Sewage and stormwater pump stations are a critical part of everyday infrastructure. However, when pump stations are needed most, they need to have crucial power to do the job they were designed for. Unfortunately, the most likely time for the power to fail is in the middle of a storm when a pump station is vital to handling the incoming precipitation or waste. At no time was this more apparent than in late 2012 in the greater New York area with Superstorm Sandy.
Since 2012, more focus has been directed to better pump station design and overall emergency preparedness in the areas greatly affected. We have been a part of projects all across the country that allow for a better back up plan. These include emergency power supplies that allow the station to work when the main power is down. This is primarily done with either portable backup generators with a manual transfer switch or a permanently installed backup generator with an automatic power transfer switch.
A generator that is permanently installed as part of the pump station’s design is the peace of mind, hands free approach to having an emergency power supply. It will be hardwired directly to the pump station and with the automatic transfer switch, if it senses a power outage on the unit, it will automatically turn on the generator’s power supply. Then once its senses the pump station has consistent power restored, it will automatically turn back off. Proper maintenance of a permanently installed unit should require it to be used on a monthly basis. Like with any car engine, it’s best to run it periodically but also verifies that it’s working before you actually need it in a crisis. However, this can easily be set up to happen automatically on a schedule.
While we recommend CAT or Cummins, we can provide any brand generator with our pump stations. We hope this helps give an overview of your pump station generator options to when preparing for emergencies. We also have tips on how to design an efficient pump station or what goes into your pump station’s cost. If you have any questions on your pump station application and design, contact us today!