A municipality is home to an aging wastewater lift station. The pumps are at the maximum lifespan and the controls are dated, and the access hatch is deteriorated. The concrete wet well is sturdy and solid.
Do you think the station should be destroyed and rebuilt? Not necessarily. It is essential to determine if the infrastructure in place can support the modern pumping system without compromising future capacity, reliability, or maintenance accessibility.
Image credit: romtecutilities.com
Retrofitting a pump station can be a fantastic way to preserve infrastructure and replace components that have become obsolete.
Start with the Structures Nobody Would Like To Replace
The wet well is often one of the most costly and disruptive components to replace since it is buried, connected to existing piping, and vital for wastewater collection.
Retaining a concrete structure that is still usable could reduce the excavation and construction.
The loss of space around the access hatch might complicate this decision. Romtec Utilities identifies wet well hatch replacement as a common retrofit requirement. It might be more reliable to remove the top slab instead of installing a brand new hatch to a deteriorated concrete. This method can increase accessibility and enhance the utility of the structure without rebuilding the complete wet well.
An improved pump can alter the way engineers work.
Consider a neighborhood that has seen a substantial increase in population since the construction of the lift station. It’s possible that current pumps aren’t adequate to handle the increase in flows of wastewater.
Pumps with more horsepower may be used to upgrade the pumping station, however the equipment should also be incorporated into the system. More powerful pumps may require changes to elbows for discharge, pipes, valves, electrical controls and other parts.
Engineers must also consider the requirements for hydraulics of the system, including the flow rate as well as the dynamic head total. Installing a larger pump without taking a look at these requirements could cause operational problems rather than solving the issues. The planning for future expansions at the time of the initial design phase will allow for a much simpler process to build in the future.
Check that the waste water is moving during construction
Retrofitting a wastewater pumping station is a particular challenge that isn’t encountered by other projects. The station may need to be operational during construction.
Even while contractors are working. In the case of a project it is possible that temporary bypass pumps will be required to keep the service until old equipment is removed and new components are installed.
Romtec Utilities faced this kind of problem in the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center at Brunswick, Georgia.
The project consisted of replacing two aging wastewater lift stations while maintaining operations at the facility. The project was able to accommodate the existing footprints of stations as well as operational requirements by using local-specific engineering and modular replacement systems. This is a good example of the reasons why the sequence of construction is important to consider prior to installation.
If replacement is the best alternative
Each station is not able to be rehabilitated. A severely deteriorated wet well, inadequate structural capacity, or major changes in hydraulic requirements may make sewer lift station replacement more appropriate than modifying the existing installation.
In making a decision, it is essential to think about the structural condition of the building, its compatibility with equipment, access to construction, service continuity and long-term requirements. Romtec Utilities starts retrofitting and replacing projects by identifying the components that are to be kept as well as those that require to be replaced.
From there, the business designs site-specific engineering solutions as well as preliminary designs and budgetary estimates. Prefabricated components are also useful to facilitate installation and reduce certain on-site demands.
The project won’t be finished until the pumps start
The modernized lift station should be able to function as a system. Prior to returning it back for regular maintenance, start-up testing and commissioning helps ensure that the pumps, controls, and associated equipment perform according to the specifications of the design.
Training for operators and operation and maintenance manuals are equally important. Maintenance personnel must be familiar with the latest equipment as well as operational procedures, as well as the manuals before they assume charge of the station.
A successful retrofit preserves the infrastructure and addresses the issues that forced modernization.
For facilities owners and municipal authorities, that means looking beyond immediate repairs. The most successful plan is one that integrates the new equipment with existing structures, ensures vital service during construction, and then prepares the pumping system for years of continual operation.