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How a sewage pumping station works

A sewage pumping station provides a way to move wastewater when it cannot reach the receiving drain by gravity alone. It combines a collection chamber with a pump and controls suited to the installation.

The collection stage

Wastewater enters through the inlet and collects in the chamber. The chamber holds liquid between pumping cycles. Its nominal capacity is one specification to consider, alongside inlet depth, operating levels and the expected volume of wastewater.

Automatic pumping

A float or level-control arrangement detects the rising liquid and starts the pump. The pump then moves wastewater into the discharge pipe. As the level falls, the controls stop the pump. The exact settings and sequence depend on the supplied equipment.

The discharge route

The pipe leaving the pump is the discharge or rising main. It carries the liquid towards the receiving drain. A non-return valve helps limit flow back towards the station. Pipe diameter, height changes and fittings need to be considered together when selecting the pump.

Monitoring and backup

A high-level alarm provides a warning when liquid reaches its trigger level. Someone must respond to that warning. A twin-pump arrangement can add resilience if one pump fails, but it does not provide electricity during a power cut.

A station is not a sewage treatment plant

Pumping moves wastewater from one place to another. It does not, by itself, treat sewage or make it suitable to discharge onto land or into a watercourse. Confirm the intended discharge destination and requirements as part of the drainage design.

Where to start

Use the sizing guide to gather your project information, then compare our 190–2,000 litre pumping stations. For shorter answers, visit the FAQ page.