E/One Named "Top Projects Award" Winner by Water & Wastes Digest

News Release:

NISKAYUNA, N.Y., Sept. 26, 2014 -- Environment One Corporation (E/One), a pioneer and world leader of low-pressure, gravity-independent, contour-following sewage collection systems, has been selected as one of the winners of Water & Wastes Digest's Top Projects Award Program. The presentation will be made on Tuesday, September 30, in New Orleans on the occasion of the Water  Environment Federation’s Annual Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC^®), the largest event of its kind in North America.

In attempting to clear up an E. coli problem in the area’s lakes by replacing deteriorating septic systems, E/One and its client, the Twin Lakes Regional Sewer District in Monticello, IN, constructed the single largest grinder pump driven low-pressure sewer project in the Western Hemisphere.

"For this area, for this district, the best thing was low-pressure sewer," says Mike Darter, general manager of the Twin Lakes Regional Sewer District.  "By far and away LPS was the only way to sewer this area. It provided a timely installation with minimal disturbance to the property owners."

At present, the $65 million project counts 5,071 E/One grinder pumps which service approximately 8,000 residences and businesses around Lake Shaffer and Lake Freeman. Nearly 300 miles of pressure sewer lines link across more than 29 square miles and traverse the Tippecanoe River multiple times. The expected flow from the entire system is 1,285,000 gallons per day delivered to four separate wastewater treatment plants.

"It's quite an honor for E/One Sewer® systems, and for the grinder pump category which we pioneered and which was not too long ago considered an 'alternate' technology. Today LPS has become the 'appropriate' technology solution for a growing number of progressive communities worldwide," says E/One President Eric LaCoppola.

E/One conceived the concept of the household grinder pump in the late 1960’s. E/One Sewer systems have since proven to be an economical and effective method of sewering otherwise difficult land areas, such as flat, wet, rocky and hilly terrain.

At the heart of an E/One Sewer is the grinder pump, developed by Environment One. These units accept household sanitary waste, grind it into a fine slurry, and pressurize it to permit transport through small-diameter pipes. E/One Sewer systems now serve over one million

end-users daily.

Other participants in the Twin Lakes project include E/One’s local distributor Covalen; Gorman-Rupp; Reynolds, Inc. (now Layne Heavy Civil), Orleans, IN; HRP Construction, South Bend, IN; Rothenberger Construction, Concord, MI; Clyde E. Williams & Associates, LaGrange, IN; RheinBach Engineers, South Bend, IN; and, GRW Engineers, Indianapolis, IN.

ABOUT E/ONE

Environment One Corporation (E/One) is a diversified, high-technology company located in Niskayuna, New York, U.S.A. Manufacturing, engineering, administration and marketing operations are managed from Niskayuna. Environment One also maintains regional sales offices in key cities in the U.S.A. and globally. Environment One Corporation is owned by Precision Castparts Corp. (PCC), a worldwide manufacturer of complex metal components and products, listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "PCP."

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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 Share: Upgrades on the Fly

"Upgrades on the Fly," in the July issue of Treatment Plant Operator, is about the sewer system in Cohasset, Mass. Not only has the treatment plant undergone extensive upgrades, the 400 grinder pumps are getting upgraded as well -- literally.

E/One Upgrade grinder pump

The system originally used centrifugal grinder pumps, but they just didn't cut the mustard -- er, disposable wipes, among other things. So the town is retrofitting those grinder pumps with the E/One Upgrade SPD grinder pump.

The E/One Upgrade was designed specifically to replace 2 hp centrifugal grinder pumps and offers quick, drop-in replacement into the existing wetwell tank.

Read the entire article.

Looking to solve your sewer system woes? Learn more about E/One Sewer Systems and find out how we can help.

Article Share: You can put ANYTHING into a Septic System ... Right?

Often when homeowners are told they have to convert from septic tanks to sewer systems -- especially sewer systems with grinder pumps -- they're quite surprised that they suddenly have a list of items they can't flush/pour down the drain.

"I never had these rules with my septic tank!" they say.

Or did they?

The January issue of Pumper magazine contained a great piece by Jim Anderson, Ph.D., 6 Tips Your Customers will Appreciate. The recommendations, for the most part, are the same for sewer systems. A few are items are even more restrictive than they are for sewer systems.

Here are the six tips summarized, but go to the article for the full context:

1. The toilet is not another wastebasket -- Mostly agreed. We've heard from many service techs about the crazy things that end up in the grinder pump as well. Household wastewater and toilet paper are all that belong. There is one point where we disagree with the author: "... the toilet is used as a handy wastebasket to flush away a number of items. This may work where homes are serviced by the 'big pipe' ..." NO!!! Ask any treatment plant operator how he feels about baby wipes and "flush and forget," and we bet he'll agree with us.
2. Space out laundry loads -- This one is interesting and really applies only to septic tanks. Whether or not your sewer system involves a grinder pump, you don't have to worry about timing out your laundry chore.
3. Avoid the garbage disposal -- Again, this one applies to septic tanks. You can have a garbage disposal with your grinder pump, but pay attention to what you're putting through the disposal. Did you know that you're not supposed to put meat and bones through the disposal? And that you're supposed to run the water for about 5 minutes to ensure your kitchen drain is clear?
4. Dispose of medicines properly -- Agreed, and you're not supposed to throw them in the garbage, either, according to the EPA. Your town probably has a drug take-back day once or twice a year, or your pharmacy may take and dispose them.
5. Say no to solvents -- Strong chemicals don't belong in any system.
6. Give new systems a fresh start -- If you're buying at a home that has a grinder pump, find out everything you can about the system: age (if it's in an existing home), manufacturer, warranty (in a new or existing home), who is responsible for maintenance (you or the town), who is the local service provider (the town or a local company).

The bottom line is, whether you have a sewer system or a septic tank, be kind to your system.

Case Study: Prevent Basement Flooding with E/One Grinder Pumps

The October issue of Pumps & Systems magazine features a case study about basement flood prevention using E/One grinder pumps.

Basement flooding caused by sewer backups is damaging, expensive and a common occurrence in towns across the United States. Especially susceptible are low-lying properties.

A common approach for preventing basement flooding is the installation of a backflow prevention valve system. A backflow prevention valve system is a mechanical device installed on the 4-inch outlet pipe between the building and the mainline sewer. While offering some protection from sewage flowing back into private property, when the device is activated in the closed position, wastewater from the property cannot be discharged. Toilets, sinks, showers, washers, dishwashers or any appliance that discharges wastewater should not be used. 

The grinder pump station allows water to be used inside the home while prevented backflow from the sewer system. 

A common approach for preventing basement flooding is the installation of a backflow prevention valve system. A backflow prevention valve system is a mechanical device installed on the 4-inch outlet pipe between the building and the mainline sewer - See more at: http://www.pump-zone.com/topics/pumps/pumps/grinder-pumps-basement-flood-prevention#sthash.qmyytJ5X.dpuf

A common approach for preventing basement flooding is the installation of a backflow prevention valve system. A backflow prevention valve system is a mechanical device installed on the 4-inch outlet pipe between the building and the mainline sewer - See more at: http://www.pump-zone.com/topics/pumps/pumps/grinder-pumps-basement-flood-prevention#sthash.qmyytJ5X.dpuf

Read the entire article here.

Have questions or need more information? Contact E/One and we'll help you determine the best solution.

WEBINAR: Sewering the Sustainable (Re)Development

Join us this Thursday, March 14 at 2:00 pm ET for a live webinar with Rick Harrison and Michael Mendelsohn, and hosted by Hanley-Wood University.

The recognition and reduction of wasted land and resources in development design is key to creating a sustainable world.  

Rick Harrison of Rick Harrison Design Studio will discuss coved communities and how small-diameter pressure sewers enable curved street layouts inside of his new Prefurbia neighborhood.

Michael Mendelsohn of Mendelsohn Construction in Arizona will reveal how geo-technical site challenges can be profitably overcome with an environmentally sensitive sewering strategy.

Click here to register.

FAQ: What's Wrong with Flushable Wipes?

Homeowners ask us about personal, flushable wipes. "If they're flushable, what's the problem?" The problem is, while they flush fine, they don't break down in water the way regular toilet paper does. and that can cause big problems.

Consumer Reports magazine conducted its own test of flushable wipes to see how they compare to regular toilet paper. Their recommendation? Toss, don't flush.

Search "flushable wipes clog" and you'll find tales from homeowners who have experienced sewage backups in their homes ... sometimes in graphic detail (consider yourself warned!). These homeowners don't even say whether or not they have grinder pumps -- the house plumbing clogged up, causing backups inside the home.

Problems have not been limited to homeowners. Municipal sewer workers around the country have had to spend a lot of time and money clearing clogs from lift stations and at the wastewater treatment plant that they say have been caused by wipes. Some municipalities have even made flushing them illegal!

Still not convinced? We came across an article in Contractor magazine that was written by a plumber. He's seen the problem first-hand.

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.

Product Spotlight: WH101 Grinder Pump Station

The W Series is E/One's most versatile grinder pump station — a range of basins, covers, discharges, inlets and panels are available. Grinder pumps pump wastewater from the home to the central sewer system and/or treatment system through small-diameter pipes.

Features

E/One's model WH101 grinder pump station features a single grinder pump inside an open wetwell tank. The grinder pump, motor controls and level-sensing controls are integated into a compact unit, easily removable for service.

The tank is made from tough, corrosion-resistant HDPE. Fiberglass is available as an option. The optimum tank capacity of 100 gallons is based on studies of water usage patterns. A single WH101 grinder pump station can accommodate the sewage flow from two single-family homes, or up to 700 gallons per day.

The WH101 (with HDPE tank) is designed to accommodate a wide range of depths. The tank height can be adjusted in the field.

Click here for more information about the WH101 grinder pump station.

New Grinder Pump Station Added to "W" Series

E/One Sewer Systems has added another grinder pump station to its W-Series product line, the WH472. The WH472 is a duplex (2 pumps) version of the WH471, which we rolled out at WEFTEC in October. The WH472 offers the same capacity of 476 gallons, but the daily flow is 3500 GPD, compared to 2000 GPD for the WH471.

More information -- including drawings -- is available on E/One's web site.

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.

E/One Debuts New Grinder Pump Stations at WEFTEC

WEFTEC is going right now at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, where E/One is debuting two new large-capacity grinder pump stations:




WH471 & WH472 Grinder Pump Stations


The WH471 and WH472 are new additions to E/One's W-Series product line. The station is an open-wetwell design that boasts a 476-gallon capacity. The tank is made from HDPE and can have one (WH471) or two (WH472) Extreme Series grinder pumps. It's an ideal choice when extra capacity is required.




WH482 Grinder Pump Station


THe WH482 is the other new addition to E/One's W-Series product line. The station is also an open-wetwell design, but offers 486 gallons of capacity. The tank is made from HDPE and is a duplex (2 pumps) grinder pump station. The WH482 can accommodate up to four Extreme Series grinder pumps.







Both grinder pump stations are expected to be available in December 2009. More information about these grinder pump stations is available on E/One's web site at http://www.eone.com/sewer-systems/regions/us/product-catalog/grinder-pumps.html

Homeowners: Do you have an E/One grinder pump?

E/One is looking for homeowners who have E/One grinder pumps installed at their homes. Whether they’re 6 months old or 26 years old, we’re interested in your opinions and experience. Please send an email to eone@eone.com with your name, city/state and the subject line “Homeowner Survey Signup.” We will NOT sell your email address to anyone – all contact information collected is solely for the purpose of knowing who uses our grinder pumps.

Grinder Pump Repair: Why not Call my Plumber?

We’re often asked if any plumber can repair an E/One grinder pump. The answer is “probably not.” While some plumbers may have experience working with sump pumps and septic tanks, grinder pumps are different and should be repaired by a trained service center.

We’ve heard E/One grinder pumps referred to as “throwaway pumps,” meaning that instead of being repaired, they must be replaced. This is not true at all. There are thousands of E/One grinder pumps that were installed in the 1970’s that are still in operation. Have they been serviced in some way? Likely. But we do hear from homeowners who have never needed repair on their pumps, even after 25 years of operation. The average mean time between service calls? Eight to 10 years.

E/One has a network of sales and service providers around the country. We recommend that you contact the distributor closest to you for service and/or repair. Our distributors are trained and can diagnose your pump’s problem – and tell you whether the pump requires repair or replacement. Contact information for E/One’s distributors is available here, on E/One’s web site.

E/One Product Spotlight: Alarm Panels

E/One offers a range of alarm panels for its grinder pumps. Called the E/One Sentry panel, a range of features is available to fit your needs. All panels are corrosion-proof, NEMA 4X-rated, thermoplastic enclosures and supplied with audible and visual high level alarms. Standard panels are approved by UL, CSA, CE and NSF to ensure high quality and safety.

Basic Panel: The Basic panel includes audible (with manual silence) and visual alarms, manual run feature and run indicator, redundant start function with high-level alarm, terminal blocks and ground lugs.

Protect Panel: The Protect panel includes all of the features of the Basic panel. Trouble indication shuts down the pump temporarily in the event of an unacceptable operating condition (brownout conditions with the electrical power supply; system over-pressure condition such as with a closed valve; run-dry operation of the pump). The Protect panel also has a contact group (dry, powered, Remote Sentry).

Protect Plus Panel: The Protect Plus panel includes all of the features of the Basic and Protect panels, but also offers a predictive status display module; pre-alarm indication for major operating parameters; alarm indications for major operating parameters; hour meter, cycle counter and alarm delay; and an LCD display and user-friendly interface.

PreSTAT Panel: E/One Sentry PreSTAT provides advance warning of pending service needs by monitoring major operating conditions. A Trouble indication is provided when these conditions fall outside of normal ranges, although the grinder pump station may continue to operate. PreSTAT also includes a programmable auto-dialer; predictive status display module; hour meter, cycle counter and alarm delay; LCD display and user-friendly interface.

Many options are available. More information about E/One Sentry alarm panels, including drawings, can be found in the Product Catalog section of E/One's web site.

Grinder Pump Product Spotlight: Model DH071

E/One's model DH071 grinder pump station is a popular option for single-family homes. The DH071 is a simplex station that includes one grinder pump with integrated level sensing controls, a 70-gallon tank made from HDPE, an an alarm panel. Available tank heights range from 61 inches to 160 inches.

The DH071 is a newer model of E/One's popular GP 2010 grinder pump station. The 2010 used E/One's 2000 Series grinder pump, while the DH071 uses E/One's Extreme Series grinder pump that was launched in 2007.

Visit E/One's web site for more information about the DH071 grinder pump and other E/One grinder pump stations.

Free Sewer System Design Software

E/One offers free sewer system design software on its web site. Visit the Design Center, fill out the form, and you will receive a link to download the software. When you click get the email, click the provided link and installation will begin. Design Assistant 8 is exclusively for designing a system with E/One grinder pumps.





(If you don't receive your link within a few minutes of filling out the form, check your spam filter or junk folder. Send an email to eone@eone.com if you experience problems.)