Grinder selected to regulate wastewater flow

Problem: The septage receiving area at the Las Vegas Street Water Resource Recovery facility in Colorado Springs, Colorado, was essentially an open pit with a bar screen. Trucks dumped waste into the pit, where it sometimes stagnated and caused odor. Waste also flowed through the facility at random intervals, occasionally overloading it and causing clogs and blockages.

Solution: The city worked with an engineering firm to construct a receiving building with three dual-shaft Muffin Monster 30K inline grinders from JWC Environmental. The grinders shred rags, clothing, wood and rocks into particles that pass through pipes and pumps without clogging or compromising flow. The units quickly adapted into existing pipelines, saving on installation time and eliminating a complete system retrofit.

Result: Since completion of the receiving building, the waste receiving process has been streamlined and worry-free. 800/331-2277; www.jwce.com.

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City upgrades piston pump with familiar model

Problem: The City of Greeley (Colorado) Wastewater Treatment Facility recently completed upgrades to its biosolids facility. The existing Schwing Bioset piston pump in the dewatering building had operated for 20 years and was a key component of this process.

Solution: The facility implemented a new pumping system with a Schwing Bioset KSP piston pump. To be as cost-effective as possible yet provide maximum redundancy, the city purchased a new KSP 25 and upgraded the existing pump to modern standards. The existing now matches the new unit with control modifications. Upgraded safety features offer easier remote operation and long wear part life. The existing unit was outfitted with a new hydraulic power unit, offering modern hydraulic feed pumps and unlimited control variability.

Result: The two pumps provide redundancy and additional capacity for growth. They are networked with the plant’s SCADA system. The pumping system was turned over to the city in fall 2015. 715/247-3433; www.schwingbioset.com.

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Chopper pumps employed at biodigester plant

Problem: The FCPC Renewable Generation Biodigester Plant in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, needed efficient chopper pumps to handle a variety of solid and liquid waste from numerous food and beverage manufacturers. The plant treats up to 120,000 gpd of high-strength waste, producing up to 2 MW of electricity, enough to power 1,500 homes.

Solution: Ten Landia chopper pumps were installed. Designed with an external knife system to prevent large solids from entering the casings, the pumps handle food waste 24/7.

Result: “Landia’s chopper pumps are proving extremely reliable and blockage-free,” says Christopher Winkowski, plant manager for Natural Systems Utilities, which operates and manages the FCPC plant. “The pumps can handle all types of food waste, which more often than not has aggressively low pH that will corrode pumps that aren’t up to the job.” 919/466-0603; www.landiainc.com.

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Pump station helps keep sewage out of drainage ditch

Problem: The aging wastewater treatment plant for the Hermits Lake subdivision in Crown Point, Indiana, serving 206 homes, had a long history of state citations for discharging raw or poorly treated sewage during rain events into Foss Ditch, which drains south into the communities of Lake Dalecarlia and Lowell.

Solution: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, with DVG Engineers and Haas Associates, created plans to modify the plant lagoons into flow equalization basins and construct a new pump station. The city agreed to receive the flow into its wastewater treatment plant at up to 100 gpm. The fully automated Precision Systems pump station includes three 20 hp Vaughan submersible chopper pumps, each rated for 230 gpm. The pumps have variable-frequency drives, Auma actuated valves, dual flowmeters, SCADA monitoring and a backup generator with an automatic transfer switch. In an overflow event, the valves automatically send the 100 gpm flow to Crown Point, and any excess is sent directly to the equalization basins. Once incoming flows are less than the 100 gpm, the automated valves allow flow to drain from the equalization basins to Crown Point, alleviating the discharge into Foss Ditch.

Result: The fully automated station went online in November 2015. It has expanded the system capacity, alleviated flooding and eliminated environmental concerns. 708/891-4300; www.precision-systems.com.