Every now and then we like to take a step back and get back to the basics of what we do. While most of you already know something about lift stations thanks to you simply seeking out our website; some of you might be in the exploratory/learning phase. Maybe you’re a homeowner looking to install a septic system and someone’s said something about you needing a lift station and you don’t know where to begin.
Well, this is as good a place as any! Here are the ultra, super low level basics of lift stations, what they do and why they’re beneficial – particularly for our friends who live nearby in Florida. We hope that by the end of the blog you have a little bit better understanding of why lift stations are important, what they’re all about and what they can do for you. Let’s jump right in!
What are they?
Long story, short – lift stations transport waste water from lower to higher elevations – particularly in areas of a system where gravity isn’t working in your favor. So anytime you basically need to get wastewater ‘up a hill’ – you need to use a lift station.
How do they work?
They essential components of a lift station includes the wet-well, the pump/piping, the power supply and the ventilation system. Most of them do precisely what they say they do. Pumps help remove the coarse materials when there’s excess buildup. Power supply is what helps power and control the pump while the ventilation system; well, let’s just say it takes the edge off the smell.
How do they save money?
Lift stations are a cost saver for a lot of reasons, but the big one is simply up front construction costs. Whether it’s residential or something in a public sewer system; costs go way up when you’re digging deeper trenches. Why? Because deeper trenches mean more precise engineering, significantly more excavation and more demanding safety precautions. Add those things up and they can explode a project budget quickly. Lift stations allow piping to maintain the same flow at a shallower depth and greatly reduced piping costs. While lift stations aren’t cheap, they’re certainly a more affordable option than in upwards of a 35%+ cost increase on a construction project.
In places like Florida – lift stations are particularly important due to the variety of terrain that waste water has to flow through. Florida is above and below sea level almost at random- and between softer soils and increased potential for pollution and runoff, lift stations are a lynch pin of any sewage system.
If you’ve got a project coming up and need to involve a lift station – give us a call today.