HomeMy WebLinkAboutNHSPP - Grinder Pump MemoTown of Nantucket Sewer Department
WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT
Town Direct 508-228-7200 ext 7801
dgray@nantucket-ma.gov
David C. Gray Sr.
Director
81 S. Shore Rd
Nantucket, MA 02554
April 3, 2019
RESIDENTIAL GRINDER PUMP DESIGN, SELECTION & INSTALLATION
The Town of Nantucket Sewer Department has established standards for the design and installation of
residential grinder pump units connecting to the municipal sewer, including the type/model of pump(s)
that will be approved for use. Attached is the Town’s current grinder pump unit specification section,
which will apply to all Sewer Connection Permit Applications issued by the Nantucket Sewer Department
for properties that will require a grinder pump.
NANTUCKET HARBOR SHIMMO AND PLUS PARCELS SEWER EXTENSION PROJECT
In conjunction with the recently constructed NH Shimmo and Plus Parcels Sewer Extension Project, the
Town of Nantucket is offering homeowners in these project areas a reduced price for the purchase of
their grinder pump units (*). To that end, the town conducted a public bid process to secure pricing for
the specified grinder pump units and has since entered into contract with Williamson Electrical Company,
Inc. for the purchase of Barnes ECOTRAN-OGP2022CE units. Based on the design of the sewer
system in this area and on the public bid process, THIS IS THE ONLY APPROVED UNIT FOR PROPERTIES IN
THE NH SHIMMO & PLUS PARCELS SEWER EXTENSION AREAS.
For more information on the Barnes ECOTRAN-OGP pump units, see attached information or contact Bob
Greene at Williamson New England Pump & Motor, (617) 884-9200.
(*) Please note that the discounted grinder pump purchases are only for properties within the NH
Shimmo and Plus Parcels Sewer Extension Project area. Discounted units will not be offered to patrons
outside of this project area.
ALL OTHER SEWERED AREAS
For any other connections to the municipal sewer (i.e. properties outside of the NH Shimmo and Plus
Parcels Sewer Extension Project area) requiring an on-lot grinder pump unit, the Town prefers the Barnes
Ecotran-OGP2022CE since it meets the town standard specification in all aspects and provides for
standardization town wide with regard to repair and maintenance of grinder pump units. The town has
gone to great lengths through the recent public bid process to require on island support and inventory for
these pumps.
The specified pumps include complete factory-built and tested, Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) listed units,
with all components to be provided by one supplier. We have concerns with any proposals to custom
design and build the stations since this will make it difficult to meet the town specification and will require
more checks and balances on review of the design and installation.
One of the common concerns/desires we are hearing is in regard to providing additional storage due to
the size of the dwellings or to power disruptions. It should be noted that during extreme power failure
events, there are other more pressing issues than the ability to use the waste water system. Following
are a few other comments regarding this subject:
•A report by Sump & Sewage Manufacturers Associated determined that water usage during a
power outage is reduced to 20.9%, or on average 35.5 GPD during an outage. The specified units
provide a 150-gallons storage capacity to the cover, which equates to four days of storage capacity
under these reduced water usage conditions for properties that do not include waste water
facilities in their basement (i.e. below the cover elevation of the external grinder pump unit).
o The typical grinder pump basin package has 65 gallons of storage to the invert and 150
gallons to the top of the basin
•Average duration of a power outage in MA in 2017 was 29 minutes. This does differ on the island
due to coastal storms but it has improved over the years.
•A common option, which is being supplied with the Barnes ECOTRAN units for the NH Shimmo
Area grinder pump basin packages, is a remote power connection on the control panel. During
an extended power outage, the basin can be pumped down using a portable generator.
o If the residence is equipped with a backup generator, the grinder pump would be
powered by this power source as well
•Another option within the ECOTRAN units regarding additional or emergency storage is to install
sloped storage chambers of 12” to 18” diameter pipe, connected to the two remaining inlet
connections on the specified unit (see attached detail).
•For residences with higher water usage, duplex pump systems are available in various storage
capacities exceeding 500 gallons utilizing the same specified grinder pumps and basin
configuration. When these types of systems are requested, they will be reviewed per application
for potential approval.
Another request we are getting is in regard to using septic tanks, or concrete manholes, as large grinder
pump storage tanks. The Town does not allow these applications based on the following concerns:
•A low-pressure sewer system collects and transports sanitary wastewater to the
WWTF. Regardless of the manufacturer, the pump systems are designed to have minimal storage
between pump on and off so that the sewage is retained within the basin for a minimal amount
of time prior to discharge to the municipal sewer and ultimately the WWTF. Therefore, the typical
grinder pump basin has minimal volume between the pump on and off level and is sized to
withstand a high number of starts per hour. Septic tanks are designed to retain and breakdown
sewage whereas grinder pump systems are designed to pump the wastewater before it turns
septic.
o Retention time associated with large tanks fosters odor issues and solids’ settling in
the tank – the goal is to avoid both issues.
•Concrete tanks with the associated gaskets will, over time, develop leaks and potentially allow
ground water infiltration, which not only impacts the loading on the WWTF, but can also
potentially affect the local ground water.
•Grinder pumps need to remain submerged to properly cool and should be placed immediately
over the wastewater with sloping sidewalls to funnel the sewage just below the grinder pump,
thereby preventing stagnant areas within the tank and the associated solids build up and odors.
We trust this information is helpful – let us know if you have additional questions.
______________________________
David C Gray Sr.
Director
Nantucket Sewer Department
81 S. Shore Rd
Nantucket, MA 02554