Common mistakes to avoid when installing a sludge pumping station

If you want to install a sludge pump Victoria station, there are some common mistakes you need to avoid to ensure your application operates effectivity. Pump stations could be comprised of submersible pumps, lifting chains, a polyethylene chamber, a controller, floats and hose kits. When the pump stations get on-site and start to be installed, it isn’t uncommon to run into problems. We have compiled this guide to help you understand some of the most common mistakes and how to avoid them.

Load bearing on the polyethylene chamber

The polyethylene chamber isn’t meant to be load-bearing. However, this commonly occurs when there is an improper excavation depth that causes the cover to be directly on the chamber or there is no concrete encasement of the chamber for class D applications. With the polyethylene construction, it will be easy to install your pumping station but it is not designed and manufactured to be vehicle load bearing. In case the cover rests on the chamber directly then it will transfer the load from the surface to the polyethylene.

If the cover rests on the chamber directly then it will transfer the load from the surface to the polyethylene and this will result in stress on the chamber that it wasn’t designed for.

To solve this problem, it is important to ensure you know the dimensions of the cover and the paving details to allow proper excavation depth and in case it will be subject to automotive traffic. It is important to set the chamber down and ensure you tie the case iron cover through to the paving detail. You can also encase your poly chamber in concrete and when you buy sludge pumps and pumping station, you will be given installation instructions. Make sure you follow these instructions.

Insufficient cable

Submersible pumps come with special cables that are usually ten meters long. Inaccurate measurements for the distance of cables hold up installation because of an electrician having to extend them when there is an insufficient default length.

This problem can be solved by ensuring you measure from where your pump will be installed in the chamber and the length that it should run up the wall to connect directly to the controller.

Improper concrete ballast

If a pumping station isn’t installed with the appropriate ballast, it might lift the bottom of the chamber or the pumping station may push through the completed surface. This is known as buoyancy and it is typically caused by the water table’s upward pressure on the pump chamber.

To solve this, it is important to follow the installation and operation manuals that include information regarding this. In general, it is important to encase the base of the sludge pump Victoria chamber and ensure the rib of the chamber is properly covered. The chambers have tie points for reinforcement of steel at the bottom to anchor the chamber to the ballast and restrain the buoyancy pressure. It is therefore recommended to have a professional do the installation to avoid problems with your pumping station.