Halifax Regional Water Commission Nova Scotia Wastewater Lift Station
Romtec Utilities designed and supplied an international wastewater lift station to help replace two out-of-date systems near Halifax in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.
Halifax is the capital of the province and also has the most people living within its municipality. About 500,000 people call the city their home, most living within its urban center. In 1996, the municipalities of Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford, and Halifax County were amalgamated to for Halifax Regional Municipality. Continued growth in the region necessitates a robust public infrastructure, including waste management to support the development of the region. The new wastewater lift station was installed near Lions Club Park in Bedford, on the northwestern shore of the Bedford Basin.
Romtec was tasked with designing a pump station that could replace two aging wastewater lift stations with a modern system capable of handling their combined flow. Engineering, environmental factors, and the coordination of an international project required increased attention to detail for Romtec Utilities.
Specifications of the Wastewater Lift Station
The Nova Scotia wastewater lift station was designed to handle the flow of two existing systems, which means it had to be able to handle a large flow volume efficiently and reliably. The core of the system uses 7.2-horsepower Flygt pumps, which were installed in a duplex configuration to meet the application’s flow requirement. Discharge valves were installed in a dedicated vault structure, next to the wet well. The wet well has a 6-foot diameter and is 25 feet deep.
A high groundwater level, due to its proximity to a nearby body of water, meant the site required a sump pump to be installed in the valve vault. The sump pump discharged infiltrating water into the wet well.
An ultrasonic transducer was utilized for level sensing, with multiple mechanical floats for redundancy. Electrical controls at the pump station in Canada use a MicroLogix 1400 PLC and are installed in a NEMA 4x stainless steel enclosure for protection.
Halifax Water to Operate/Maintain Pump Station
The completed Nova Scotia wastewater lift station is owned, maintained, and operated by Halifax Regional Water Commission. Halifax Water manages the region’s water cycle in a financially and environmentally responsible manner, according to its website.
The company owns more than 165 pump stations and is experienced in the operation and maintenance of the equipment. The new pump system at Shipyard Road is central to Halifax Water operations. Staff in the region are responsible for more than 50 wastewater lift stations.
What is a Wastewater Lift Station
A wastewater lift station is a critical component of wastewater management. Wastewater is water that has been used in your home, business, or as part of an industrial process. This water is then collected in a wastewater system made up of structures, pipes, devices, equipment, processes, etc. to transport, pump and treat.
Gravity alone cannot always move wastewater, especially in low-lying areas or areas with significant elevation changes. A lift station, sometimes referred to as a pump station, helps wastewater move from lower lying areas to higher elevations. Wastewater lift stations typically include a wet well for collecting wastewater, pumps to lift the water, and electrical controls to manage the entire operation.
Wastewater lift stations are designed to ensure the water keeps flowing continuously and safely through the system. It is designed to prevent backups and with the reassurance that the wastewater will reach treatment plants where it can be processed and disposed.
What Romtec Utilities Provided
- Lift Station Design & Engineering
- Package Lift Station Supplier
- Package Lift Station Manufacturer
- Package Lift Station Specification Writer
- On-Site Construction Adviser
- On-Site Start-Up Management
- Lift Station Site Plan Layout Designer
| 220 | 45.4′ |
| GPM | TDH |
Romtec’s Role in the Nova Scotia Wastewater Lift Station
Romtec Utilities not only designed, supplied, and manufactured the materials for the lift station, but followed the process all the way through start-up.
A representative of Romtec was present when the lift station was installed to provide technical advice to the installing contractor, Dexter Construction. A Romtec Utilities start-up technician was also on-site to supervise the start-up of the international wastewater lift station, as well as testing, and training services for the Halifax Regional Water Commission.
Romtec worked with the Halifax Regional Water Commission and its site engineer, Design Point, to design a project that would meet the requirements, as well as the expectations of the customer. All documentation was prepared according to their standards, including the use of metric units and measurements. Romtec Utilities also oversaw the international delivery of the components.
As an international project, it involved navigating cross-border coordination, documentation, and regulatory compliance – challenges that were addressed by Romtec with professionalism and precision.
Improving Public Services Internationally
The Halifax Regional Water Commission Nova Scotia international wastewater lift station is an example of how modern infrastructure can improve public service while meeting regional and environmental challenges. The project successfully replaced two aging systems with one modern, efficiently and robust pump station that will serve the area for decades.
This pump station in Canada demonstrates what collaboration can mean for the importance of innovation in public utility development. From technical design to on-site training, Romtec worked to execute every aspect of the project with care to ensure long-term performance and compliance. The Halifax region will benefit from these investments in sustainable and scalable water infrastructure for years to come, as it will keep communities safe, clean, and prepared for growth.