Case Study: Grinder Pumps Fuel Economic Growth

Southside sits in a rural area of Arkansas. Residents relied on septic tanks, which had a number of problems: some were a half-century old and ending their useful life, but more so, the shallow, soggy soil didn't perc well ... vital for septic systems.

Credit: Crist Engineers

"Improving the wastewater system represents the absolute top priority," was the urgent message of the 2009 Batesville Comprehensive Plan.

"Existing subdivisions couldn't grow anymore and were becoming unsafe due to raw sewage because of bad percolation," says Richardson. A new collection system was fundamental, he adds, "for growth both residential and commercial."

Credit: Crist Engineers

A gravity sewer system would have cause massive disruption and deep trenches. Crist Engineers, located in Little Rock, had designed pressure sewer systems before and chose E/One grinder pumps to do the job.

What were the results? Read the entire story on E/One's web site.

New Webinar: Grinder Pumps for Basement Flood Prevention

Join E/One Sewer Systems and Water & Wastes Digest on Wednesday, September 24, at 2:00 pm ET for a new webinar.

Basement flooding caused by sewer backups is downright damaging, extremely expensive, and quite common in towns and cities throughout the U.S. In addition to being a health hazard and a stressful event for building occupants, sewer backups can create tremendous resource burdens. These backups can be created by excessive groundwater or rainwater entering the sanitary sewer system as infiltration and inflow (I&I). In combined sewer systems, overflows often result from an insufficient capacity to properly convey the combined sanitary and wet-weather flow.

Find out how grinder pumps can now provide protection and security to homeowners and businesses by preventing sewer-related basement flooding. This proven technology provides a simple and straightforward solution to a stinky situation that has plagued system owners/operators and their constituents for decades.

Participants earn one professional development hour through Water & Wastes Digest.

Register now!

Article: Using Grinder Pumps to Prevent Sewer System Backups

Nobody wants to endure a sewer system backup into his home. Unfortunately, they happen more often as sewer system infrastructure in the United States ages. Combine age with storms that seem to produce heavier and heavier rains, and you have a recipe for disaster.

Combined sewer systems, which combine both wastewater from homes and stormwater from drains, still exist throughout the Northeast and Great Lakes regions of the United States. Overflows result from insufficient capacity to transport the wastewater and stormwater flows. Unfortunately, during heavy rain, this combined sewer overflow (CSO) can back up into the basements of homes and businesses, costing tens of thousands of dollars in damage.

Backflow prevention valves and catch basins have been typical solutions, but they have big drawbacks: backflow prevention valves, when engaged, prevent wastewater from backing up, but they also prevent wastewater from going out -- ie, the building's plumbing cannot be used. Catch basins can be overwhelmed by heavy rains, as the water goes to the sewer system anyway through manholes and other entry points.

A new best practice for preventing these CSO overflows and backups is installing a grinder pump station to handle the home's wastewater. How does it work, and where has this solution been used? Find out in Grinder Pumps for Basement Flood Prevention, which appeared in the October 2013 issue of Pumps & Systems magazine.

Have questions, or need more information? Visit the E/One web site, or contact us at eone@eone.com.

"You Can't Flush ANYTHING when You have a Grinder Pump"

(Notice that the headline is in quotes -- you'll learn why.)

As we've discussed on the blog before, new grinder pump owners feel incredibly limited by what they can pour or flush down the drain. They didn't have restrictions when they had septic tanks or gravity sewer systems, they say.

Are you sure?

We added a few video "Likes" to our YouTube channel last week about what not to flush and why. You may be saying, "Thanks for another reason to dislike a grinder pump ..."

Not so fast.

What's interesting about these videos is, not one of them ever mentions a grinder pump! Each video explains what what you should not be putting into the sewer system.


Still not convinced? Check out these links, found during a quick Google search (and have no obvious affiliation to E/One Sewer Systems):

• Village Requests Residents to Refrain from Flushing Baby Wipes -- Goreville, IL
• A kit by Goldstreet Designs, an agency that designs communications for the public utilities sector 
• The Septic Tank Maintenance entry on Inspectapedia.com (very similar list to the grinder pump)

Personal/cleaning wipes are a favorite topic: they're popular consumer items, yet problematic to the wastewater systems (equipment repairs, overtime, etc). Could it be true that people will pay for the convenience of wipes, even pay a plumber to clear a clog, but complain when their taxes go up because of increased sewer rates?

Of course, wipes aren't the only reason we are paying more for sewer. ASCE's Infrastructure Report Card was released a few weeks ago. We'll discuss the D grade that America's wastewater infrastructure received.

We've already started on our Facebook page (you don't need to be a member to view our page, only to add comments).

ASCE Infrastructure Report Card Released

ASCE released its Infrastructure Report Card a few weeks ago. Wastewater improved slightly, from a D- in 2009 to a D this year.

"Capital investment needs for the nation's wastewater and stormwater systems are estimated to total $298 billion over the next twenty years," according to the Report's web site. Stormwater is a relatively small, though increasing, piece of the spending, but included in the wastewater section.

The largest percentage of the "need" is for expanding and fixing pipes in order to address sanitary sewer overflows and combined sewer overflows.

From the report:

"In 2008, EPA reported that the U.S. 20-year investment needs for aging wastewater treatment totaled just over $298 billion, or almost $15 billion annually. The total represented a 17% increase over the 2004 Clean Watershed Needs Survey (CWNS) results. Meanwhile, annual appropriations for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) totaled $9 billion over the five years from 2008 to 2012, an average of slightly more than $1.8 billion annually, well short of the annual need. Congressional appropriations totaled approximately $10.5 billion between 2008 and 2012—about $2.1 billion annually or $42 billion over 20 years, 14% of the 20-year needs.


"Of the total needs, over $202 billion in the CWNS was the nationwide capital investment needed to control wastewater pollution for up to a 20-year period. The 2008 report included estimates of $134 billion for wastewater treatment and collection systems, $55 billion for combined sewer overflow corrections, and $9 billion for storm-water management."

Get the full report at www.infrastructurereportcard.org. 

New Video: Infiltration & Inflow Solutions

We have just released a new video, available on our YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/user/eoneninja

This video explores the real cost of aging and failing gravity sewers -- not only the repairs that will be required, but the added cost of treatment. E/One low pressure sewer systems can virtually eliminate I & I, saving tens of thousands for communities.

Don't Fear the Grinder Pump!

"I heard you can't pour boiling water down the drain."

"I heard you can't use Charmin toilet paper."

"I heard you can't use drain cleaner."

"I heard you can't use cooking oil."

"I heard you can't ...."

The list goes on. We hear from homeowners who are worried about all of the things you "can't" do if you have a grinder pump -- not just an E/One grinder pump, but any grinder pump. Let's put the fears to rest:

Boiling water: We heard this one recently. If you're making pasta, yes, it's OK to pour the water down the drain. The water will stop boiling as soon as you turn off the stove, and by the time the water reaches the grinder pump, it will be cool.

Toilet paper limitations: You are free to use whatever brand of regular toilet paper you like ... but beware of flushable wipes! They don't break down in wastewater the same way regular toilet paper does (so they don't fall apart while you're using them). See post below for link to a Consumer Reports video and opinions from plumbers who have had to clear clogs. Even if they get through your drains and grinder pump, they're wreaking havoc on the lift stations and at the wastewater treatment plant. (Remember: your taxes pay for these services!)

Drain cleaner: Normal, household-use drain cleaner is fine to use (as opposed to commercial-grade, which is incredibly strong), but flush plenty of clean water down the drain until the pump turns on and clears out any drain cleaner that may be in the tank.You wouldn't leave chemicals soaking in your sink; you shouldn't do it to your grinder pump.

Cooking oil/Grease: Using cooking oil isn't the problem ... pouring large amounts of cooking oil down the drain is the problem. Oil isn't good for the pump, but again, the problem isn't limited to grinder pumps -- oil isn't good for ANY sewer system. Even if you fry up a pound of bacon, you'll have more grease than should go down the drain. Scrape it into the garbage can, wipe the pan, then wash it. Any residue will be minimal -- and the pan will be easier to wash.

Get a copy of our Grinder Pump Owners Guide


Typically, people have used the "flush and forget" rule: If they can can flush it down the drain without clogging, then they can forget about it ... never mind what may happen to the sewer mains, lift stations and treatment plant because it's not their responsibility. That's changing, though: some municipalities have said that if they can determine which household is responsible for flushing prohibited items, they will charge that household for repair costs.


References*

• http://www.ci.hayward.ca.us/brochures_handouts/Wipes_Clog_Pipes.pdf  
• http://kreate.hubpages.com/hub/flushable_wipes_may_clog_drain_lines
• http://www.stsan.com/Wipes_Clog_Pipes.html
• http://www.celina-tx.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=260&Itemid=271 
  
• http://www.ceasethegrease.org/

* These municipalities may or may not be E/One customers. We selected these links based on the quality of content and suggested "use and care" of their sewer systems.

Case Study: Elwood, Kansas

The April issue of WaterWorld magazine features an E/One case study. Elwood, Kansas, has one of the largest gravity sewer system replacement projects in the country. The gravity sewer system had a lot of infiltration problems. Nine lift stations ran constantly to clear the groundwater. Manholes and sections of sewer mains were constantly sinking. Then, there was the flood of 1993.

How big of a flood? The town was washed out and need to be re-sewered. Click here to read the entire article in WaterWorld magazine.

E/One Grinder Pump Case Studies in Pumps & Systems Magazine

The current issue of Pumps & Systems magazine features a special section devoted to grinder and chopper pumps. This section features and article entitled, "Grinder Pump Driven Pressure Sewer Systems." The article highlights two communities that use E/One grinder pumps:

Athens, Tennessee
Athens, which we talked about here a few months ago, suffered from extreme infiltration problems. An aging gravity sewer system could not handle the town's wastewater flow, and rainwater that bypassed the pump station made the situation worse.

Instead of building a new gravity sewer system, Athens decided to use a pressure sewer system using E/One grinder pumps. Installation was less disruptive, saving on construction costs. The reduced flow into the wastewater treatment plant resulted in an annual (treatment) savings of more than $89,000.

Marion, Massachusetts
The New England coast poses several geo-technical challenges: sloping terrain, rock, high groundwater and sandy soil. When Marion needed to expand its sewer system, pressure sewer was the obvious choice.

Pressure sewer service to the 455 homes saved 40 percent over the cost of the proposed gravity system -- and was completed in half the time of the gravity sewer proposal.

Additional Case Studies
To read more articles about communities who have successfully used E/One grinder pumps, visit the Case Studies and Technical Reprints sections on E/One's web site.

Sewer Systems: Pressure Sewer vs Gravity Sewer

When most people think of sewer systems, they think only of gravity sewers. Gravity sewers have been around for centuries, with origins in the Roman aqueducts. While often considered the "simple sewer solution" when septic tanks cannot be used, gravity sewers are not always feasible. What other choice is there? Pressure sewer systems.

Gravity sewer systems use large mains (up to 24" in diameter) that must be accurately placed and bedded along a continuous downward grade. Large, costly lift stations are often involved as well. All of the sewer mains must be in "straight lines," adding to the complexity of the system design. and, because the mains are all "below grade" of structures, large, deep trenches will be required. If the land has a high water table or a lot of bedrock, gravity sewers may be cost prohibitive or impossible to install at all.

Pressure sewer systems offer many more options. The small mains (usually 2" to 4" in diameter) are buried just below the frost line, eliminating the need for large, deep trenches. The mains are flexible, so they can often be installed via directional drilling. Grinder pumps transport waste from the homes to the pressure sewer mains. Because the wastewater is pressurized, it can be transported horizontally up to two miles, or 185 feet vertically.

Case Study: Great Sky, Canton, Georgia
The Great Sky development is located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Steep hills and bedrock made gravity sewers incredibly expensive -- deep trenches and 20 lift stations were estimated. Septic systems were not allowed.

The solution? A pressure sewer system with E/One grinder pumps installed at each home, allowing wastewateer to be pumped uphill. Shallow trenching was used to install the force mains. Only three lift stations were required.

Read the entire article, as published in Land Development Today magazine, on E/One's web site.

Learn About Pressure Sewer Systems

For an introduction to pressure sewer systems, check out this webinar that E/One hosted with Pumps & Systems magazine in December 2008. "Grinder Pumps in Pressure Sewers" provides introductory information about when and where to use pressure sewer systems, and the advantages over gravity sewer systems.