Vashon Island, Washington – Apartment Wastewater Lift Station
Romtec Utilities designed, built and supplied a complete apartment wastewater lift station for Creekside Village, an apartment building, on Vashon Island, Washington. The station connects the development to the island’s existing wastewater network. Limited routing options, changing force main pressure, and high-head conditions added complexity. Romtec Utilities worked with the owner, engineer, architect, and contractor to refine the design and coordinate the pumping system. The completed station provides reliable wastewater service, remote monitoring, backup power, and equipment selected for the site’s hydraulic demands.
Supporting Residential Growth on Vashon Island
Vashon Island is a rural community near Seattle and Tacoma. Residential growth is steady but measured. New development often includes custom homes, small subdivisions, infill housing, and smaller multifamily projects rather than large master-planned communities. Limited land, environmental protections, ferry access, and support for the island’s rural character all shape local development. New housing must also protect shorelines, natural areas, and the small-town setting. Creekside Village helps meet local housing needs while respecting those practical and environmental limits.
Wastewater Lift Station Design for Creekside Village
Creekside Village needed an apartment wastewater lift station to collect wastewater, move it away from the site, and connect to existing island infrastructure. The system also required dependable controls, equipment redundancy, remote monitoring, and emergency power. After installation, startup, and commissioning, the project moved into the warranty stage.
During early planning, CPH Consultants asked Romtec Utilities to review several possible force main routes. Existing utilities and island conditions limited the available paths. The team compared the options and selected a connection to an existing force main that served several smaller lift stations on Vashon Island. This route used established infrastructure and provided a practical discharge point. However, the active force main created changing operating conditions that the new pumps had to manage.
Complete Packaged Wastewater Lift Station Equipment
The packaged wastewater lift station includes:
- Two 7.5-horsepower Keen grinder pumps
- A precast concrete wet well with a traffic-rated access hatch
- A stainless steel guide rail system
- Primary level controls with a pressure transducer and backup float controls
- A PC3000XC duplex control panel
- Pump Watch cellular monitoring
- A 60-kilowatt diesel standby generator with an automatic transfer switch
These components form a fully integrated pumping system. The duplex design provides pump redundancy and helps balance equipment use. Cellular monitoring gives operators greater visibility into station performance. The standby generator keeps the system operating during a power outage.
Challenge: High-Head Pumping Into an Active Force Main
The project team first needed a force main route that avoided existing utilities and worked within island constraints. The selected route connected the station to an active force main network. Because several smaller lift stations already used the network, pressure and flow could change. The Creekside Village pumps had to perform across those varying conditions. They also needed to overcome more than 100 feet of static head and about 147 feet of total dynamic head.
Romtec Utilities worked closely with the civil engineer during site design. Together, the teams reviewed alignment options, evaluated system demands, and refined the lift station around the final connection point. This early technical support reduced uncertainty before production. It also confirmed that the station could connect to the existing network and meet the required performance.
Solution: A Site-Specific Packaged Wastewater Lift Station
Romtec Utilities designed and supplied a packaged wastewater lift station for the Creekside Village site. Two 7.5-horsepower Keen grinder pumps operate in a 4-foot-diameter precast concrete wet well. The design uses a peak inflow rate of 24.3 gallons per minute, while each pump delivers about 34 gallons per minute. Romtec Utilities selected the pumps and supporting equipment for the site’s high-head conditions. The complete package included the wet well, pumps, controls, monitoring, access equipment, alarms, and standby power. This single-source approach helped simplify procurement, coordination, and system integration.
Wastewater Lift Station Project Team
End User: Shelter America Group
Architect: SMR Architects
Civil Engineer: CPH Consultants
General Contractor: PWC Companies
Romtec Utilities first worked with CPH Consultants during engineering. The teams evaluated force main alternatives and finalized the site layout. As the project moved forward, Romtec Utilities coordinated with the owner, architect, and general contractor. Clear communication kept system requirements, responsibilities, and the procurement schedule aligned. It also helped move the project from design approval to equipment manufacturing and delivery.
This hands-on support positioned Romtec Utilities as more than an equipment vendor. The company served as a technical resource from early planning through startup. That role was important because the final system had to serve the new development while operating within an active force main network.
Coordination continued through construction and startup in 2026. The team addressed pump installation, longer pump cables, generator startup, operator training, and final operating status. After approval of a change order for the longer cables, the team aligned startup with cable delivery. Romtec Utilities also helped arrange on-site training for system operators. This support helped move the station from installation into operation.
Reliable Wastewater Service for Creekside Village
The Creekside Village apartment wastewater lift station provides a reliable connection to Vashon Island’s existing wastewater system. Its design addresses limited routing options, changing force main conditions, high head, and the need for backup operation. Remote monitoring and standby power also give operators greater visibility and system resilience.
The project also shows the value of early coordination. Romtec Utilities helped the team compare discharge options, confirm the pumping approach, and bring the station online. By combining engineering support with a complete wastewater lift station package, Romtec Utilities delivered a practical solution built for Creekside Village and the demands of the island’s wastewater infrastructure.
Need a wastewater lift station designed for challenging site conditions? Contact Romtec Utilities to discuss a complete system tailored to your project.