A composite drawing of a wastewater pump station designed, built, and supplied by Romtec Utilities at a high school in California

What is a Pump Station? Understanding the Systems That Keep Water Moving

Pump stations are one of the most important pieces of infrastructure most people never see. They move wastewater out of neighborhoods, keep stormwater from overwhelming sites, maintain pressure in potable water systems, and support industrial processes that depend on reliable water movement every day. While the term often starts with wastewater collection, it applies to a much wider range of systems that keep communities, developments, and facilities operating. At Romtec Utilities, site-specific pumping systems are ...
haley street lift station by romtec utilities

What is a Lift Station?

A lift station moves wastewater, stormwater, or other water from a lower elevation to a higher elevation when gravity flow cannot do the job efficiently. These systems support sewer collection, stormwater, and other water infrastructure. They help when site conditions, pipe depth, or elevation changes make gravity-only conveyance impractical. Municipalities, developers, engineers, and contractors, benefit from understanding this difference early. It can reduce design confusion, improve project planning, and support long-term owner reliability. Romtec Utilities ...
Globe-Style Silent Check Valves

Pump Station Check Valve Basics

Check valves are an important component of any lift station design. Without check valves, the pumps and wet well of a lift station can be subject to damage from backflow. Backflow occurs when the lift station pumps stop operating and the water in the force main and discharge piping flows back into the wet well. In virtually every case, the backflow creates high levels of hydraulic pressure that pumps and wet wells are not designed to handle. The solution is a check valve. This simple device is available in several models and configurations and each variety can impact the design and cost of a lift station system.