Wastewater Retrofits: Designing New Equipment Around Existing Infrastructure

The efficiency of a lift station can be assessed long before it’s an actual concrete structure that includes valves, pumps and piping. The design is determined by several factors including the flow calculations, elevation of the site the system pressure, water quality the peak conditions access to maintenance controls, and the future capacity.

When project managers are comparing the most effective lift station design The most important question isn’t who will design the pumps. The issue isn’t who is able to specify pumps, but rather, who is able to translate the site’s conditions and operational needs into a system that is practical to build and maintain.

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Gravity has Limits

Gravity is by far the most efficient means to transport wastewater. However, terrain and development patterns can not always be for this method. The new residential, commercial and industrial areas are usually too high or far away from the gravity sewer system.

The lift station is the system which transports the wastewater the next point of collection. However, designing one requires a thorough understanding of both normal operation and other situations that are less convenient, for instance, peak inflows, pump maintenance or equipment malfunction, or potential increases in demand.

The companies that are considered among the best wastewater engineers should therefore consider the whole conveyance issue instead of considering the station as an individual piece of equipment.

The existing infrastructure makes the puzzle More difficult

Not just is the new construction a challenge. Municipalities often have to replace or retrofit aging stations while keeping essential wastewater infrastructure in place.

Forcemains, wetwells and other existing components electric services and controls along with the site’s boundary, as well as downstream infrastructure can limit the new design. Engineers will have to determine what’s left or replaced, and what must be upgraded, and what new components are needed.

Romtec Utilities offers pumping solutions for private, municipal industrial, commercial and retrofit applications. Pumping systems are designed to meet the particular requirements of each project.

Stormwater follows different rules

The best stromwater system designers using the supplied search terminology must solve a different hydraulic problem. Stormwater systems may experience drastic changes in volume based on rainfall, drainage capacity and the discharge rate allowed.

A detention basin, for instance could require holding the runoff for a short time before pumping it at a controlled rate. Engineers must take into consideration the flow, head conditions, water quality requirements, flood-management targets, and the characteristics of the drainage system that is receiving.

Prefabrication can move work away From the Jobsite

The complexity of field assembly could create scheduling conflicts, mistakes in installation, change orders, and even delays. Romtec Utilities uses substantial prefabrication before equipment reaches the site of the project.

By completing more assembly and quality-control work within a controlled atmosphere, you can reduce the amount of construction required on the ground. Romtec Utilities’s project-based approach can speed up the duration required to set up certain types of installations.

The process of commissioning is essential element of engineering Success

The installation of all components does not guarantee a station to be stable. Romtec Utilities offers installation advisors to help with the construction process that includes starting up check of the control panel and pump operation, system testing and staff training. Documentation is also accessible to inform operators on how to maintain the system and to think about future expansion.

For owners searching for the top lift station engineers, this final step deserves consideration. An excellent engineering design should yield more than an acceptable set of drawings. The owner should be left with a functioning system with trained staff, helpful documentation, and equipment designed for the specific conditions that the station will encounter in its daily operations.

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