Lift station at the waste water treatment plant in Hamilton, AL has an unique application. Sewage from across the city is pumped on to incline screens in the treatment plant. Water from the screenings along with rainwater and debris is collected in a sump. This water is again pumped back to the screens in a closed loop.

The station evidently has high solid content. City had to de-rag the non-clog pumps every month. These pumps were unable to handle solids like mop heads, rags, greasy hairballs, plastics and debris.

Ron Hylton, treatment plant’s supervisor, approached Pump & Process Equipment (PPE) for a permanent and cost-effective solution for his clogging problems. PPE and Crane Pumps and Systems worked together and provided a Barnes® Sithe 4SCMD 7.5 HP chopper pump in June 2017.

It’s been 8 months since Sithe’s installation and it hasn’t clogged even once. The first time it was pulled was for a 6-month regular checkup. Sithe’s stainless steel heat treated blades were found in pristine condition and had retained sharpness. It continues to operate as the lead pump in the station obliterating even the biggest and toughest of solids.