Chopper pump reimagined for wastewater conditioning

The amount of grease and rags that make it into the wastewater system has made wet wells problem areas at many treatment facilities. Those materials can form what almost looks like a floating iceberg, often clogging headworks infrastructure. Fortunately, Vaughan has a solution for the problem in its Submersible Chopper Pump.

When used as a conditioning pump, the pump is fitted with a nozzle to provide high-velocity mixing, and is placed in the problem wet well on a portable stand. Recirculating the wet well contents through a Chopper pump chops and mixes not only the grease and debris that can accumulate as a floating layer, but also chops and resuspends heavier debris that can accumulate on the wet well floor.

“It helps break down rags, mix in floating scum layers and settled solids to create a homogenous mixture that’s easily pumped out of a sump or collections pit,” says Derek Vaughan, the company’s business development manager. “This fits many applications from lift stations to tanks used for various types of solids-handling tanks. It can also be found in other industries such as pulp and paper.”

Because the pump is mounted on a portable stand, it can easily be used in multiple applications at a single job site, facility or municipality. In wastewater treatment facilities, it can be used for conditioning applications including lift stations, influent stations or channels, basins or holding tank, and for digester clean-out or homogenization. According to Vaughan, the pump is a great fit for today’s waste stream.

“It’s a good fit because of how prevalent the new sewage is in today’s wastewater,” he says, “New sewage is more rags, baby wipes, Swiffers and scum layers from grease, and this product helps mitigate the costs associated with these issues, including vacuum truck fees and bypass pumping fees.”

The pump is designed to save users from clean-out cycles and maintenance. By resuspending and removing floating solids, the pump reduces the need for vacuum truck clean-outs. Where existing large pumps are clogging frequently, the conditioning pump can be placed in the wet well to chew up rags and solids so that the existing pump can operate freely.

“It’s an overwhelming success,” says Vaughan. “We have saved customers up to $100,000 per year in certain cases by lengthening clean-out cycles in their wet wells.” 

888-249-2467; www.chopperpumps.com