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I’ve taken on a new hobby… roller derby!  I was looking for a hobby that would be physically and mentally challenging where I could meet new, like-minded people as well as give back to my community. I figured that helping to start a league in my home town that was a non-profit organization would meet all of my goals for a hobby. So, how does this relate to teamwork at Romtec Utilities?

During derby practice this week, we practiced teamwork through communication. On the rink, a derby team has to be in constant communication to support each other and help keep everyone safe. Today, I realized that the Romtec Utilities staff has worked hard over the years to incorporate these same ideas into how we work together. Although our staff is spread over a few buildings, we have set up processes to keep the communication flowing.
A great example of this is how we handle pump station design changes. When we receive written or verbal comments from our customer, our documentation manager creates a “response document” that starts with a restatement of the comments or questions.

The response document is then delivered to the engineering department for answers. If the comments direct us to make changes, the engineering department updates the design drawings and the bill of materials and fills out a Design Change Form. This Form and the answers are sent back to our documentation manager, who finalizes our response letter and notes in the letter if any of the comments have created price changes.

The documentation manager takes the updated drawings from engineering and revises our Scope of Supply and Design Submittal. She then forwards the completed Design Change Form to operations for a revised quote (or change order if a purchase order has been received), and to the purchasing/production department if any of the system components are being purchased or manufactured. If there is a change order, operations forwards this change order to the accounting department to update any purchase orders.

It is amazing how one form keeps everyone in the loop and on the same page! The end result is an efficiently revised design and price that heads back to the customer is as little as one day.

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Electrical Connection Methods in Wet Well Design

In pump station system design, it is common for some aspects of the electrical design to be given less than adequate attention.  This article focuses on electrical connection methods. Specifically, the designer must consider the connection of electrical equipment inside the underground wet well to the above-ground electrical control system.   In wastewater pump stations, the wet well is classified as a hazardous area, due to the potential build-up of explosive gas. Egress of electrical cables from the wet well can be tricky business, since there are a variety of ways to run the cables and make electrical connections. Romtec Utilities has devised three methods for electrical connection; direct connection, above-ground junction box and below-ground junction box.

Direct Connection
A direct connection is defined as conduits that run from the inside of the wet well directly to the electrical control panel.  The advantage of the direct connection method is simplicity.  Just before entering the panel, seal-offs are installed to prevent migration of hazardous gas from the wet well (when classified as hazardous area). The seal-offs would be omitted in unclassified systems.
When choosing the direct connection method the mounting location of the control panel is restricted by the maximum length of the cables on the pumps and floats.  Standard cable lengths are 50 feet.  Longer lengths up to 100’ can be special ordered. Remember to consider the wet well depth when determining the distance between the wet well and control panel.

Below-ground Junction Box
The below-ground junction box from Romtec Utilities contains components to meet hazardous area requirements and at the same time provides ease of maintenance without having to defeat seal-offs. See photo of the interior of a typical Romtec Utilities below-ground junction box.  Consider this method when:

• The wet-well is classified as a hazardous area.
• The control panel is mounted over  25 to 30 feet from the wet well.
• The wet well is located in a high traffic area.
• Removing pumps or float without defeating seal-offs is required.

Above -ground Junction Box
The above-ground junction box from Romtec Utilities combined with the cable tray provides the most user friendly method of pump and level sensor connection.  In addition to meeting most hazardous area requirements, the above ground junction box is impervious to ground flooding or corrosion.  See photo of the Romtec Utilities above-ground junction box. Consider this method when any of the following statements are true:

• The wet-well is classified hazardous area.
• The control panel is mounted over  25 to 30 feet from the wet well.
• Removing pumps or float without defeating seal-offs is required.
• Ground water or flooding is expected.

Related posts:

1. Hazardous Area Classification for Pumping Stations
2. Fish Love Pump Stations

In our modern tech world of texting, instant messaging and e-mails, we have become very comfortable using acronyms. LOL (Laugh Out Loud), is one of the most common responses in just about every text message conversation. IDK, ROTFL, BTW, GTG, JK, OMG and CYA are just a few of the most popular texting abbreviations being used. Many of these include numbers instead of spelled out words, such as B4 (before), L8R (later) and GR8 (great). Acronyms have basically became a language of their own.

Some of us prefer the old standby’s that we have been using for longer than texting has been around like FYI, ASAP, SWAK, SNAFU and AKA. Very few people are exempt from abbreviations and acronyms in their everyday lives. From hospitals to big box stores, just about everyone uses them during the day in some form or another. Some acronyms are general and widely used and some are unique to a specific industry, and government contract acronyms are no different.

If you are involved with the government contracts at your company or agency, acronyms come your way on a daily basis. Not only are you required to know what they stand for, you must understand them and how they apply or if they are appropriate for your job or project. GSA, HUBzone, FAR, NAICS and NIGP are just a sampling of some of the acronyms you may hear when talking “contracts”.

GSA – General Services Administration
The GSA, established in 1949, oversees procurement for the Federal government. They supply products and communications for U.S. Government offices.

FAR – Federal Acquisition Regulation
The FAR is the principal “rule book” of government agencies to govern the “acquisition process”, through which the government purchases goods and services.

NAICS – North American Industry Classification System
The NAICS (pronounced “nakes”) is used by both business and the government to categorize products according to type of economic activity.

NIGP – National Institute of Governmental Purchasing
Some agencies use NIGP codes instead of the more common NAICS codes.

SBA – Small Business Administration

The SBA is a US government agency that provides support to small business through education.

HUBZone – Historically Underutilized Business Zone

HUBZone is an SBA program for small businesses located in areas that have been determined to be “underutilized”. The primary goal of the program is to create incentives for the US government to do contracting with businesses that operate and create jobs in communities statistically proven economic needs.

These are just a few of the acronyms we use at Romtec on a daily basis. Don’t hesitate to let us know if you hear us use an acronym that you don’t understand!

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Romtec Utilities has opened it’s doors to a whole new side of our pump station scope of work. In March, 2010 Romtec Utilities added a construction/installation branch to our vast pump station industry. Suncadia, LLC in Cle Elum, Washington was our first construction/installation project, and a very successful first project. Suncadia Resort, with its breathtaking views of the Washington Cascades, asked Romtec Utilities to design and build a 10ft diameter by 16 1/2ft deep pump station with a valve vault and pig launcher ( for flushing objects out of the 8 inch forced main ).

Romtec Utilities’ Vice President Mark Sheldon took the opportunity to pitch the idea to have a chance at quoting the installation of these large structures. Within a week Romtec Utilities was designing and estimating the construction and installation of this project. Romtec Utilities’ engineering department worked with Suncadia’s contracted engineering firm Goldsmith, and proposed a set of drawings. One drawing was inside the work zone, which Romtec Utilities did the plans for, and the other set was outside the work zone, which Goldsmith drew up. “Inside the work zone” consists of the three concrete structures with elevations, mechanical fittings and locations, pumps, valves, pig launcher, electrical control panel, and shelter. “Outside the work zone” consisted of 8”- 12” PVC gravity sewer pipe, 8” PVC C-900 forced main pipe, and 2” CTS poly pipe with elevations, manholes, and water backflow preventer. After a couple weeks of site visits, design engineering, and estimating we were awarded the entire project.

Following the stages of pre-construction we launched into finalizing the project schedule, starting production of concrete structures, and approval of submittals. We broke ground on May 3rd, with Italics Construction as prime subcontractor and Neatline Construction as their subcontractor – diesel smoke was in the air. Twelve days later all installation and construction was completed and testing was done and approved. Overall the project was a great success, congratulations to all involved.

Related posts:

1. Suncadia pump station installation

One of the first, (and most important consideration) in system design is area classification.  Area classification, will at a minimum, dictate the required components necessary to meet code.  NFPA 820 along with NEC defines the classifications for Wastewater Treatment and Collection Facilities.  It is important to note NFPA 820 covers “Pumping Stations” which is a broad term and is inclusive of most waste water pump systems.  For this reason NFPA is pertinent in nearly all in ground waste water pumping systems.

In general, residential collection systems serving 5 or less dwelling units are “Unclassified” and thus fire and explosion hazard is not applicable.  NEC still applies for general guidance in these systems.  For systems larger than 5 residential units sewers are categorized by usage type. The type categories are:

•   Storm Water Pumping Wet Well – serving storm sewer system.
•   Residential Wastewater Pumping Wet Well – serving primarily residential wastewater.
•   Wastewater Pumping Station Wet Well – serving a sanitary sewer or combined sewer.

A combined sewer is defined as a system containing domestic, commercial, industrial and storm wastewater.  the, Wastewater Pumping Station Wet Well category, is the most diverse classification and usually applies to municipal wastewater pumping stations.

The area classifications for the above categorized pump station are as follows:

•   Storm Water Pumping Wet Wells are classified as Class 1 Division 2, Group D.
•   Residential Wastewater Pumping Wet Wells are classified as Class 1 Division 2, Group D without venting and can be declassified with venting creating 12 air changes per hour.
•   Wastewater Pumping Station Wet Wells are classified as Class 1 Division 1, Group D without venting and can be classified as Class 1 Division 2, Group D with venting creating 12 air changes per hour.

It is not generally practical to ventilate a wet well at 12 changes per hour therefore in most all cases NEC article 500 applies to all the above wet well installations.

Class 1 areas require FM rated pumps and intrinsically safe electrical sensing equipment, further, Class 1 Division 1 requiring explosion proof equiptment.  It is important to consider space classification in Electrical Design and selection of the wet well components.

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Here are some examples of hazardous components in storm water runoff.

Sediment – Reduces visibility in rivers and streams, impeding the ability of aquatic life to capture food.  It also reduces the amount of sunlight in waterways making it hard for vegetation to grow.

Roadside Runoff – Can be potentially hazardous wastes like auto fluids or pesticides which can poison aquatic life and destroy habitat.

Roadside trash – Litter and refuse from passing cars, plastic bottles and cans.

Excess Nutrients – Can cause algae blooms, algae grow in large numbers, die and in their decomposition reduce the oxygen levels in water and kill fish.

A Romtec Utilities’ Storm Water Pump Station essentially collects this “runoff” and pumps it to the waste water treatment plant.  The waste water treatment plant “cleans” the water by removing the solids, reducing the organic matter and hazardous pollutants and restoring the oxygen to the water.   The water can then be safely returned to the environment.

Related posts:

1. Hazardous Area Classification for Pumping Stations
2. Urban Stormwater Retrofit Projects – reprinted from Stormwater, Sept. 2008
3. Electrical Connection Methods in Wet Well Design

Before the recession, Romtec Utilities built lots of pump stations for developers.  Folks building pump stations these days are more often municipalities, public agencies, and private companies that need pumping systems for industrial situations.  However, as the housing market regains its strength and developers start building more homes, it is highly likely that they will need pump stations.  Why?  Well, most of the land that “slopes” to central wastewater treatment facilities has been built on.  These new developments often require some type of “lift” to get the wastewater from the homes to the treatment plant.

Romtec Utilities is the perfect answer for developers who need a pump station!  We will design the complete system for free, as part of our supply.  We help the developer will coordinate the pump station with the overall design of the development.  How, you ask?

Romtec Utilities will work closely with the site engineer to design the pump station based on the needs of the project.  We often help engineers design a system that will work with an initial flow requirement that is also easily upgraded for future increases in flow to the system.  In other words, we can design systems that will service 30 homes now and 150 homes later.

Romtec Utilities will also layout our equipment on the civil engineer’s site plan.  This gives everyone a “real world” look at how all of the components will fit on-site.  This helps the civil engineer plan a realistic space for the pump station and any related components.

Romtec Utilities also reviews any municipal or agency requirements and helps the developer by creating a design that meets those standards.  These standards can be very confusing to someone who is not familiar with pump stations.

Romtec Utilities creates a complete, comprehensive design submittal for review by the site engineer and reviewing agency.  Through the review process, Romtec Utilities works diligently to receive approval in a speedy manner.  We respond to written comments, in writing, within 1-3 days from receiving comments.  We are always ready for a conference call to bring all parties together to solve issues and/or confusion.

Once the system is approved, Romtec Utilities works closely with the contractor to ensure that the pump station is installed correctly and efficiently.  We also provide start-up services and training of the end users.  Romtec Utilities’ systems include a one year warranty.

We are here for you!  Our quality systems will last for decades and provide worry free service.

Related posts:

1. Romtec Utilities to Exhibit & Present at WEFTEC 2010
2. Wastewater Pump Stations 101: Working With Municipal Authorities
3. Fish Love Pump Stations

Washington to install a pump station.  The pump station will address the needs of a prestigious and growing vacation resort community, nestled in the Central Cascades between Seattle and Spokane.  Italics Construction of Portland, Oregon was selected as the Primary Subcontractor. Italics was chosen for their vast experience and efficiency on underground projects. They did not disappoint and were on site and moving quickly, clearing, grubbing and preliminary excavating on Monday, May 3rd as the northwest wind blew snow flurries all day.

By the time I arrived Tuesday evening, the Italics crew under the supervision of RU Project Manager Jerry Wilkison, had already cleared and grubbed the site. They finished the preliminary excavation,  begun trenching the connection to the force main, and located the key tie-ins and elevations.  The crew began work at dawn on Wednesday with almost two days in hand at sub-freezing temperatures. Jerry and I shot elevations and the crew continued work on the trenching and laying of the pipe for connection to the force main, excavation of the massive hole for the wet well, pig launcher, and valve vault.

Ed Baird, Project Engineer for Suncadia, LLC visited the site later that morning and we had a chance to meet after spending time finalizing the contract terms on the phone.  Ed was instrumental in expediting the process and paperwork on his end, which made it easy for us to schedule timely on our end.  He continued to visit the site daily to ensure that whatever issues may occur would be resolved quickly.  By mid day on Friday, the majority of the work had been accomplished in preparation for the delivery of the pump station the following Tuesday.

All in all it was a great experience in an absolutely breath taking area of the country, complete with elk herds and snow covered peaks. Suncadia is a beautiful place in the western cascades with a brand new pump station designed, supplied and constructed by Romtec Utilities.

Related posts:

1. The Ground Has Been Broken – Suncadia

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Romtec wastewater pump station completion

The design and construction of most wastewater pump/lift stations require review, inspection and approval by municipal authorities. In residential, commercial and industrial developments the municipal sewage agency will usually take ownership of the lift station after it is completed. As a result, communities don’t accept just any pumping system; there is often a lengthy specification with functional, structural, mechanical, electrical and communication requirements.

Fast design review, installation and approval help everyone. In the case of a residential, commercial or industrial development, the municipality probably won’t issue building permits until the lift station is completed. The challenge is to submit a design that meets all the community’s requirements and can be constructed quickly. To expedite approval by the agency, Romtec ensures that each lift station is designed, supplied and installed per the approved specification.

Frequently, municipalities, are also in a hurry to get pumping systems in place and operational. There can be many factors such as existing sewer lines that must tie into the new pump station, construction in streets and system upgrades to meet environmental requirements.

Install spec checking

Efficient process to meet all sewer agency requirements

Romtec Utilities streamlines the sewage lift station process, saving time and money, while providing complete sewage pumping systems of the highest quality and value. Romtec assists developers, consulting engineers and public works agencies by providing complete pumping system design, manufacturing, delivery and installation. Romtec Utilities consults with local sewer authorities to incorporate their lift station design standards. Requirements, which vary from agency to agency, include factors such as:

• Peak design flow and peaking factor for wastewater flow to station
• Structural design to meet uplift, seismic load and other requirements
• Flow metering to measure effluent pumped to wastewater treatment
• Standby electrical generator (permanent on-site or portable plug-in) to ensure uninterrupted station operation
• Lining or coating of the concrete wet well, if applicable, for corrosion protection
• Odor control system to reduce production of hydrogen sulfide gas and related odor
• Building or shelter to house electrical controls, generator and other equipment

Excavation day: the first or last step?

Pump station excavation ready for installation

Depending on how you look at it, the day that excavation for the new pumping system begins can be seen as the first day of lift station construction, but it also marks the last step in the pump station design review and approval process. Municipalities want the highest quality wastewater pump stations for the public, and they rightfully enforce many requirements to ensure they get the best. Romtec Utilities is pleased to work closely with sewer authorities and developers to ensure their new sewage lift station is correctly designed and supplied with all the right equipment and function, and that the complete package pump station is installed with the greatest quality and speed possible.

Related posts:

1. Developers – Romtec Utilities is your hassle free answer to pump stations!
2. Distribution warehouse gets submersible sewage pump station