Why remote digital monitoring is so important to lift stations

Wastewater collection systems are complex. From downstream pipes, to pumps and control – there are a variety of components that work in consort to prevent wastewater from entering our freshwater ponds, lakes, rivers and streams. 

Lift stations are one of the most important components of those systems. Lift stations move wastewater from lower to higher elevations using a combination of pipes and pumps. They’re almost always used in areas where the natural laws of gravity don’t apply and where downward flow is impossible. 

In most municipal systems, there are sometimes hundreds of lift stations in use – all in locations throughout a city. Some only handle smaller amounts of water while some pump thousands of gallons of water per minute. Keeping these pumps up and operating well is crucial to the overall health of the system. If a few go down, it can be catastrophic. And with municipalities dealing with fewer and fewer resources, they’ve had to get smarter about how they service their wastewater system and keep it properly maintained. 

Most lift stations are automated these days and most don’t need on-site operators. Most of the time, the operators that do exist perform weekly inspections to identify potential problems before they evolve into a crisis. That being said, the time between is where problems can arise. That’s why remote digital monitoring systems have become so popular.

Without them, problems could go undetected until the next inspection. With them, operators are alerted instantly as to any potential problems – which adds just as much peace of mind as it does significant cost savings. 

Now, operators can monitor pumps from afar and sometimes even using the cloud. This drastically reduces response time for issues like flooding – and significantly reduces the cost of maintenance with the overall idea being that problems are solved before they become out and out issues. These systems even help make it easier to avoid fines and the potential for regulatory fall out if something isn’t up to code. 
Today’s systems are also less costly to both maintain and install. Gone are the days of copper wiring or traveling to stations to monitor and maintain their sensors. These systems are long lasting, dependable and less expensive than ever.

If you or your wastewater treatment plant have interest in learning about what new technologies are out there for you to take advantage of, give us a call today and we’ll be happy to walk you through options. Until then, good luck!