The document provides a guide for selecting lift stations with 7 key steps: 1) Determine the configuration based on site conditions like above-ground or buried options. 2) Apply the right pumps based on current and future flow conditions and solids handling. 3) Consider backup power options like generators or redundant grid connections. 4) Determine the appropriate enclosure type based on maintenance needs, neighborhood compatibility, and safety. 5) Select controls that include level controls, feedback, alarms, and redundancy. 6) Account for total life-cycle costs like maintenance, parts, and packaged versus piecemeal approaches. 7) Address all safety issues regarding gases, falling, flooding, electricity, and unauthorized access.

1. Lift Station Buyer's Guide
Brian Gongol
DJ Gongol & Associates, Inc.
March 13, 2018
Nebraska Rural Water Association Annual Conference
Kearney, Nebraska

2. Who needs a "Lift Station Buyer's Guide"?

3. Smart buying matters

4. "An educated consumer is our best customer"

5. A lift station is a major investment

6. You are like a bank trustee

7. Lift station selection in seven steps

8. 1. Determine the confguration

9. Eight ways to lay out a lift station

10. Depends on site conditions

11. Above-ground suction lift

12. Vertical turbine

13. Recessed suction lift

14. Buried suction lift

15. Dry-pit submersible

16. Shafted dry pit

17. Wet-pit submersible with valve vault

18. Wet-pit submersible with valves above ground

19. No single answer is always right

20. No answer should be prematurely dismissed

21. 2. Apply the right pumps to the application

22. Current conditions

23. Current conditions

24. Future conditions

25. Future conditions

26. Flexibility to upgrade

27. Flexibility to upgrade

28. Solids passage

29. Solids passage

30. Solids capture

31. Solids capture

32. Solids reduction

33. Solids reduction

34. Scouring velocity

35. Scouring velocity

36. Parallel operation

37. Parallel operation

38. Series operation

39. Series operation

40. 3. Consider backup power options

41. Redundant grid

42. Redundant grid

43. Generator (fxed/portable)

44. Generator (fxed/portable)

45. Engine backup

46. Engine backup

47. Portable pump

48. Portable pump

49. Permanent pump

50. Permanent pump

51. 4. Determine the enclosure type

52. Size to ft the maintenance and operation

53. Size to ft the maintenance and operation

54. Site-built or prefabricated

55. Site-built or prefabricated

56. Suitability to neighborhood

57. Suitability to neighborhood

58. Security

59. Security

60. Sound

61. Sound

62. Safety

63. Safety

64. Sightliness

65. Sightliness

66. 5. Select the controls style and confguration

67. Level controls

68. Level controls

69. Control logic (solid-state, PLC)

70. Control logic (solid-state, PLC)

71. Feedback and SCADA

72. Feedback and SCADA

73. Redundancy

74. Redundancy

75. Power loss

76. Power loss

77. Lightning and surge protection

78. Lightning and surge protection

79. On-site alarms

80. On-site alarms

81. Of-site alarms

82. Of-site alarms

83. 6. Account for total life-cycle costs

84. Spare parts

85. Spare parts

86. Maintenance costs

87. Maintenance costs

88. Hardened/extended-life wearing parts

89. Hardened/extended-life wearing parts

90. Packaged stations versus piecemeal approach

91. Packaged stations versus piecemeal approach

92. Packaged by pump factory

93. Packaged by pump factory

94. Packaged by a third party or site-built

95. Packaged by a third-party shop

96. 7. Address all safety issues

97. Explosive gases

98. Explosive gases

99. Toxic gases

100. Toxic gases

101. Fall risk

102. Fall risk

103. Drowning risk

104. Drowning risk

105. Flooding risk

106. Flooding risk

107. Electrocution hazards

108. Electrocution hazards

109. Moving parts

110. Moving parts

111. Prohibiting unauthorized access

112. Prohibiting unauthorized access

113. To recap

There are eight diferent ways to do a lift station

No one way is a silver bullet

Each has its place

Apply the pumps for sensible possibilities

Account for backup power

Enclose wisely

Control thoughtfully

Plan for maintenance

Always be safe

114. Questions?
If you don't want to ask now,
send me an email!
brian@gongol.net

115. Thank you!

Brian Gongol
DJ Gongol & Associates

515-223-4144

brian@gongol.net

@djgongol on Twitter

facebook.com/djgongol

www.gongol.net

116. Credits

Uncle Sam poster:

http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/96507165/

In the public domain

Horseless carriage ad:

Fort Dodge Semi-Weekly Chronicle; May 30, 1899

Presumed in the public domain since it is a work well beyond
copyright age

Pump graphs courtesy of the Gorman-Rupp Company

All other photographs, illustrations, and other content are the original
work of the author and are not to be used without prior permission;
copyright is reserved