and ensuring the operation of the facility. Specific engineering for the site and packaged replacement systems and bypass pumping strategies helped make room for the existing station footprints as well as operational requirements. This illustrates why the sequence of construction is important to consider prior to installation.
When the Alternative is the Best Alternative
Each station is not able to be restored. A severely deteriorated wet well, inadequate structural capacity, or major changes in hydraulic requirements may make sewer lift station replacement more appropriate than modifying the existing installation.
It is important that the decision taken takes into consideration structural conditions along with equipment compatibility, accessibility to construction as well in the long-term requirements for operation. Romtec Utilities starts retrofitting and replacing projects by identifying components to be kept and those that will need to be replaced.
The business will then design specific engineering plans for the site as well as budget estimates as well as preliminary designs. Prefabricated parts can help to organize installation, and reduce construction on site.
The Project Isn’t Complete until the Pumps are Beginning
The modern lift station must work as a whole. Prior to returning a lift station to normal service, startup testing, commissioning, as well as testing of equipment is required to verify that all pumps, controls and the related equipment function as designed.
Maintenance and operation manuals and also training of operators, are vital. Maintenance personnel must know the new equipment, operating procedure, and the documentation prior to taking over for the station.
A successful retrofit helps preserve the infrastructure that is still valuable and addresses the shortcomings that forced modernization.
For facilities owners and municipal authorities it is important to look beyond immediate repairs. The most successful projects are those that integrate new equipment into existing structures to keep essential services running during construction. Also, they prepare the pumping system so that it can continue service for a long period of time.
How Future Sewer Flows Influence Current Equipment Decisions
The wastewater lift station in an urban municipality is old. The pumps are nearing the expiration date of their service life span, the controls require modernization, as well as the access hatch has deteriorated. While the concrete wetwell is solid structurally, it requires to be upgraded.
Do you think the station should be demolished and rebuilt? Not necessarily. One of the most important questions to ask is whether or not the current infrastructure can support an efficient pumping system that is in line with modern standards without compromising reliability and capacity.
Image credit: romtecutilities.com
The retrofitting of a pumping station that is carefully designed can save valuable infrastructure while also replacing components no longer meeting the operational standards.
Start With the Structure Nobody is Trying to Replace.
It’s expensive and time-consuming to replace the wet-well because it is buried in the ground, connected to pipes, and is necessary to collect wastewater.
The concrete structure can be retained to make it easier to dig and build.
The degrading of the area around the access hatch might make this difficult. Romtec Utilities has identified wet-well hatch replacement as a crucial retrofit. Instead of affixing a new hatch to concrete that is deteriorating, replacing the entire top layer could provide a more durable solution. This will allow for greater access to the structure, and extend its lifespan, without needing to completely rebuild the wet well.
A better pump alters the engineering
If a neighborhood in the area has grown substantially since its initial lift station was constructed. It’s possible that the current pumps aren’t adequate to handle the increase in the flow of wastewater.
A station’s upgrade may be accompanied by higher horsepower pumps. However, the choice of equipment cannot be made independently of the rest of the system. Pumps that have higher horsepower might require modifications to discharge elbows, piping and pipework along with electrical controls, valves and other parts.
Engineers also need to evaluate the requirements of the hydraulic system, including the flow rate and the total dynamic head. A larger pump installed without taking a look at these requirements could cause problems in operation instead of resolving them. Planning for future expansion during initial design will allow for a much simpler process to add more capacity later on.
Make sure that the wastewater is moving during construction.
Retrofitting an existing pump station may present the challenge of a completely new one. In contrast to other replacement projects, the station will require continued operation throughout construction.
Contractors continue to work and the wastewater will continue to flow. According to the project it is possible that a temporary bypass pumping system may be necessary to maintain service as the existing equipment is taken down or new equipment is installed.
Romtec Utilities took on this challenging task at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Brunswick, Georgia.
The work involved replacing two of the old wastewater lift stations and ensuring the operation of the facility. Specific engineering for the site and packaged replacement systems and bypass pumping strategies helped make room for the existing station footprints as well as operational requirements. This illustrates why the sequence of construction is important to consider prior to installation.
When the Alternative is the Best Alternative
Each station is not able to be restored. A severely deteriorated wet well, inadequate structural capacity, or major changes in hydraulic requirements may make sewer lift station replacement more appropriate than modifying the existing installation.
It is important that the decision taken takes into consideration structural conditions along with equipment compatibility, accessibility to construction as well in the long-term requirements for operation. Romtec Utilities starts retrofitting and replacing projects by identifying components to be kept and those that will need to be replaced.
The business will then design specific engineering plans for the site as well as budget estimates as well as preliminary designs. Prefabricated parts can help to organize installation, and reduce construction on site.
The Project Isn’t Complete until the Pumps are Beginning
The modern lift station must work as a whole. Prior to returning a lift station to normal service, startup testing, commissioning, as well as testing of equipment is required to verify that all pumps, controls and the related equipment function as designed.
Maintenance and operation manuals and also training of operators, are vital. Maintenance personnel must know the new equipment, operating procedure, and the documentation prior to taking over for the station.
A successful retrofit helps preserve the infrastructure that is still valuable and addresses the shortcomings that forced modernization.
For facilities owners and municipal authorities it is important to look beyond immediate repairs. The most successful projects are those that integrate new equipment into existing structures to keep essential services running during construction. Also, they prepare the pumping system so that it can continue service for a long period of time.
Don't hesitate to contact us any time.