Pump stations have a vital role, whether they are moving sewage or wastewater or pumping public water. Once pump station installation is completed, pump station maintenance must occur at regular intervals, ensuring there are no run-in problems and ensuring uptime remains consistent throughout the pump station’s ongoing life.
Inspection and maintenance of wet well and dry well installations save costs and reduces downtime by preventing a small issue from becoming a big one. Pump stations are subject to demanding conditions and have lots of parts, so it only makes sense to invest in prevention to increase life expectancy and reduce the chances of an environmental incident.
Physical checks for damage and wear and tear help achieve the goals of keeping the pump station running and operational 24/7.
Pump Station Maintenance and Inspection
Regular pump station maintenance checks bearings, valves, and seals to spot signs that indicate the possibility of premature failure. They stop pumps overheating from frequent starts and constant running due to inoperable switches. The inspection identifies any issue that could cause damaging hydraulic forces, vibration, separations, and substantial mechanical stress.
When pump stations are not regularly maintained, it is impossible to spot impeller erosion, partially closed or clogged valves, thermal expansion, shaft misalignment, machine imbalance, and the presence of corrosive fluids. Lubricants degrade over time, and when their role of reducing friction ceases, damaging heat is generated in moving parts.
Preventative Maintenance
To be sure that a pump station remains operable, an inspection will check for grease build-up on surfaces where sewage cools, such as on plastic, metal, and concrete surfaces. Grease is managed with mechanical or powerwasher cleaning methods and wholly removed from the system, to ensure it isn’t merely washed downstream.
Pump seals are inspected to ensure the pump sits in the flange seat without a gap or obstruction, and floats are examined to check they move freely and are not tangled in trash or grease. Flowmeter calibration can take place, and a visual inspection ensures there is no build-up or debris.
The valve vault is operated during pump station maintenance, which is essential as they tend to seize if they are not used at regular intervals. Sump pump inspection checks operability and the inspection ensures the sump drain is clear to prevent flooding from rain or groundwater.
The generator is looked over to spot issues such as exhaust system obstructions, and oil and filters are replaced as dictated by the original manufacturer. Further checks look for strains and weaknesses in the cable or chain of any wench, and mounting stand and electrical reviews assess breakers that protect the system against surges, moisture sensors that ensure the pump remains dry, control panels, float switches, and contacts.
Above-ground pump station maintenance will check piping is heated if part of the station’s design requires frozen or burst pipe prevention.
Pump station maintenance is an essential part of any operation, and regular scheduling is the key to success.
