H2S Corrosion can be detrimental to any concrete wastewater pump station. While you can apply paint, epoxy, or polyurea coatings inside your concrete wet well, we recommend changing the wet well material all together. HDPE (high density polyethylene) is inert to H2S all together and has a 100 year design life against harsh conditions. We typically see fiberglass wet wells in commercial lift station applications. These have about half the design life as HDPE but similarly don’t require any additional coatings. Lastly, polymer concrete wet wells are twice as strong as regular concrete but can't be pre-assembled prior to its arrival at the installation site. Being nonporous and consistent throughout the structure helps it protect against H2S more efficiently than a typical cement mixture.

HDPE and Fiberglass arrive at the site prefabricated, tested, and ready to install. Fiberglass has a 40-year design life and is H2S resistant. HDPE ups the ante with a 100-year design life and is inert to H2S corrosion requiring zero additional coatings. Both are good for sanitary wastewater applications. These are some of the newer innovations in the wet well market, where concrete is the most common within the industry but has the shortest design life and often requires the most maintenance to avoid any faster deterioration.

Pump stations are commonly designed to have a 50-year life span, and if a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polymer concrete wet well is used, then a 100-year design life is achievable.

Our recommendation for a compact pump station is the NoVault enclosure mounted on the wet well as this removes the underground valve box typically provided in a traditional pump station design. This can also be provided on a riser to ensure the valves and controls are above the 100-year flood levels. The NoVault has operator safety and service convenience included, in addition to its compact footprint.

As a rule of thumb, when installing a fiberglass pump station, we recommend using the same equipment used during the excavation process. Typically, if it can reach the bottom of the excavation it can handle the weight to install it. A 3 ft. diameter by 10 ft. deep pump station can weigh as little as 890 lbs. On the other extreme, 10 ft. diameter by 40 ft. deep HDPE pump stations can weigh over 19,000 lbs. We're happy to provide general weights for shipment and installation for any of your pump stations.

As a rule of thumb, when installing a fiberglass pump station, we recommend using the same equipment used during the excavation process. Typically, if it can reach the bottom of the excavation it can handle the weight to install it. A 3 ft. diameter by 10 ft. deep pump station can weigh as little as 890 lbs. On the other extreme, 10 ft. diameter by 40 ft. deep HDPE pump stations can weigh over 19,000 lbs. We're happy to provide general weights for shipment and installation for any of your pump stations.

The NoVault arrives at site with the control panel and valve piping prefabricated. You can pick the enclosure with an excavator, forklift, or any other machinery rated for lifts over 2,500 lbs. (for the NV2) and 3,500 lbs. (for the NV3). For the NV2, use the lifting lugs at the top of the station and for the NV3 use lifting bars that slide through the floor of the station.

Packaging the controls and piping in an enclosure saves days, if not weeks of on site installation time. Additionally, factory install any electrical control panels or components (like SCADA, transfer switches, flow meter displays, etc.) that are necessary for the job. Furthermore, you get the peace of mind that the electrical components of a control panel are all tested, UL approved, and performance tested with the project specific pumps. This allows for a straightforward installation as per the design requirements.

The design flow rate, force main size, wet well design, electrical service, and solids content in the pumped media are key deciding factors in making a pump selection for a pump station.

Regular preventative maintenance of any pump station can help keep it running at optimal performance and prolong the service life. General service includes removing debris and cleaning the interior of the wet wells, exercising the valves, testing each pump motor, checking piping for buildup and performing electrical checks on the pumps and switchgear.

Maintenance cost and requirements can vary based on the pump station type and age. As with any infrastructure, additional wear and failures can happen with age and have a direct impact on your pump station maintenance budget. Additionally, ongoing pump station expenses that impact every pump station include electrical consumption and service personnel wages. A good rule of thumb when planning annual maintenance costs is to budget $3,000 to $5,000 per month. This will provide ample funds if a pump, valve, or electrical switchgear needs to be replaced or upgraded.