Purpose of A Pump Station
A pump station mechanically lifts storm water runoff from a gravity fed collection cistern to a discharge place or outfall. In general, gravity outfalls are the primary and preferred means of releasing flow from storm drain systems. However, a pump station becomes necessary when gravity outfalls are not economically or engineeringly feasible.
The need for pump stations is a function of the highway geometric design rather than of climatic factors. Planners can design pump stations to be unobtrusive, efficient, and reliable.
In the planning stages, the roadway designer can obtain valuable advice and assistance from the following sources:
- manufacturer representatives for pumps,
- manufacturer representatives for generators,
- contractors who have had experience in pump station construction,
- utility representatives for electricity and natural gas.