Romtec Utilities designed, built, and supplied this wastewater lift station retrofit for Arroyo Burro Park in Santa Barbara County, California. The custom pumping system renewed aging wastewater infrastructure. Then, it helped the owner avoid major excavation, difficult dewatering, and a full lift station replacement.

Arroyo Burro Park sits along the Central Coast in Santa Barbara County, California. The park serves a busy coastal area. It includes public access, nearby restaurants, beach facilities, and community amenities. As a result, the site needs reliable wastewater pumping to protect public health and keep daily operations moving.

The existing wastewater pump station had to fit within a tight site with limited working room. So, the owner needed a practical retrofit. The solution had to improve performance without adding the cost and disruption of a full replacement.

The project team needed to retrofit an existing wastewater lift station. Therefore, Romtec Utilities designed the system around a 3.5-foot-diameter concrete wet well with a 10-foot inside depth. Also, Romtec Utilities supplied a 42-inch fiberglass liner for the existing 48-inch well. The liner renewed the structure and supported the new pump station equipment.

Romtec Utilities designed the station for a total pumping rate of 60 gallons per minute and 20 feet of total dynamic head. The force main used 180 feet of 4-inch pipe. In addition, the discharge piping used 3-inch Schedule 80 polyvinyl chloride pipe. Together, these details helped the wastewater lift station retrofit meet the hydraulic needs of the site.

Santa Barbara County needed to upgrade a failing wastewater lift station within a compact coastal site. However, full excavation would have increased costs, created more site disruption, and required more complex dewatering. In addition, the owner needed pumping equipment that could handle wastewater from nearby facilities, including flows with grease and suspended solids.

The project team needed safer access for long-term maintenance. Submersible pumps need clear access, reliable controls, and dependable lifting equipment. So, Romtec Utilities reviewed these requirements. Then, Romtec Utilities developed a custom wastewater pump station retrofit that fit the existing site and supported dependable operation.

Romtec Utilities provided structural, mechanical, and electrical design support for the wastewater lift station retrofit. The scope included pump station design, documentation, design submittals, operation and maintenance documents, and warranty support. As a result, the project team received a complete and coordinated retrofit package.

The pump package used a duplex configuration with two BJM 2-horsepower submersible shredder pumps. Each pump used 200-volt, 3-phase power. The package also included guide rails, cable grips, and lifting sling assemblies. As a result, the wastewater pumping station could manage solids and debris while giving operators better access for future service.

Romtec Utilities supplied a prefabricated concrete valve vault. The Model 644 valve vault measured 6 feet by 4 feet by 3.5 feet and included a 3-inch valve assembly. The assembly used plug valves with direct operating nuts and check valves with indicators and backflow actuators. Finally, the vault included a pumping port and drain back option for emergency bypass pumping and maintenance.

To support pump removal and maintenance, Romtec Utilities included a Thern 5PT10 davit crane. The crane had a 1,000-pound capacity, pedestal base, stainless steel spur winch, and galvanized finish. Because of this, operators could safely lift the pumps from the wet well during service.

The control system used a Unitronics 570 controller with four mechanical floats for primary level sensing. During normal operation, the lead pump starts when wastewater reaches the lead level. Then, it stops when the wet well reaches the stop level. If flows rise higher, the lag pump starts and adds pumping capacity. Finally, if the high-level set point is reached, both pumps run and the alarm beacon and horn activate.

A stainless steel NEMA 4X enclosure protected the control panel and direct pump and sensing wiring. Also, a cellular alarm modem supported alarm communication. Together, these features helped the owner monitor the municipal wastewater lift station and respond when service was needed.

Flowers & Associates contacted Romtec Utilities during the design phase. Together, they helped shape the retrofit approach for the existing lift station. Later, Hanley Engineering completed the installation and related project work. Throughout the process, Romtec Utilities supported the project team with a custom-engineered pump station package that fit the site and budget.

This wastewater lift station retrofit shows how Romtec Utilities helps owners upgrade aging pump station infrastructure. In this case, the owner avoided a full replacement because a retrofit was the better option. Romtec Utilities reused the existing well, added a fiberglass liner, supplied BJM submersible shredder pumps, and provided an accessible valve vault and davit crane. As a result, Santa Barbara County received a practical wastewater pumping solution.

Romtec Utilities designs and supplies custom wastewater lift stations, stormwater pump stations, water booster stations, and industrial pumping systems. We support engineers, municipalities, contractors, and developers across the United States. Contact Romtec Utilities to discuss your next wastewater lift station retrofit or custom pump station project.