On paper, the process may seem simple: water is pumped to a different location. In real life, the distances between these two points can be affected by differences in elevation in the area, pressure requirements and solids in addition to storage capacity, control, electrical equipment, site restrictions as well as changes in the rate of flow.

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For Romtec Utilities, designing a pump station begins by defining those operating conditions rather than selecting equipment from a standard catalog. The project’s requirements can be used to develop preliminary designs and budgetary data.

Start by asking a simple question: What direction are we moving?

The technology changes instantly.

The flow of domestic sewage is subject to substantial fluctuations in the course of a day. The wastewater lift station is necessary when gravity conveyance is not or does not work. Engineers have to consider the following: expected inflow as well as peak condition, pumping capability, wet well behavior discharge requirements, and how the equipment is maintained and operated.

Industrial water has its own challenges. The fluids used in a processing or manufacturing facility may require caustic, oily, or heated with high temperature or pressure. Romtec Utilities creates industrial systems that are utilized in applications ranging from data centers, oil and gas facilities and food processing facilities, power generation, and pharmaceutical waste.

Rainfall can trigger a totally different operating cycle

Stormwater systems may be off the grid for long periods but then suddenly they have to deal with massive volumes in the course of a major storm.

A stormwater lift station linked with a basin for detention, for example, must work in conjunction with the larger drainage plan. The water that flows into the basin. Temporary storage is used to regulate the volume instantly. A pumping system takes the water it collects to an approved outlet.

Romtec Utilities provided this solution for the creation of an Norco business park in California. A pumping system was needed to empty the basin and discharge it into the stormwater network. The station was intended to function as a part of the drainage system for a particular development rather than as an independent part of the equipment.

“Package” Doesn’t Infer “Off the shelf”

A lot of people think that a system for pumping packages is merely a predetermined set of components.

Packaging is a method to link the most important components into a project-specific system. Pumps, valves, meters control, communications, structural elements, and more equipment can be selected around the required duty conditions.

It is especially useful for connecting a new system to an existing infrastructure. Industrial plants and existing municipal facilities might not have a lot of space to install or maintain well-maintained conditions. It could be necessary to adjust equipment around existing structures, pipes, electrical systems and schedules.

Capacity planning can have real-world consequences

When facilities grow in size, undersizing becomes a significant expense.

At Portland International Airport, Romtec Utilities provided the sewer interceptor lift station to support the PDX Next expansion. The station was developed to provide double the peak flow capacity of the prior station as the airport’s facilities increased.

This is a key aspect of engineering: design conditions should not only be a reflection of what the installation can handle in a typical afternoon. Engineers must know the conditions that occur during peak demand.

The job isn’t done until the Equipment arrives

Then, drawings and calculations will eventually become a functioning system. Coordination of installation and documentation are vital to long-term success.

Years after construction, the performance of engineered pumping system is assessed. The decisions taken during the initial design phase are evident when the flow increases, major storms arrive, or maintenance is required.

Romtec Utilities brings these two decisions together in order to develop a complete pumps solution for a specific project. It assists in turning equipment into infrastructure specifically designed for the conditions where it is utilized.