Pumping Stations

A package pump station is a complete waste management system comprising of...

• A chamber
• Pumps
• Pipework
• Valves
• Control panel
• Level sensors

... all pre-assembled so that the unit is ready for installation upon delivery. Package pumping stations are primarily used in the private sector and are not generally adopted by the water authority. Package pump stations are available in various sizes to suit the flow, head and solids handling requirements of different applications.

Adoptable pumping stations are waste management systems that are designed and built to the specification of the adopting authority and Design Construction Guidance, this is either a Water Company (such as Severn Trent Water) or a NAV (such as Icosa Water Services Limited). Once installed and commissioned adoptable stations become the property of the local Water Authority or NAV, who assume responsibility for its operation and maintenance.

Package pumping stations and adoptable pumping stations have the same purpose: collecting wastewater and discharging it to an appropriate outlet, such as a sewer network or outfall. However they are designed and built differently and serve different kinds of applications.

Package: A chamber pre-assembled with pumps, valves and pipework, ready for immediate installation once delivered to site. Package station design must comply with UK water, building and electrical regulations for safety and efficiency. They are available on short lead times and come in a range of sizes, internal components (such as pumps, valves and level sensors) can often be changed to suit the needs of different applications. Package pumping stations are the responsibility of the site owner, this includes operation and maintenance costs.

Adoptable: Adoptable pumping stations are designed and built to comply with Design Construction Guidance and any addendums made by the Water Company or NAV that will be adopting the system. The adoptable pumping station process is typically longer than package stations, with a longer installation, a mandatory pre-adoption maintenance period (usually 12 months) and the final handover and adoption process. Once completed, the Water Company or NAV are then responsible for managing and maintaining the station.

Want to learn more? Read our guide How-to: Select an Adoptable or Private Pump Station.

T-T has specialised in the provision of package and adoptable pumping stations since the 1970s. The T-T Pumping Stations team consists of expert designers and engineers, supported by our in-house manufacturing facilities that allow us to control the entire pump station process from start to finish, simplifying what can often be a complex and stressful process.

With our BBA-approved range of package pumping stations designed to suit any size site, and extensive experience in providing adoptable pump stations, T-T Pumping Stations are undoubtedly the best choice for the provision of your waste management solutions.

Pumping stations can handle different materials based on their design, including sewage, rainwater/stormwater and commercial and industrial waste:

• Sewage pumping stations – Contain pumps designed to handle sewage waters, either as a whole with minimal hydraulic interference (e.g. with vortex impellers) or with cutters, grinders or macerators to reduce the size of solids prior to pumping or discharge.
• Storm/surface water pumping stations – Less focussed on solids handling, designed to efficiently provide the required flow rate from the station to the discharge connection to prevent flooding.
• Commercial/industrial pump station – Either of the above examples can work depending on what matter is being pumped. Some industrial applications may require chemically resistant materials or ATEX-rated pumps for safe operation.

Nothing! The terms pumping station and lift station both refer to the same thing – a waste management unit that transports sewage, surface and other waste waters to an appropriate outlet.

A comprehensive pump maintenance schedule, including electrical, mechanical and hygiene services, is needed to ensure long-term reliability and energy efficiency while reducing the risk of breakdowns and the need for emergency callouts.

All pump station maintenance must be carried out by suitably qualified and competent engineers due to the associated risks.

During a pump station service, our engineers will complete the following:

• Clean and empty the tank
• Check for and remove blockages
• Inspect for defects e.g. broken pipes, pump seals, stuck float switch or a corroded impeller
• Test water alarms, battery backup systems and telemetry systems
• Test and check all operating control panels
• Perform electrical insulation resistance tests for longevity

The best way to ensure your pumping station operates effectively between services is to ensure only three things are flushed down the toilet, pee, poo and toiler paper.

Pump ragging and pipe blockages are caused by non-flushable items being put down sinks and toilets, such as fats, grease, sanitary products, nappies, wet wipes and more. Educating users on proper disposal methods helps to prevent issues between services. Check out our handy Don’t Rush to Flush leaflet for more information.

New noises and strong odours can also indicate an issue – pay attention to your station and schedule a call-out if you suspect an issue, waiting for a breakdown can lead to extensive environmental damage and legal repercussions.

There are several key components to package pumping station assembly, and each requires careful consideration to ensure the final product meets the requirements of the application and required regulations.

Chamber size – The chamber (also known as a tank or sump) will have a maximum capacity in litres. This must be enough to accommodate the required level of attenuation, which differs between applications, when pump station operation is interrupted (e.g. power failure). For example, chambers in domestic sewage applications must house 24 hours of in-flow in line with Document H of the Building Regulations 2010.

Our Plant Range of package pumping stations come in a variety of sizes:

• Pluto: 100l to 650l – Basement conversions, cavity wall drainage and final effluent treatment plants.
• Mercury: 900l to 1600l – Small domestic, industrial and commercial sites.
• Venus: 1800l to 2500l – Larger domestic, industrial and commercial sites.
• Saturn: 3500l to 7800l – Small housing developments, restaurants, larger commercial/industrial applications.
• Jupiter: 8500l to 15,500l – Larger housing estates, commercial and industrial developments.
• XL & XXL: 10,000l to 90,000l – Very large sites which require high emergency storage capacity.

Pumps – Correct pump selection will prevent an overflow by pumping the collected medium (foulwater, rainwater, etc...) away from the chamber at a rate that exceeds the station’s inflow rate and at a velocity that cleanses the pipework. A pump’s flow rate is usually measured in litres per second (l/s) or cubic meters per hour (m³/h), indicating the volume of fluid it can move in a given amount of time.

Consider the risks associated with the site and what materials the pump is expected to handle. A single domestic property has a lower risk of foreign objects entering the system compared to public venues such as sports stadiums or housing estates – such high-traffic sites could benefit from a chopper, grinder or macerator pump that reduces the size of solids before pumping to prevent ragging and blockages.

Each pump has its own performance characteristics (e.g. flow rate, maximum head and solids handling) and should be picked according to the application’s needs. It is good practice to select a pump with a slightly higher discharge rate than the expected inflow rate to accommodate minor fluctuations, but be careful not to choose a pump with a flow rate that exceeds what the system can handle as this will lead to accelerated wear and inefficient operation.

All pumping stations have the same main components and operate in the same basic way:

1. Collection – Sewage, drainage and surface water are collected in the pump station chamber via gravity.
2. Level monitoring – As the water level in the tank rises, level control units (usually float switches) reach a predetermined level which triggers the pumps to start.
3. Pump Operation – The level control unit triggers the pump to start, creating a vacuum and delivery pressure to move wastewater from the station chamber through a discharge pipe or a rising main that discharges into a sewer or wastewater network.
4. Sewers – From here, gravity directs the wastewater through the sewers to an appropriate outfall or wastewater treatment system, subject to local infrastructure and the nature of the waste.
5. Pump deactivation – Once the water level in the pump station chamber falls below a preset level as indicated by the integral level control, the pumps will stop operating until they are once again triggered by the level sensor and the process starts again.