Create a box around a lift station on a civil plane and it’s easy to imagine it as an independent piece of equipment.
In actuality, water is brought in from somewhere, goes through the station, then goes on to another location. Access, power, control access to the station structural elements and connections with surrounding infrastructure are also crucial.
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 move upstream of the Wet Well
Consider a new development of residential homes as an example. The wastewater moves through the system of collection towards the lift station. The capacity of the station is determined by the inflow flow and elevation of the site.
After the water is wet, another set if engineering decisions are taken. The piping and pumps, the valves and controls, the structural elements, and perhaps other components should be suited to the application.
Romtec Utilities is a wastewater system designer that designs systems to meet the specific needs of each location which may be municipal, commercial or industrial.
This project-specific approach is crucial because changing what happens upstream can alter the goals that the pumping facility needs to accomplish.
Keep an eye on the water beyond the Pumps
The issue does not stop after the liquid has left the well. The pumping system is required to move the liquid to meet the water flow conditions within the downstream system. The pump configuration and flow requirements are determined by the required head and flow conditions.
This is particularly crucial when it comes to assessing the best wastewater designers. The specs of a pump are impressive, but their effectiveness must be considered within the entire hydraulic system.
Romtec Utilities has the ability to design the structural components including mechanical components, electrical components, as well the communication systems for pumping station as a whole package. This enables the system to be in sync with the requirements established for the particular project.
Stormwater is a network that has its own connections
Stormwater is a unique infrastructure puzzle. Runoff may enter a collection system through a surface that has been developed and later move through the drainage, treatment, detention or flood-management infrastructure. If pumping is needed, the station can be considered a key element to the overall stormwater management strategy.
It is crucial for companies looking for the most effective water designers to think about the specific conditions on the site, the flow rates, the head needs, the environmental concerns as well as the plans for stormwater management.
Romtec Utilities supplies customized stormwater pumping systems for residential, commercial industrial, municipal, and residential projects, rather than relying on a single configuration for every project.
Coordination Extends Above Ground Too
There are many interfaces that do not involve the use of piping. Electrical services must be able to support the equipment. Control and communication systems must meet the requirements of the project. Contractors must have plans and documentation. In the case of installation, startup or subsequent services, access to physical space may be required.
This is a difficult project that requires multiple participants and different disciplines, therefore having a clear and concise system document is vital. Romtec Utilities provides complete plan sets as well as associated documentation for projects and can support its systems through startup, testing, and commissioning.
Look Beyond the Station Boundary
If the connections to external components of a lift aren’t properly taken into consideration, a properly-designed lift station can still be an element of a poorly coordinated project.
The water is a good design guide. Where is it from? In what conditions does it reach the station? What happens once it’s there? Where will it go? What infrastructure is required to allow the entire process to function?
If you answer these questions, you transform the concept of a lift station equipment exercise into infrastructure engineering.