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by Andy Thompson, sales and commercial manager for Titan Pollution Control, a leading manufacturer of these products
Pumping stations are one of the most common private drainage systems installed in the UK, since the law states they must be the first option considered for properties unable to access the main sewer by gravity.
However, pumping stations are complex products, which can have various applications and require comprehensive sales advice and careful specification.
There are three main types of pumping station. Firstly, there are domestic sewage pumping stations, which pump untreated sewage from a building to a main drainage system. These are suitable for many properties unable to access the main sewer by gravity.
There are also effluent pumpsets, which are used in conjunction with sewage treatment plants and septic tanks if the level of the outlet is too low to enable gravity flow to the discharge point or soakaway. These pumpsets may also be needed if the watercourse is likely to flood, in order to prevent backflow.
Surface water pumping stations are used to pump rainwater run-off from hard-standing areas, or small roofs where a gravity flow cannot be achieved to allow the water to enter a main drain or surface water drain.
Any of the above pumping stations can incorporate timers, so the liquid can be discharged at night, if required. This may enable a development to gain planning permission if the local mains drainage system is up to its daily capacity.
Pumping stations are bespoke products, which are packaged to cater for the individual needs of a site. They are specified on the basis of detailed calculations. It is essential that these calculations are correct, since if mistakes go undetected and pumping stations are incorrectly specified, they have the potential to wreak havoc, ranging from overflowing toilets and baths to blocked drains.
When recommending a pumping station, builders’ merchants need to find out what kind of liquid needs to be pumped and the type and number of users of the product.
They also need to ascertain the height and distance from the pump to the main sewer if the product will be pumping directly to it. The depth of the incoming drain is another important consideration.
This information should be supplied to the manufacturer, who can then provide further guidance on the type of product needed.
Builders’ merchants should stress the importance of gaining accurate measurements. Many customers are not aware that the depth of the incoming drain cannot be altered, and that even small misjudgements on the height and distance from the pump to the main sewer can result in the specification of a pumping station that is under-powered and therefore unable to do the job properly.
Ideally, the exact location of the pumping station should be decided when the building is being designed and the relevant calculations made at that time. The electrical capacity of a property that cannot connect to the main sewer by gravity also needs to be carefully considered at the construction stage, since it can have a bearing on the type of pumping station that can be used. Most houses have single phase electricity. However, if the main sewer is more than 10m high or 300m away from the property, then three phase electricity could be needed to operate a pump efficiently and economically.
When advising customers, builders’ merchants should recommend that the site is assessed by an expert to ensure that accurate measurements are taken and other relevant issues are considered. Titan Pollution Control has a dedicated team of area sales managers, who have the technical knowledge required to carry out such surveys and these are provided free of charge.
Customers should always be encouraged to buy products that are manufactured by companies which have a proven track record in the business and a reliable after-sales department that can offer ongoing help to ensure the product is correctly serviced and maintained.
Builders’ merchants must also ensure that the products they sell comply with H1 building regulations. These regulations state, for example, that pumping stations taking untreated sewage to a main drain must have 24-hour storage capacity in the event of pump or electric supply failure.
To conclude, pumping stations are popular, but complex products, which require very careful specification. In addition to ascertaining key information such as the height and distance of the pump from the main sewer, builders’ merchants should always encourage customers to have the site assessed by a professional to ensure safety and best practice.
To give builders’ merchants and their customers an added understanding of pumping stations, Titan Pollution Control offers factory tours and seminars. It can also team up with builders’ merchants to produce advertising materials, such as signboards for merchant branches and joint literature.