Sewer
systems
are
engineered
to
collect
wastewater
from
houses
and
commercial
buildings
through
a
system of
pipes
and
pumps
and
direct
it
toward
a
wastewater
treatment
plant.
The
means
of
travel
for
this
wastewater
relies
primarily
on
gravity
or
pressure
(from
pumps)
to
move
through
the
pipes
that
contain
it.
Most
wastewater
starts
out
moving
by
gravity
downhill
through
pipes
underground
toward
a
lift
station
(see
below).
From
there
a
pump
forces
the
wastewater
uphill
toward
a
wastewater
plant.
If
sewer
is not
available
in an
area,
then
a septic
system
will
be used
to treat
wastewater
on-site. Sewer
pipes
are
meant
to contain
the
wastewater
inside
of them,
but
sometimes
these
pipes
become
damaged
by shifting
soils,
construction,
deterioration,
etc.
When
this
happens
the
wastewater
can
leak
out
of the
pipes;
called
exfiltration.
Additionally,
groundwater,
stormwater,
and
soils
can
leak
into
the
pipes;
the
soils
can
cause
the
pipes
to backup,
this
is
called
infiltration.
As
wastewater
flows
downhill
by gravity
it will
eventually
empty
into a lift
station
at some
point
before continuing
on to
a wastewater
plant.
Lift
Stations
Lift
stations
consist
of
a large
concrete
or fiberglass
well
that varies
in
size (such
as
12 feet
deep by
6 feet
in diameter)
that gravity
sewer
pipes
flow into.
The well
of the
lift station
has many
components
inside
of it
along with
a
control
panel
above
ground.
Inside
the
well are
at least
two pumps
and a
group
of
float
switches.
The float
switches
give
orders
to
the control
panel
about
the level
of the
wastewater
in
the well which
then
directs
the
pumps
to
turn
on and
off appropriately
to force
the wastewater
into
the
outlet
pipes
to continue
its path
toward
the
wastewater
treatment
plant.
Because
lift
stations
have
so
many
intricate
parts
that
all
need
to
work
flawlessly
and
so much
is
on
the
line
if the
station
goes
down
(everything
up
the
line
will
back
up
if
it
stops
pumping
properly
and
the
well
can
overflow),
it is
extremely
important
to
have
your
lift
stations
maintained
at
least
every
month.
Lapin
Services
can
provide
this
service
with
full
capability
and
qualifications.
