Private Pump stations

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Operations and Maintenance Guidelines for Private Pump Stations

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS PROVIDED TO GUIDE THE INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY OWNER IN OPERATING AND MAINTAINING A PRIVATE PUMP STATION:

  1. The pressure sewage system is designed to handle normal sanitary sewage. Trash, garbage, hair, plastic, and other debris, if deposited into the system, may disrupt the pumping unit and cause problems and inconvenience.
    • Do not allow oils or grease into the system. Greases such as cooking oils, tallow, or bacon grease may congeal in the lines and plug or otherwise impair the normal operation of the system. Collect grease in a container and once cooled throw it in the garbage instead.
    • “Flushable Wipes” – even in cases where the packaging indicates they are safe for sanitary sewer systems – must be prohibited from entering the system. They may jam the pump, clog the line or exacerbate any other existing issues.
    • Also prohibited, because they may jam the pump, are disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, articles of clothing, rubber goods, gravel, plastics, silverware, nylons, egg shells, kitty litter, and aquarium gravel.
  2. The pump chamber must not be covered with dirt or other material that may hinder ventilation or access by service personnel. Surface water should be diverted away from the chamber or it may leak in and increase your operating costs through added pumping of the infiltrated surface water.
  3. In the event of a power failure avoid laundry, bathing, toilet flushing, or the use of any water‐using fixtures that drain into the system as much as possible. Storage space is limited in the chamber, but with reasonable care you can minimize the chance of an overflow.
  4. In the event of a pump failure, which will be indicated by the alarm light and horn, again avoid laundry, bathing, toilet flushing or the use of any water‐using fixtures that drain into the system as much as possible.
  5. Once a year, take the cover off of the pump station and with the tank pumped down, hose off floats, cables, walls, and anywhere that grease has collected.*
    *If you have an E‐one type pump this yearly maintenance is not necessary, and is not recommended by the manufacturer