It could make engineering easier if all water came at the same rate.

It does not.

The amount of water that flows into the residential system fluctuates throughout the day. Commercial and industrial facilities may be operating at peak times. Stormwater conditions can change dramatically with the weather. The need for clean water also varies according to the application.

Therefore, the design of a pump station isn’t simply the matter of identifying a flow amount and then selecting the equipment capable of meeting it. Engineers need to be aware of what kind of environment the system is likely to be exposed to.

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Examine the Operating Conditions and Not Just the Maximum Capacity

The highest flow is crucial however, it is just one aspect of the station’s operations. Imagine that a wastewater treatment system was designed to handle a high flow at peak. For the most part the flow coming in is less. However, the station has to perform as it should during normal intervals.

This raises questions regarding wet-well dimensions as well as pump operation and control, head conditions and how equipment will respond to an ever-changing demand.

A properly engineered package pumping system brings these considerations together around the actual requirements of the site instead of treating maximum pump capacity as the entire design objective.

The rhythm of daily wastewater

During the life cycle of a wastewater lift station conditions for the influent may change.

The system must be able to collect water and operate its pumps according to the plan of control that is set for the station. This requires the structural dimensions, pumping gear, valves and pipes, as well as electrical components.

Other considerations for the specific site may enter the design. Romtec Utilities will incorporate any other systems like grinders, vaults and odor control devices in the event of need. It is cheaper to create a station around a specific project rather than using an identical configuration to every wastewater site.

Stormwater Changes More Rapidly

Stormwater is a completely different process. A stormwater facility can be quite quiet during dry conditions, but then experience a large inflow of water during a severe weather occasion. The station could be a part of a larger flood control strategy or be a treatment, detention or drainage plan.

Romtec Utilities evaluates factors including required flow rates, head conditions, size of the system as well as site requirements and environmental aspects when designing the systems.

A station for a commercial development may therefore look very different from one designed for municipal stormwater applications.

Both head conditions as well as flow are critical.

The issue of transporting 1,000 gallons is not the only engineering problem. Engineers also have to understand where the water is headed and the resistance that the pumping system is expected to face.

The head of the pump is affected by a variety of variables which include elevation variations, piping configurations, discharge conditions, and other system features.

This relation between flow and head is yet another reason why selecting a pump solely based on its rating isn’t enough. The technology of the pump and station’s configuration should be aligned to the conditions of hydraulics throughout the application.

Plan for the Conditions that the Station will Experiece

Romtec Utilities designs and develops customized pumping systems to address the requirements of wastewater treatment stormwater management clean water, industrial applications, boosters and many more. The process involves preliminary design plans, budgeting, set-ups systems, supplies for the system, documentation, testing and startup.

The concept behind this design is straightforward pumping systems can’t need to be able to operate for their entire life under a single set of conditions.

They must also consider the specific hydraulic requirements of the project, as well as changing flow, demand and demands. This is a fact that should be considered when designing a functional station.