Wet well and valve chamber

Basic Operation of a Quick Disconnect System

The purpose of a sewage lift station is to raise the wastewater up to a level that will allow it to gravity feed into the sewer line. The advantage of this system is it allows for a house to be built below the elevation of the sewer main and still be allowed to use a city sewer system instead of a septic system.

The sequence of operation is simple: a form of level control tells the control panel that the liquid level is at the turn-on point, on a duplex alternating system the pump that ran last stays off and the second pump turns on, once the liquid level reaches the low-level shutoff point the pump turns off and the first pump is then set to turn on when the level rises again. The system includes one union ball valve and one ball check valve per pump; the ball valve allows for easy pump removal and the ball check valve prevents the wastewater that is still in the discharge pipe from returning to the basin.

For commercial and municipal wastewater systems a quick disconnect system is often used due to the weight of the pumps and the depth of the wet well. This system features a stationary base unit that connects the pump to the discharge piping, using the weight of the pump to make sealed connection. The system also uses guide rails to raise and lower the pump in the right location.

These packaged lift stations are a combination of many different items from a variety of different manufacturers, and when a lift station is purchased as a package we order and ensure that all the right equipment is supplied. The lift station is assembled and installed in the field to ensure that no components are damaged during transport to the jobsite. A qualified electrician must wire the controls, and the plumbing must installed by a qualified plumber, and the lift station must be inspected and meet the county requirements. Some lift stations require a startup inspection by Pumps, Inc. to validate the warranty; the system cannot be started by others until a startup is complete.

If a packaged lift station is pumping into the sewer system in Pima county, it will most likely require an Aeration panel which can easily be included in the package.

It is always a good idea to have an engineer draw the plans for any lift station that is either new construction or is being added to a house (such as a basement add-on), this will ensure that the process of inspection and approval will be done faster and with less hassle.

For all your lift station needs and questions please contact us and we will be happy to answer every question that you may have, including pricing quotation and availability of all components.

Pumps, Inc. does not install lift stations; we recommend using a licensed contractor for installations.

Partial Quick Disconnect System (installed showing guide rails)

A Control Panel and Float Switches are included in the package.

Some of the typical valves used in a lift station.