If you draw circles around the lift station in a civil map it is easy to see it as an element of self-contained equipment.
In actuality, water is brought in from somewhere, runs through the station, then goes on to another location. Access, power, control access to the station structural elements and connections to the infrastructure around are also crucial.
Image credit: romtecutilities.com
For project teams searching for the best lift station designers, one useful question is whether the engineering considers those interfaces not merely what happens inside the station.
Begin to go upstream of the Wet Well
Take a look at a housing development. The wastewater flows through the collection systems towards the lift station. The station’s capacity is determined by the inflow flow and elevation of the site.
Once wastewater reaches the wet well, another set engineering decisions begin. The valves, pumps, piping controls, structural components and possibly additional equipment should be designed to fit the application.
Romtec Utilities is a wastewater design company that creates systems to meet the particular needs of each location regardless of whether it is industrial, commercial, or municipal.
That project-specific approach matters because changing the process upstream could alter what the pumping facility must accomplish.
Keep an eye on the water beyond the Pumps
The engineering challenge doesn’t stop even after the liquid exits the wetwell. The pumping system must move the liquid against the hydrodynamic conditions of the downstream system. Head and flow conditions are required. determine the choice of pump and station arrangement.
That connection is particularly important in assessing the best wastewater design. The specs of a pump are amazing, but their performance must be logical within the hydraulic system in general.
Romtec Utilities is able to develop all the components of an entire pumping plant. This includes the structure and the mechanical, electronic and the communication as a package. This assists in coordinating the equipment needed for the project.
Stormwater is a network that is its own
Stormwater is an unique infrastructure puzzle. Runoff can enter the system of collection via well-constructed surfaces and move on through treatment, detention or drainage infrastructure. Stations that require pumping are part of a wider stormwater management plan.
It is essential for businesses seeking the most efficient stormwater engineers to take into account the site conditions, the rates of flow, head requirements, environmental aspects and the surrounding stormwater plans.
Romtec Utilities supplies customized stormwater pumping systems for commercial, residential industrial, municipal and projects rather than relying on one system for every application.
Coordination Extends Above Ground Too
Not all interfaces require pipes. Electrical service is essential to power equipment. Communication and control systems must be adapted to project requirements. Contractors should have the correct plans and documents. Installation, startup and service could require physical access.
These connections could involve multiple disciplines and project stakeholders, which makes detailed documentation of the system particularly important. Romtec Utilities provides complete plan sets, along with project documentation and supports its systems during starting, testing, and commissioning.
View Outside the Station Boundary
If the external connections of a lift aren’t taken into consideration, a properly-designed lift station could still be an element of it’s a poorly planned project.
A better perspective of design takes into account the water. Where did it come from? How do they get it to the station? What happens while it’s there? Where will it go? What infrastructure is in place to allow the whole process to function?
These answers change the design of lift stations from a simple equipment exercise to a complicated infrastructure design.
