In the Takara Sake project, Romtec Utilities supplied an industrial food-process pump station to Takara Sake USA Inc., a Sake manufacturer based in Berkeley, California. Takara Sake USA needed an industrial pump station to handle industrial process water at their facility.

This Romtec Utilities supplied lift station features a 6’ inner diameter (ID) Armorock polymer wet well that is 12.5’ in depth. A polymer wet well was selected for this project due to the acidic nature of the process water. Polymer concrete is highly resistant to corrosive materials and in this situation will extend the life of the lift station.

Inside the polymer well are two BJM Stainless Steel 3 horsepower submersible pumps, which will be controlled by an alternator relay. The control panel will receive signals from the level sensing devices, a FMX21 E&H pressure transducer as the primary level sensor, and 2 NOLTA floats as the secondary level sensors.

Prior to discharging into the City’s storm drain, the water needs to be neutralized. To solve this problem, Wastech Controls, an Engineer also with the project, provided their PH neutralizing system. The acidic process water is pumped from the Romtec Utilities lift station into treatment tanks. Inside the tanks, the water will be neutralized by injecting a base compound (with a PH above 7) into the tank, making the water neutral in PH (neither acidic nor alkaline) and less harmful.

Another unique aspect of this project is the stainless steel, above grade valve manifold. Often, these valve assemblies are placed in an in-ground junction box close to the wet well. Placing the valves above ground makes it easier to access the valves for maintenance. The valves in the Takara Sake system also have 15” basket strainers to strain out any solids, which emphasizes the importance of easy to access valves.

On this project, Romtec Utilities had the opportunity to work with Takara Sake USA, our direct customer and the end owner of this station; Wastech Controls, the engineer of the PH neutralizing system; and YW Builders, the contractor who installed this system on site.