It was designed to pump wastewater from a 1,000-litre basement tank over a 10m head and along to the main drains. Once a certain level is reached, two pumps kick in, emptying the tank. However, the 20-year-old system was showing its age. The tank itself was leaking, causing the seepage of wastewater into the basement area. This required clean-up, which was jeopardising the reopening of shops post-lockdown.
Paul Pearce, sales director at Rotamec, picks up the story: “A contractor approached us regarding overhauling the wastewater pumping system at the shopping centre, with facility managers indicating that they would prefer the work to be completed ready for reopening after lockdown. We quickly arrived on-site to assess the system.”
After a thorough inspection, it was clear that the whole system required replacement with a more efficient and reliable solution. The aging tank, pumps, valves, electrics and control system would all require replacing.
This project entailed sourcing a new pre-cast 1,000-litre polyethene tank, two new pumps with motors, new non-return and gate valves, as well as pipework, electrics and controls.”
Rotamec also relied on its in-house fabrications department to expedite the project. A 160 mm high-steel frame was designed and constructed to raise the new tank off the floor, which allowed for easier integration of the new system into existing pipework. This simplified the layout of the pipework too.
Each new pump features an open impeller, optimal for pumping wastewater, driven by a 5.5 kW motor that provides greatly improved efficiency compared to the previous units. The new tank eliminated any leaks or seepage, ensuring that the basement no longer required cleaning. The project was completed within three weeks.
Pearce concludes: “In this case, both the contractor and facility managers at the shopping centre were very pleased with the new pumping system. Our ability to provide a turnkey electromechanical service was a real advantage for this project. It meant we could manage the work from start to finish, accelerating the project so that when the time came, the shopping centre was ready to welcome customers.”