Pump station problem solving
Out of sight, out of mind. Why spend money on what the customer never see’s. Who’s interested in the specification or design of a pump station which is buried underground?
Not an uncommon attitude. Could even be classed as human nature. So whilst a whole building development may be totally reliant on a pumping station, cost rather than technical suitability and reliability is often the governing factor in the selection process.
To be fair, how does a developer know what pumps to select. His previous developments may have all been connected directly to the mains drainage. Now he has a scheme needing a sewage pumping system and a variety of quotations to consider. He will be confronted with a choice for example of Macerators as against Conventional submersible sewage pumps. Which is best for his development? Both may be technically compliant with Building Regulations.
Macerators will pump through a small diameter pipe whilst Conventional pumps need a larger 80 or 100 mm pumping main. There is little difference in pumping equipment capitol cost. But for a developer installing a smaller diameter pumping main can offer substantial saving in both material and civil works costs.
Which equipment will he choose? Probably the Macerator pump system.
What is actually the best solution for his customer, the future house owners? No doubt the Conventional sewage pumps
Our Advice, if you can avoid Macerators pumps, do so. Especially if you only have a single phase electricity supply. Due to the relatively low
starting torque of single phase motors, they will stall comparatively easilycompared to three phase units. Macerators have cutting elements and fine clearances which once slightly worn will tear rather than cut the pumped product, which causes binding and jamming of the pump. By comparison Conventional sewage pumps pump waste without cutting hence the requirement for larger diameter pipes. But with large clearances and varied impellor designs these units will cost less to maintain and will prove far more reliable.
We never cease to be surprised at the poor design, type of equipment and poor quality installations that we come across, even on high profile commercial or residential schemes. If you have a pumping system that’s always failing or costing a small fortune to maintain Contact us. We can probably identify the cause and provide a solution that will solve your problem.