For this custom groundwater pump station, we provided a system to assist with the removal of contaminants from groundwater at a former weapons manufacturing plant. The custom groundwater pump station is housed in a double walled Xerxes fiberglass wet well with various custom penetrations that receive contaminated water from various places at the site.

At Romtec Utilities, we work with a variety of industrial pumping clients who manufacture items with chemicals, various processes, and sometimes contaminated sites that require treatment of the groundwater. In this scenario, we came into this project to provide the design and supply of a custom groundwater pump station that handles VOC’s in the water. The system and Xerxes double walled fiberglass wet well can resist the breaking down from the chemicals or VOC’s.

Romtec Utilities has vast experience with providing pump stations for a variety of uses and supplies custom systems to meet our customers’ needs, but this project was particularly unique in terms of application. The NIROP Pump Station project in Fridley, Minnesota required a Romtec Utilities supplied a custom pump station for the clean-up of an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated “Superfund” site. “Superfund” sites are contaminated locations that pose a threat to environmental and public health and require special attention for the cleanup of contaminants.

The NIROP site is also known as the Naval Industrial Reserve Ordinance Plant, a weapons manufacturing plant that was established in the 1940’s to keep up with the weapon demand of World War 2. As a result of former and improper waste disposal, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s), that were used in the degreasing of metal components, have made their way into the soil, groundwater, and even the nearby Mississippi River. The Unites States Navy is working with the EPA and other agencies to facilitate the clean-up as directed by the EPA. (“NIROP Fridley”, n.d.) While the Navy is still in charge of the environmental clean-up, and hiring outside contractors to continue this work, they sold the property.

To assist with the collection and cleaning of contaminated groundwater, Romtec Utilities was contacted for the design and supply of a custom pump system. The supplied system is housed in a custom, double walled Xerxes fiberglass wet well with multiple custom penetrations to receive contaminated water from 14 areas of the contaminated site. The fiberglass wet well is perfectly suited to handle VOC contaminated wastewater resist degradation from chemicals.

The fiberglass wet well has an 8’ inner diameter with an 8’ depth, and two submersible, 7.5 horsepower Goulds pumps that pump the contaminated water into two discharge pipes to be “air stripped” of VOCs, including the trichloroethylene and other chlorinated solvents that have been found in the soil and water.

The Romtec Utilities Pump station is just the newest addition to the clean-up efforts, which began in 1981. Since then, over 4.3 gallons of contaminated groundwater has been treated, and 30,000 pounds of VOCs have been removed from the site (“NIROP Fridley”, n.d.). The Navy and the United States EPA are continuing work to clean up the former weapons manufacturing site to ensure that it will not pose a threat to human health.

At Romtec Utilities, we work with a variety of industrial clients with power plants, manufacturing plants, or utility plants that require a variety of processes and componentry. We can design a stormwater, wastewater, groundwater, or industrial water lift station that fits your pumping needs for your site and plant.

We can design a custom system that incorporated unique design features that meet special pumping needs or requirements similar to this NIROP pump station. Our team provides a complete package pump system entity, where we handle the entire scope of the system from the design, manufacturing, and supply of the groundwater system. We provide a robust warranty, on-site technician for installation support, commissioning of the system, and training on the system for maintenance personnel.

We work with developers, municipalities, engineers, and contractors to bring our pump systems to life, helping our clients meet their pumping requirements and all local pumping codes.

Our team of designers and engineers work directly with the owner to design a system that will match your budget, desired controls, and the pumping environment which can include extremely high temperatures or dealing with chemicals within the water. Regardless of the situation, we can provide a pump station that fits seamlessly with the overall site and project.

Contact us today to get started on your custom groundwater pump station.

NIROP Fridley. Navfac. Retrieved 8 July 2021, from https://www.navfac.navy.mil/products_and_services/ev/products_and_services/env_restoration/installation_map/navfac_atlantic/midlant/nirop_fridley.html