What is a pumping station ?

 

What is a Pumping Station ?

A pumping station also know as a pumping system, is an intermediate storage / collecting chamber incorporating pumpsets which transfer either the foul or surface water to a local drain, manhole, or sewer.

A pumping station is used where a normal gravity system cannot be, either because there is insufficient gravity fall over a distance (1:40 minimum is recommended) or the common collecting point is lower than the sewer.

Examples of applications using a pumping station:

Basement flat, utility room or en-suite,
Underground car-park,
Below ground restaurant, gymnasium etc,
Below ground plantroom,
Dwelling located at bottom of garden and sewer is at the front of main property,
Industrial estate in remote location or away from main road / sewer drain,
New housing development in remote location or away from main road / sewer drain.

A pumping station can be various forms or configurations either:
Wet well – underground storage chamber accessible via manhole cover incorporating submersible pump(s)
Dry well – A stand-alone storage tank which sits on a concrete base with pumpset(s) located adjacent to the tank

Generally pumping stations have one or two pumps operating on:
Duty only,
Duty and standby basis (standby pump is a backup in the event of duty pump failing),
Duty and assist basis (each pump is sized for 50% of the estimated flow rate required).

In all cases the pump(s) are controlled via the water level in the tank using more commonly float switches or ultrasonic level control.

The storage tank or pumping chamber is sized to suit the following criteria:

  1. Provide a buffer to meet the estimated daily inflow i.e 24 hour foul storage to meet Building Regulations or expected rainfall from serving area.
  2. Of sufficient depth to meet item 1, preferably below required invert level (inlet pipe to PS)
  3. Minimise stop / starts of pumpset(s) over a 24 hour period.

 

Pump(s) will be selected to suit the following criteria:

  1. Heavy duty or light duty construction depending of application i.e single domestic use, housing estate, commercial hotel or school etc.
  2. Solids handling capacity to suit size of foul / sewage application – Generally the larger the better i.e 50mm, 60mm, 75mm, 100mm soft solids handling, to minimise risk of blockages within pump casing.
  3. Flow rate - depending on size of application, water authority consent to pump to their drain / sewer, if a requirement.
  4. Estimated pump head – normally in ‘metres head’ – calculated from a combination of static head (invert level to sewer invert) and frictional head or losses in discharge pipework from pumpset(s).
  5. Power supply available, 230v 1ph or 415v 3ph.

 

Southern Pump Services technical staff have many years of pumping experience between them and can select the correct equipment for any application you have.

Please download and complete our general pumping station enquiry form and email / fax back, or call us on the main office number. You will get through to a technical person straight away, no receptionist or answer phone service.

Should you require further information regarding any of the products or services we offer, or to arrange a sales appointment, call: 020 8991 6650 or e-mail sales@spse.co.uk

If you have a pumpstation or pumping equipment requirement and you know what you are looking for click here if you are unsure complete our online pump station enquiry form here, we can provide a proposal please remember to complete all fields.

Alternatively if you would like one of our friendly, experienced team to make contact with you, complete and submit our request a call back form by clicking here.

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