As populations grow and habits change, wastewater systems are exposed to a rising tide of difficult materials, especially tough fibrous products such as wet wipes and disposable nappies. Left unchecked, these materials can jam up pumps, reducing flow rates, driving up energy consumption and ultimately bringing operations to a halt. That leads to costly and time-consuming maintenance visits to rectify the situation.
In New South Wales, Australia, Sulzer channel partner QMax Pumping Systems supplied a Sulzer Muffin Monster technology as part of a pumping station upgrade at a retirement village for the over 55s. The original plan involved the installation of two new pumps alongside two units that had been in operation for some years. As part of the design process, QMax specialists spent time talking to the system operator and understanding the maintenance challenges they faced with their current installation. The conversation revealed a history of unscheduled maintenance, caused primarily when one or both pumps became blocked by incontinence products in the wastewater stream. On occasion, both pumps had become blocked, leading the system to shut down and overflow until engineers could attend the scene, lift and clear the pumps before cleaning up the site.
With this insight, Qmax was able to recommend the inclusion of a high-capacity Sulzer 10k series Channel Monster grinder upstream of the two new pumps. Equipped with the suitable control and monitoring technology, the grinder was a ‘fit and forget’ option for the site owner, requiring only the same frequency of routine checks as the pumps themselves. Indeed, the new system has run so smoothly since its installation that the site owner is now planning to add Muffin Monster units to its two original pumps.
Situated only 10 meters from the ocean, the pumping station serving a New South Wales, Australia holiday park faces extremely high peak loads during the busiest part of the season. When the pumps become blocked by nappies or wet wipes, the resulting overflow could run straight into the sea. That could create health risks for holidaymakers and the potential for steep fines for the park operator.
After examining the situation at the park, Sulzer NSW channel partner QMax Pumping Systems recommended a grinder to protect the pumps. As the size and location of the pumping station precluded the installation new equipment within the existing facility, the answer was a Muffin Monster Manhole – a 1.2-meter diameter fibreglass chamber containing a channel version of the Sulzer grinder. Installation on the main sewage line leading to the pumping station took less than three weeks, including all civils works. Since the installation of the new system, the park has suffered no overflows or service interruptions.