Pump Station Refurbishment

A pump station refurbishment is required when existing equipment needs to be upgraded and repair or maintenance is no longer a suitable option. This can be due to a change in requirements or failure of the existing equipment. Depending on the requirements, upgrading a pump station may involve replacing a single pump, multiple pumps or complete replacement of all pumps and equipment, control panels and pump house.

Benefits of Refurbishing a Pump Station

A pump station refurbishment is advantageous in many ways, for example;

• reducing maintenance costs
• reducing running costs
• improving pumping efficiency
• improving health and safety

The goal of a pump station refurbishment is to increase performance, reduce energy consumption and to continue operating reliably on a long term basis.

Refurbishment Process

The process of refurbishing a pump station varies depending on the location and condition of the existing pump station and the site requirements. Typically, the process will involve working in liaison with civil contractors and may require the implementation of traffic control systems and/or the installation of a temporary sewerage bypass system.

The basic refurbishment process is as follows;

• Structural assessment of the existing pumping station
• Design proposal for refurbishments
• Dismantle/deconstruction of the existing pump station and/or equipment
• Installation of new equipment and commissioning of the upgraded pump station

What Causes a Pump Station to Fail

Pump station break down can occur for various reasons. A failing pump station will often need to be emptied regularly and can result in sewage overflows. Aside from the obvious contributing factors such as old or faulty equipment or lack of close monitoring and maintenance, there are other possible causes for break down. Due to the fact that pump stations are large integrated systems, the failure of any individual component will effect the whole system.

Blockages can occur in the pipework, the valves or the pumps and can be the result of an under-specification of the system or a build up of fats and grease. Debris can get caught around the floats and result in a failure of the level control system. Damaged cables or broken seals can result in water getting into the motor of the pump and causing pump station failure. Unmaintained and corroded pipework or damaged valves can result in pump station failure.

For all of the above reasons and more, it is essential to keep a pump station closely monitored and frequently maintained for optimal performance and long term operation.

Pump Station Maintenance

After refurbishment, a pump station should be serviced at least every 12 months. High-use pump stations should be inspected even more regularly. This ensures that any potential failures can be identified and serviced before occurring.

A pump station upgrade may include the retrofitting of a telemetry system inside the control panel. This alerts the appropriate people via text message of any issues inside the pump station such as high levels in the tank, loss of power or a potential blockage due to high pump running times. In this way, problems or failures can be rectified quickly and in some cases even avoided altogether.

If your project requires a new pump station or replacement or refurbishment of an old or failing pump station, get in touch today.