Create a box for a lift station on a civil plane and it’s simple to imagine it as an independent piece of equipment.
The water is actually pumped from somewhere and then pumped to the station. Access to power, control, access to the site as well as connections to infrastructure surrounding are all 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.
Start to go upstream from the Wet Well
Think about a development for residential use. The wastewater flows through the system of collection towards the lift station. The station’s capacity is determined by incoming stream and the elevation of site.
Once wastewater reaches the wet well, a second set of engineering decisions begins. Pipes and pumps, valves and controls elements, and maybe auxiliary components must suit the purpose.
Romtec Utilities is a wastewater design company that creates systems to meet the specific needs of each site which may be industrial, commercial or municipal.
The project-specific approach is important because the way that things are done upstream could alter the goals that the pumping facility has to do.
Continue to follow the water out of the Pumps
The engineering problem does not end even after the liquid exits the wetwell. The pumping mechanism must move it to meet the conditions in the downstream system. The required flow and head requirements therefore influence pump selection and station configuration.
This is particularly important in evaluating the top wastewater design firms. It’s not enough for a pump to boast impressive specifications by itself. It should also perform efficiently within the hydraulic system.
Romtec Utilities is able to create all the components which make up the pumping plant, which includes the structure, the mechanical, the electronic and the communication in a complete package. This assists in coordinating all the components of the project.
Stormwater has its own network of connections
Stormwater provides a different aspect of the infrastructure problem. Runoff may enter an infrastructure system for collection through well-developed surfaces, and then travel through treatment, detention or drainage infrastructure. The station serves as a link in the larger stormwater strategy in the event that pumping is required.
If companies are in search of the top stormwater system design experts it is important to evaluate the conditions of the site, flow rate requirements for head and head, as well as environmental considerations.
Romtec Utilities supplies customized stormwater pumping systems for residential, commercial 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 must support the equipment. Control and communication systems need to be modified to suit the needs of the project. Contractors need plans and documents. Physical access may be needed to install, start-up, and then later for service.
This can be a complex project that has multiple participants and disciplines, so an organized system documentation is essential. Romtec Utilities offers complete plans and project documents. It also supports the systems from startup to commissioning and testing.
View Outside the Station Boundary
If the external connections of a lift aren’t properly considered, a well-engineered lift station might still be part if a poorly coordinated project.
Water gives a different perspective on design. Where is it from? What is the best way to get it to the station? What will happen once it’s there? What happens when it’s out? What infrastructure is needed to support the whole process?
If you answer these questions, you transform lift station design from an exercise in equipment to an engineering project for infrastructure.