Sanitary Sewage Lift Stations

The lift station is becoming increasingly common as a component of the sewerage systems of Indiana. Cities and towns that have operated for years without the necessity of a lift station (other than one integral with sewage treatment plant) are finding it necessary to include a lift station in plans for extension of sewers. Those cities and towns which have not yet found it necessary to include a lift station in their system will undoubtedly find one or more indicated as community growth continues. It is therefore incumbent upon city engineers to have a knowledge of types of stations and equipment available as well as the legal and safety measures required in planning for and constructing lift stations. A lift station is a structure housing equipment necessary to elevate liquid from a low level to a higher level. The station may be designed to handle storm drainage or sanitary sewage but in either case the general design considerations are the same. The need for lift stations is indicated by either topography or geology. If the area to be sewered is lower than the existing sewers or the point of discharge it is obvious that a lift station will be required. Property is often developed in an area which can eventually be drained of sanitary wastes by gravity, but which requires too much investment for immediate gravity drainage. The installation of a lift station which may be eventually abandoned or moved can be indicated. Geology may indicate the use of lift stations where rock is present near the surface or ground water conditions will make deep sewer excavations expensive. The use of lift stations because of geological conditions was recently experienced by the author in the planning of work at Logansport and Martinsville. Logansport, Indiana, is underlain with solid limestone which is close to the surface along the interceptor sewer. In order to reduce the amount of rock excavation, a lift station is being built which will simply lift the sewage and discharge it into a gravity sewer at the station. The cost of the station plus operation is more than offset by the saving in rock excavation.