When to select a grinder pump for a pump station? - Global Water

Submersible grinder pumps are a submersible macerator pump that can be applied in many applications, from residential houses to commercial shopping centres and even municipal recreational areas. They come in various ranges and sizes depending on the duty required and are available in single and three phase options making grinder pumps the preferred macerating pump.

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Grinder pumps are specialised equipment designed to handle specific challenges in wastewater management. Muhammad Khan, a member of the pumping systems team at Global Water, explains the key situations where a grinder pump is the optimal choice:

Q. When wastewater contains large or challenging solids, is a grinder pump the best option?

Muhammad: Yes, grinder pumps are ideal for handling materials such as rags, paper towels, food scraps, and sanitary products. These pumps efficiently shred solid waste into smaller particles, allowing it to flow smoothly through the system and reducing strain on downstream components.

Q. Can a grinder pump improve performance in systems with small-diameter pipes?

Muhammad: Absolutely. Small pipes can struggle to transport wastewater with larger particles. Grinder pumps ensure smooth operation by transforming waste into a manageable slurry, supporting consistent flow through narrow piping systems.


Q. Are grinder pumps effective for long-distance or high-elevation pumping?

Muhammad: They are! Grinder pumps are designed to generate high-pressure output, enabling wastewater to be transported efficiently across extended distances and to higher elevations, where standard pumps may fall short.


Q. How do grinder pumps handle fibrous or tough materials in wastewater?

Muhammad: Wastewater often contains difficult materials like hair, grease, and fibrous items. A grinder pump prevents these substances from causing performance issues by breaking them down into finer particles that flow easily thorugh the system.


Q. Are grinder pumps suitable for residential and commercial applications?

Muhammad: Yes, grinder pumps suitable for both applications. They are commonly used in homes, businesses, and smaller municipal systems where mixed waste streams are common. They keep these systems operating efficiently by managing a wide variety of waste materials.

Q. How do grinder pumps help minimise maintenance needs?

Muhammad: Thanks to their robust construction and efficient grinding mechanisms, grinder pumps are designed for low-maintenance operation. They significantly reduce service demands, saving time and costs over the long term.

Q. Can grinder pumps protect other components in the system?

Muhammad: Yes, they can. Grinder pumps safeguard external pipework and other system components by ensuring the waste moves efficiently and avoiding performance issues. This can extend the lifespan of the entire wastewater network.

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Q. Does the material of the pump station matter when choosing a grinder pump?

Muhammad: Yes, the choice of material plays a key role in system design. Polyethylene (poly) pump stations are lightweight and ideal for residential or smaller applications, especially in corrosion-prone areas. Concrete pump stations, however, are better suited for larger-scale or industrial systems due to their durability and capacity for high-volume wastewater management. Selecting the appropriate pump station material ensures compatibility with the grinder pump and the system’s operational demands.

If you're new to effluent pumps, they're used to pump "greywater," which just means "dirty water" with limited solids.

This includes laundry water, limited septic fluids, and other wastewater. Effluent pumps are typically used to pump grey-water from a septic tank to a leach field.

For raw sewage, a sewage pump or grinder pump is recommended to prevent clogging from handling solids larger than 3/4" in width.

Choosing the Right Housing Material

Effluent pumps are available in a variety of different housing materials, depending on your preference. Stainless steel and brass pumps can be found on the market, but the most common are cast iron and thermoplastic.

Cast iron housing offers rugged durability and added weight, whereas thermoplastic offers affordability and lighter weight. Cast iron effluent pumps are built to last and can stand up to heavy-duty use. They're a must-have in commercial applications, and the desired style for homeowners looking for longevity.

Thermoplastic pumps hold up well against corrosion, and they're also more affordable. They're ideal for less demanding applications if you're looking for a more economical choice. They're also easier to install or remove because they weigh less.

Sizing an Effluent Pump Correctly

If you're replacing an old effluent pump, you can typically use the same horsepower that you had before. That said, you should also pay close attention to the GPH or gallons per hour rating as they can vary by horsepower. If your pump wasn't keeping up, you may need to upgrade to a higher horsepower so it can keep up.

Below is a table that can help give you a basic idea of the horsepower you need in a pump, based on the most common characteristics of a septic system.

If you were able to get several years of service out of your old pump, chances are that it's the right horsepower to choose. If your previous pump stopped working after a couple of months, you may want to consider a different horsepower. It's possible that your old pump may have been too weak or too strong for your application.
 

Effluent Pumps Vs Sewage Pumps

You'll notice that names for types of pumps are used interchangeably across the web, and the applications specific to effluent pumps may get confusing. The best way we can explain the difference between a sump pump, sewage pump, and an effluent pump is dependent on the material that it's pumping, and where that material is being sent to.

The main difference between an effluent pump and a sewage pump is that effluent pumps are meant for pumping grey water with minimal solids, preferably smaller than 1/2" in diameter, whereas sewage pumps are designed to handle human waste-solids and sewage materials up to 2" diameters.

Sewage pumps are also more powerful and generally pump water at a higher GPM (gallons per minute). Grinder pumps operate much like a sewage pump, with the addition of rotating blades at the base of the pump that tears up solid materials into a fine slurry before shooting through the pump and discharge pipes. Grinder pumps are usually used in commercial applications in restaurants, bars, hotels, or rental properties.

You do not want to use an effluent pump in place of a sewage or grinder pump when the application involves sewage water, waste solids, or passing solids larger than 1/2" in diameter. You may risk the pump burning out prematurely, clogging, or sewage backups.

When to Use an Effluent Pump

Effluent pumps are used in greywater applications where gravity is not enough to send water to the home's drainage system. Common effluent pump uses are for a laundry drain pump system or a remote sink drain system.

Effluent pump systems are also perfect when adding a wet bar, sink, or laundry room in the basement that sits below the home's main drainage lines. The best applications for effluent pumps are laundry tub drain and discharge applications, dishwasher and remote sink drainage applications, and sometimes, sump pit applications when there is no risk of having larger solids become trapped in the pit.

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