The Light Regional Council is located in South Australia, situated North of Adelaide.
They are responsible for the wastewater treatment systems in their location and Mr Adam Broadbent [Co-ordinator Waste Operations] was having ongoing problems with their submersible pumps at their Kapunda CWMS treatment plant.
Mr Steklin has the responsibility of keeping everything going and was “pleased the pump eliminated many OH&S problems associated with the submersible pumps and means we don’t have to lift the heavy pumps out of the tank to replace or perform maintenance on”.
The Problem
Mr Broadbent advised Hydro Innovations’ Regional Manager, Shaun Allgood, that his team struggled to perform maintenance on the pumps as they weighed over 100kg each and sat at the bottom of a 4-metre-deep tank. He said that this was problematic from a logistical and work health and safety (WH&S) perspective. On top of this, the submersible pumps were only lasting five to eight years.
The Solution
After reviewing the application, engineers at Hydro Innovations recommended that the council move to a Gorman-Rupp self-priming wastewater pump so that operators could have easy access to the pump, without the need for lifting devices. Hydro also recommended that the council try the “eradicator” version of their reliable Gorman-Rupp “Super T” series of wastewater pump to minimise the chances of blockages by stringy materials such as rags and wet wipes.
The council liked the look of Gorman-Rupp Self-priming pumps and knew of their reputation for quality and they “expected it to last a long time”. They proceeded to purchase and install the pump.
The Results
During a “Post-Commissioning” check [performed by Hydro Innovations after all newly purchased pump-sets have been installed], Shaun met up with Mr Ryan Steklin from the council. Mr Steklin has the responsibility of keeping everything going and was “pleased the pump eliminated many OH&S problems associated with the submersible pumps and means we don’t have to lift the heavy pumps out of the tank to replace or perform maintenance on”. He also said that it “allowed us to frequently check the pump performance because it easier to do so”.
Gorman-Rupp wastewater pumps are frequently purchased by municipalities and general industry to replace submersible pumps to improve access and safety for operators. They are available in a range of sizes to suit flows from 4 litres per second [L/s] through to 200 L/s, so can be retrofitted into most wet wells.
More information on sewage pumps in Australia can be obtained by contacting Hydro Innovations on 02 9898 1800 or by email on info@hydroinnovations.com.au
The Pumps
The Gorman-Rupp Super T Series self priming centrifugal wastewater/sewage pump has been the world benchmark for this technology since 1963 (over 50 years!). They have been designed for economical, trouble-free operation, with superior solids handling capability and a large inspection cover to access pump internals for service or blockage removal.