Lift Stations: The Basics

One of the most important components of a septic system is a lift station. Unfortunately, they’re not something folks think about until something goes wrong – but they’re an integral part of your system and keeping them up, running and in good shape is important. 

Today, we’re going to cover the basics of what a lift station is and why it’s important. Let’s jump right in!

What are lift stations?

Lift stations are essentially used to pump sewage from a low level to a higher level when the gradient of the earth doesn’t allow for wastewater to flow naturally. Long story short is that water cannot flow uphill. Lift stations help them do just that. 

There are two main elements to a lift station you should know about. The first is the ‘wet well’ or basin. The wet well is the component into which the inflow is discharged and where the actual pumps themselves sit. The second component is the control panel – or the brain of the lift station. It tells the component when to pump, when not to and helps avoid any potential malfunctions and issues if they were to arise. 

How do they work?

Lift stations serve a pretty basic function. Basically what happens is that sewage gets stored and then fed into a pit. Once it gets to a certain level, there are instruments and sensors that see that the pit is full and go about emptying it via pump. The pump then pumps the sewage out of the basin and out to its next destination. 

Most lift stations you’ll encounter are stored underground – and with good reason. Sewage can release poisonous gasses and can create a myriad of health risks in their immediate area. And because they’re underground, you’ll want to make sure you’re getting them maintained frequently, as the control panels and pumps are in a corrosive environment. This is important as getting out ahead of routine maintenance issues can help prevent far more costly issues down the road. 

Hopefully, today’s blog gives you a clearer picture not only of what lift stations are – but what kind of purpose they serve in your septic tank. If you’re interested in learning more about what lift stations can do for your septic system, give us a call today and we’ll be happy to provide you with a free consultation. Good luck!