Custom Pump System Design Prevents Service Interruption at Major Wastewater Facility

Challenge: Engineering Within Unique Geographic Constraints

Lexington's unique topography creates unusual demands on its wastewater infrastructure. Water flows away from the city in almost all directions, requiring more pump stations than typical municipalities of similar size. When the West Hickman Creek facility's aging pump station needed replacement, this geographic reality complicated an already complex situation.

The existing infrastructure presented significant limitations. Two parallel 60-inch sewers fed into a confined influent channel, making standard temporary pumping solutions impossible. Initial plans called for electric submersible trash pumps, but the space simply couldn't accommodate equipment large enough to handle the flow requirements.

Set-Up: From Custom Designed Pumps to Implementation

The primary challenge became clear early in the project — this wasn't a standard rental situation. Sunbelt Rentals worked directly with the facility's programming team to understand the integration requirements. The confined space demanded custom-engineered pumps that could handle substantial flows while fitting within strict dimensional constraints.

Three overflow incidents during the early phases helped refine the design. After several design iterations, the team settled on a solution that positioned the pumps at the lowest possible elevation for optimal suction lift, leading to additional redundancy measures in the final implementation.

Solution: Meeting Time-Critical Requirements

With just 16 weeks from initial concept to installation, Sunbelt Rentals coordinated closely with the facility's engineering firm, Hazen and Sawyer, throughout the manufacturing process. The solution centered on custom-built pumps integrated with sophisticated controls that connected directly to the plant's existing SCADA system.

The control system integration made a significant difference. Plant personnel could monitor the wastewater treatment temporary pump equipment using their own facility's interfaces. This familiarity allowed for seamless operation throughout the construction period.

Results: Keeping Wastewater Treatment Running During Infrastructure Upgrade

The temporary system bridged the gap effectively during the construction of the new pump station. Treatment operations continued without interruption while construction proceeded on the permanent facility. Operators reported stable performance throughout the project. No service interruptions occurred. No overflow incidents emerged. This project’s wastewater temporary pump solution proved that smart engineering, combined with practical operations experience, could overcome even the most demanding infrastructure challenges.