Pumping stations

Sewage pumping stations: why you might need one

A sewage pumping station lifts wastewater to places it cannot reach by gravity. A private house does not always need one, but if the lie of the land or the position of the installations requires it, the system simply will not work without it. Here is the general layout and what an owner should know.

A pumping station goes unnoticed while it works and becomes very noticeable when it stops. So what matters for the owner is not knowing how to repair it, but recognising in time that it is time to call the service company, and not trying to open what should stay closed.

— Editor's note

History of this address

Archived address · now a reference page

This address used to be where a seller of treatment plants described its pumping stations. That site has closed, and this guide has nothing to do with it.

Now it holds a general explanation of why a private house may need its wastewater pumped. There are no models, prices or installation offers on this page.

When a pumping station is unavoidable

Normally wastewater moves through pipes by gravity, thanks to a slope. But sometimes the treatment installation or the external sewer lies higher than the outlet from the house, the plot has difficult terrain, or the pipes cannot be laid with the necessary fall. In that case the wastewater is collected in the station's tank and pumped onwards.

Whether you need a station is decided by the designer, based on survey data and the site plan. Do not try to judge the falls yourself or connect into the external sewer: a mistake will lead to stagnant wastewater or a breakdown.

What a station consists of

A tank that collects the wastewater from the house.
One or more pumps that push the wastewater onwards through a pressure pipe.
Level sensors that signal the pump to switch on and off.
A control unit and, as a rule, an alarm for faults or overfilling.
Inlet and pressure pipes, plus ventilation for the tank.

What to check with the contractor

Why the design includes a station and whether gravity flow could do the job.
How the fault alarm works and where in the house it will be shown.
What happens if the power goes off, and how the design allows for this.
Who will service the station and what a regular visit includes.
What documents and manuals you will receive after installation.

Signs of a fault

The alarm has gone off or a warning light is on.
Water in the house drains more slowly than usual, and the pipes gurgle.
There is a smell or an unusual noise at the station, or the pump runs longer than usual.
The pump takes a long time to switch on even though water is being used in the house.

What this text is based on

SP 32.13330 "Sewerage. External networks and facilities" (Russian code of practice)
Equipment manufacturers' instructions (general provisions)

Rules, requirements for treatment facilities and equipment manuals are updated from time to time, so the final word belongs to the design, the regulations in force and the documentation of your particular system. The texts here cite Russian standards; other countries have their own building and sanitary rules, so check local regulations and permits. This guide explains how systems work and why decisions are made, but it does not replace a designer, an installer or a service company.