Every industry faces challenges. Solving complex challenges for the wastewater industry requires a deeper understanding of the trends which are happening on a global scale. To better comprehend current issues affecting wastewater pumping stations, let’s consider three major factors:
Sewage composition – while the pump industry is working to develop highly efficient pumps that consume less energy to operate, they have the added burden of designing and manufacturing pumps that can handle ‘heavier’ sewage that is comprised of more than just wastewater. In our modern world, “flushable” wipes and other products designed for personal hygiene are entering sewage systems that are really not designed to handle the extended load these items place on the system.
Water consumption – while industrialized countries have worked to decrease their water consumption over the past decade, rising water costs and regional water shortages have had an impact on the amount of wastewater entering various disposal systems. Reduced water consumption means wastewater systems must transport higher solid loads with less water.
Infrastructure – the pipes, valves, and other equipment found in many of the wastewater pumping stations is typically outdated. Many of these stations have been operating for 50 years or more, and old equipment combined with less water and higher loads can negatively affect the entire system – not just the pipes, but also the pumps and valves. Municipalities often struggle to allocate funding for upgrades, which can be quite extensive once a company reevaluates their operation concept, piping system, pumps, and other system requirements.
While upgrades to infrastructure may be slow, many are working to reduce the amount of non-flushable materials that enter the wastewater stream, and more importantly, pump manufacturers are developing technical solutions to counter these challenges.
Download this Whitepaper: Global Wastewater Challenges Place Pressure on Aging Infrastructure (Part 1) to learn more about these challenges and see test and demonstration models regarding flow velocity, solids, and other wastewater transport system concepts.
