Create a box around a lift station in a plan of civil engineering and it’s simple to think of it as an independent piece of equipment.
The water actually comes from somewhere and then pumped to the facility. Access, power, control access to the site as well as connections to the surrounding infrastructure are also important.
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
Let us take a brand new residential development as an illustration. The wastewater flows from the collection system towards the lift station. The flow conditions that enter the system and elevations at the site will help establish the type of water that the station will be expected to handle.
Once wastewater reaches the wet well, another set of engineering choices are made. Pumps, piping, valves control, structural parts and possibly auxiliary equipment have to suit the needs of the project.
Romtec Utilities is a wastewater system designer who designs systems that are tailored to the needs of every site that is industrial, commercial or municipal.
The specific approach for the project is vital since what happens downstream could change the goals of the pumping station.
Be sure to follow the water beyond the pumps
The engineering challenge doesn’t stop after the liquid is removed from the wetwell. The pumping system has to move it according to the conditions in the downstream system. The flow requirements and head conditions therefore influence pump selection and station configuration.
This connection is crucial when you are evaluating the most effective wastewater designers. A pump could have impressive specs on its own however its performance must to be able to function within the entire hydraulic system.
Romtec Utilities has the ability to design the structural elements that comprise mechanical components, electrical components, and communication systems for pumping station as a whole package. This allows the equipment to be integrated to meet the specifications of the specific project.
Stormwater is its own network of Connections
Stormwater creates a new infrastructure problem. Runoff from paved surfaces can be able to enter an infrastructure for collection and then pass through detention, drainage or flood management. Where pumping is required, the station can be considered a key element to the overall stormwater management strategy.
For companies looking for the best stromwater system designers should consider the conditions of the site flow rates, head requirements and environmental concerns, as well as the surrounding stormwater plan are analyzed in conjunction.
Romtec Utilities offers customized stormwater pumps for residential, industrial, commercial and municipal projects, rather than having a standard setup.
Coordination Extends Above Ground Too
Some interfaces don’t require piping. Electrical service has to support the equipment. Control and communication systems should be adapted to project requirements. Contractors should be able to access the appropriate plans and documentation. For startup, installation and subsequent services, access to physical space could be required.
It can be a complicated project that has multiple participants and disciplines, so a clear system document is necessary. Romtec Utilities can provide complete project plans and documents, along with support for its systems during the initial phase of testing, commissioning and startup.
View Outside the Station Boundary
If the connections to external components of a lift aren’t properly thought of, a well-engineered lift station might remain a component of it’s a poorly planned project.
A better perspective of design follows the water. Where does it originate? In what conditions does it reach the station? What must happen while it’s there? What happens when it’s out? What infrastructure enables the entire process?
By answering these questions, the design of a lift station is more than a simple piece of equipment. It’s now component of infrastructure engineering.