About Pumping Stations...
Why have pumping stations?
Pumping stations are used to supplement the gravity-driven collection system by raising wastewater over barriers. There are twenty-five pumping stations in Camden County. A pumping station may be needed when
- an entry point (the site of a former municipal treatment plant) is downhill from the regional system
- an uphill shortcut will significantly decrease the total length of pipe needed for the collection system
- an existing building or environmentally sensitive area must be bypassed
What kinds of pumping stations are there?
The CCMUA's pumping stations have been sized based on projected load. They fall into three categories:
- Up to 3 million gallons (11 million liters) per day - submersible pumps
- 3 - 15 million gallons (11 - 57 million liters) per day - separate dry wells and wetwells, constant speed pumps
- 15 - 60 million gallons (57 - 227 million liters) per day - separate dry wells and wetwells, variable speed pumps
Each pump station has bar screens and comminutors (grinders) at the entry side to prevent large solids clogging the pumps. Reducing the size of solids also extends the life of the pumps.
Each pump station has one pump sized for average flows, an auxiliary pump for peak flows, and a backup pump in case one of the other two fails. Each station also has an emergency pumping connection allowing a submersible pump to be dropped into the wetwell in case all three pumps are disabled.
In addition, each station has an emergency generator, powered by diesel fuel, to ensure continuous operation in the event of a power failure.