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Wastewater Lift Stations-

Wastewater lift stations are used to help transport liquid wastewater from homes and businesses across the City to the treatment plant for processing and cleaning.

Lift Stations

Sewage lift stations are by definition installed in a difficult operating environment. The commonly used prefabricated steel "can" stations are constantly subjected to a corrosive environment on both the interior and exterior of the station. Because these structures are out of sight they often do not receive the type of care and maintenance needed to protect steel surfaces.

A significant problem many times with lift stations is odor generation. In addition to concerns for sewer personnel exposed to accumulated gases, sewer gases left to accumulate in air-tight environments can create additional toxic gases and underground potential for explosion, stagnation, and dead space in lines. Aeration is an option to reduce odor. Many odors accumulate because of oxygen-deficient environments. The cost to retrofit old sewer systems (lines, stations, can be astronomical for a municipality.   Sometimes chemicals such as sodium nitrate are added to increase oxygen content in the water and provide the bacteria  an alternate oxygen source when free oxygen from mechanical sources is not available. This prevents H₂S formation from facultative or anaerobic bacteria. Pine Scented blocks also have been added to neutralize odors so that neighbors are not complaining.

Fats, oil and grease - - also called FOG in the wastewater business - - can have negative impacts on wastewater collection and treatment systems. Most wastewater collection system blockages can be traced to FOG. Blockages in the wastewater collection system are serious, causing sewage spills, manhole overflows, or sewage backups in homes and businesses. With the increase in fast food restaurants, many municipalities are having problems with an increase in grease build-up in their lift stations. 

In the sewage collection and treatment business Grease is singled out for special attention because of its poor solubility in water and its tendency to separate from the liquid solution.

Large amounts of oil and grease in the wastewater cause trouble in the collection system pipes. It decreases pipe capacity and, therefore, requires that piping systems be cleaned more often and/or some piping to be replaced sooner than otherwise expected. Oil and grease also hamper effective treatment at the wastewater treatment plant.

Grease in a warm liquid may not appear harmful. But, as the liquid cools, the grease or fat congeals and causes nauseous mats on the surface of settling tanks, digesters, and the interior of pipes and other surfaces which may cause a shutdown of wastewater treatment units.

Problems caused by wastes from restaurants and other grease-producing establishments have served as the basis for ordinances and regulations governing the discharge of grease materials to the sanitary sewer system. This type of waste has forced the requirement of the installation of preliminary treatment facilities, commonly known as grease traps or interceptors. Two years ago, the federal government raised the required temperatures for restaurants from 180 degrees to 210 degrees. The impact on this is that the grease now does not cool down in the grease traps, but later in the pipes or lift stations.

Grease can harden and cause floating "turtles" in the lift station that are hard to break down.

Grease can cause a scum layer to build up on the sidewalls of the lift station

One way to help solve the problems for Grease build-up is to add biological products. Not only does it help eliminate grease build-up, it lowers maintenance costs, helps to control odors and helps to keep the lines clean also. Biological products are used to actually digest and convert the grease to biosolids in the lift station and the pipes as opposed to chemicals which move the grease from point A to point B. Chemicals may remove grease from the lift station, but they can push it down into the pipes, cause clogging, or send it down to the wastewater treatment plant and cause problems in the primary or secondary system.  Nocardia and Microthrix are filaments that can cause  huge problems with foaming or bulking in a secondary wastewater treatment system if there are high levels of grease.

MicroClear 207
This product is used for softening and degrading food type fat, oil and grease in lift stations and lagoons.

Description:  MicroClear 207 is an improved biological product, specifically formulated and packaged for use in lift stations.

To assure optimal performance of these organisms, under the toughest conditions, they are produced and blended together with "high potency" nutrients and stimulants.

MicroClear 207 also contains specialty penetrants and surfactants, which loosen and liquefy heavy grease deposits, thereby assisting in their biodegradation.

Grease Control in Lift Stations- MicroClear 207 is packaged specially to maximize performance in lift stations.

Water soluble bags dissolves in seconds for immediate action.

The bacteria degrades organics in the lift station for a couple of days then continue to work in the pipes and onto the treatment plant for long lasting effect.

How do I know if the biological product is working?