If you can answer these questions, then choosing a submersible pump will be a piece of cake! HEAD PRESSURE EXPLAINED What kind of flow rates will the pump need to handle? (Roughly how many GPM do you expect to run through the pump at MAX capacity)? What kind of head pressure will the pump be pushing against? (The numbers you need to know is how high vertically the pump needs to push the water and the length of the horizontal run.) To make a decision on which size of effluent pump will work best for any certain application there are a few questions you will need to know the answer to: Effluent pumps can be used as sump pumps, but we would not recommend using a sump pump in an effluent pump application.
Sump pumps are only designed to handle solids up to ¼’’ in diameter. This drainage water is typically clear and has little to no solids in it. Sump pumps are used to remove drainage water that has accumulated in a sump basin, commonly found in the basement or crawlspace of homes. Sewage ejector pump normally have a 2’’ or 3’’ discharge. They are designed to handle large solids up to 2’’ in diameter. These pumps are installed in a lift station that pumps raw sewage from a house or office to the septic tank or city sewer. Sewage Ejector Pumps are designed to handle raw sewage. Effluent pumps will normally have an 1-1/2’’ or 2’’ discharge.
Because the septic tank or aerobic system has eliminated most of the solids, effluent pumps are only designed to handle small solids up to ¾’’ in diameter. These pumps are usually installed in a lift station after a septic tank or aerobic treatment system and will pump to a secondary treatment system such a drain field. EFFLUENT PUMPS - vs - SEWAGE EJECTOR PUMPS - vs - SUMP PUMPSĮffluent pumps are designed to handle treated wastewater with minimal solids. Submersible Effluent Pumps are designed to pump treated wastewater from a septic tank or aerobic treatment system to a drain field, sand filter, mound system, or any other type of secondary treatment system.