Upgrading a pumping station after 17 years

Summary

Seventeen years after installing a foul water pumping station at an ambulance station in Norfolk we returned for a full refurbishment featuring upgraded pumps.

Method

The Gorleston-on-Sea ambulance station is operated by the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust. In 2021, its facilities were upgraded which included more toilets and showers. The existing foul water pumping station required a boost to performance to cope with the extra waste generated.

The existing pumping station was a dual pump Edincare MagnaGrand with a GRP chamber which we installed 17 years previously.

We were approached by the main contractor to fully refurbish the pumping station and install upgraded pumps to handle the extra load.

We specified more powerful pumps from the same product line to the ones that were replaced, and updated control equipment.
Because the chamber needed to remain live throughout the refurbishment, Edincare Drains’s 26-tonne combi-tanker remained on site for the whole day to remove any incoming waste water.

All work was undertaken in a single day by our expert engineers, using confined entry methods and safety equipment.

As well as replacing the chamber’s internal components, we replaced all the control equipment.

Following the refurbishment, we commissioned and fully wet-tested the pumping station prior to handover.

Results

The upgraded pumping station comfortably meets the expanded ambulance station’s needs. With regular routine maintenance it should serve reliably for decades to come.

The refurbished and upgraded pumping station.

 

FOCUS ON

The key to longevity

Pumping stations are expected to provide a long and reliable service. Several factors bear on this, and if not accounted for, can significantly shorten their working life.

From the outset, the pumping station must be correctly specified. The type and volume of waste water to be removed should be considered, and the pumps and other components selected accordingly. Will the waste be corrosive or abrasive? Will it contain a high volume of solids such as textiles or fat?

How high and how far will the waste need to be pumped? An underpowered pump will work harder and for longer, reducing its operating life.

As highlighted in this case study, any changes to these parameters after installation, such as an increase in the volume of waste received or a change in waste type, may lead to a requirement to upgrade the system.

Misuse of a pumping station has a great bearing. Disposal of excessive amounts of textiles such as wet wipes, or fat, oil and grease into a system can increase the load on pumps and blockages may cause permanent damage.

Planned preventative maintenance is essential. Regular inspection and servicing by specialist pump engineers will ensure that any issues are remedied before they can become an problem. Wear and tear are inevitable through routine operation. Servicing should be routine too.

Edincare’s Sales Team can specify pumping stations that perfectly match your project’s requirements, accounting for all site parameters. We offer free no-obligation site surveys prior to the design phase to ensure yours is perfectly specified.

Our highly-trained specialist pump engineers, supported by our Aftersales Team, can inspect and service existing pumping stations and pumps from all manufacturers.