Romtec Utilities designs many different types of odor control systems for wastewater lift stations. Although there are a lot of odor control technologies available, there are two main thoughts behind odor control for wastewater. The first thought is referred to at Romtec Utilities as “passive odor control.” The second thought is referred to as “chemical feed systems.”
Each lift station project is unique. Whether you are pumping wastewater, stormwater, industrial water, or clean water, Romtec Utilities provides expert design services for every type of pumping application. Our design services go beyond simply meeting pumping requirements, design criteria, and design standards. With Romtec Utilities, you get an experienced company that knows how to design lift stations in wide-ranging circumstances. Many lift station designs are created by working with multiple agencies, solving unique water circumstances, providing correct electrical plans, and other significant advantages.
Check valves are an important component of any lift station design. Without check valves, the pumps and wet well of a lift station can be subject to damage from backflow. Backflow occurs when the lift station pumps stop operating and the water in the force main and discharge piping flows back into the wet well. In virtually every case, the backflow creates high levels of hydraulic pressure that pumps and wet wells are not designed to handle. The solution is a check valve. This simple device is available in several models and configurations and each variety can impact the design and cost of a lift station system.
Heat tracing is the practice of applying a heating line and insulation to piping. This is done in very cold climates where there is a possibility of the pipes becoming frozen. Romtec Utilities recently applied heat tracing to the piping and valves in eight vault structures on both stormwater and wastewater lift stations installed at the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Concrete has been a primary building material for in-ground wet well and vault components for decades. Concrete is widely used because of its durability, low cost, and workability. In most pump and lift station projects, concrete is the chief building material, but there are major difference between assembling a precast concrete structure and pouring the concrete onsite. Romtec Utilities uses precast concrete because it requires smaller installation crews, is more time-efficient, and can be fully tested.
Owning and operating a pump station for any type of water is a process that starts with designing and engineering the system. Then, the pump station components must be manufactured, delivered, and installed. Finally, the complete system must be started up and maintained throughout its life-cycle. A frequent concern for pump station owners is identifying who is responsible for resolving issues when a pump station does not function properly.
Romtec Utilities can include a lot of design options in a packaged pump station. Level sensing can be one of the most vital components during pump station engineering, and many operators and engineers have passionate opinions about which option works the best. Romtec Utilities designs its packaged pump stations to meet the needs and expectations of its owners and operators no matter which method they prefer. Each method of level sensing offers distinct advantages, and Romtec Utilities is happy to recommend a level sensing device that will benefit your unique system.
Romtec Utilities recently completed a large project for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) at the new East Campus Operations Center that is currently under construction. The Romtec Utilities supply included a wastewater lift station and a large stormwater pumping station. These two packaged pump stations are a part of construction that began on this facility in September of 2011. Each package pump station offers tremendous benefits for the East Campus facility, which is a champion of green building design and energy efficiency.
Lift Station owners and operators throughout the water and wastewater industry are well aware of the increasing pressures being placed on aging infrastructure. According to the Water Infrastructure Network, over $40 billion dollars in ready-to-go water and wastewater projects existed last year. Romtec Utilities works with industry personnel everyday to upgrade lift stations across the country, and we believe that any owner or operator working with aging lift stations should be aware of their options for improving their systems. The key to a successful upgrading project will begin by indentifying what type of project it is. This is where to decide if your lift station upgrade is one of these 3 Rs: repair, retrofit, or replacement.
In the final part of this blog series, we will look at the biggest industrial stormwater system in this series: the Chalmette refinery in Louisiana. Chalmette Refining, LLC is a joint ownership venture between ExxonMobil and Petròleos de Venezuela. Romtec Utilities supplied a very unique stormwater pump station capable of servicing the entire refining facility.
