As a custodian, I am amazed by the number of signs that have to be posted in the restrooms warning people not to flush female hygiene products and sanitizing wipes.
A day in a life of a field agent. Scooper, scrapper, extendable pole, trash bag, trash can, amp meter, disposable gloves, working truck and cellphone. On-site check amps, clean lift stations, clean float switches, test pumps, test high level alarm and record activities on paper. Take pic of paperwork for personal records and drop paperwork off to property manager. High amp clogged, low amp airlock, constant running pump bad transducer or float switch height setting bad, weird pump sound bad bearings or grits, pump not pumping check fuse. windings bad? Seal leak? Thermal overload? Solve puzzles and investigate paranormal activities. Rinse and repeat.
Enjoyed the video Lee! I recently got a job as a Sewer Utility worker for a city so I’ve been watching videos about the systems. Lots to learn but looks interesting.
Lift stations are generally deep, which is greater than 5' plus waste water is generally 45 degrees, at least here in Minnesota. Thank you for the question.
I would think this customer, (most customers) would benefit from the use of grinder pumps, instead of a solids handling pump when it comes to feminine hygiene/wipes going into the application. Good video btw.
Thank you for your video. I’m actually looking at this job. I’ve done residential plumbing and cvil engineering ( water mains and gas maine’s . There is a training position on lift station mechanic for my county and I’m just curious about what it is they do.
@@lbundy442 good video! Can you get one when things go really wrong? I've been through (as an OP/Supervisor/Superintendent) ice storms, 8+" of rain in a day, pushed 1.414 MGD through a 0.75 MGD plant and held the solids, an F3 tornado taking out power to the city for days, with hundreds of E-One low pressure satellite stations at houses. Utility workers drilling through a marked 10" AC force main (sewer). We also handled the water side. I'll agree with you though, FLUSHABLE wipes will flush and cause problems all through the system. The people who put flushable on those wipes should be billed for all labor and costs related to their MIS-information. I have found a whole lobster tail on a bar rack before, never ask how!
@@WildRapier I disapprove of e-ones, I live in a state of lakes and resorts. Lots of problems with those units. I prefer hydro-matic pumps which are rebuildable. Good luck to you, and watch for splash back!
It's been a few years since your comment but I started working for the city on our lift stations pretty recently and I honestly love the job. I'm coming from retail/warehouse work and this job is far less shitty (sorry, bad joke.) I have good benefits, pay is decent but could be better admittedly, unionized, great job security, and lots of room for advancement. Every day is different and you're constantly learning something new. Also, the smell really isn't as bad as you'd think. Some lift stations are worse than others but I gag while cleaning up dog turds but don't even make a face when I open up a wet well or open up a pump to clean it. If you like fulfilling, purposeful work, it's a good gig.
Is the camouflage so that you blend in? good job! hahaha Without people who do your job civilization could not exist (if it even does.) Thank you for your service.
lol, I just came home from trucking for 2 months, so my hot water smells like rothen egg. I had to flush my water heater. but now I got full emersion into this video, visual, audio and smell.
You have a nice truck mount crane, swing that pump over ground and service. Put a garbage bag or small tarp down. Nothing pisses me off more than guys dropping tools and the plug back into wetwell!!
I deal with this all the time (at the shipping/trucking terminals at the beautiful port of Los Angeles) rags t shirts and of course the infamous "flushable " wipes ! come on people
Nice video! Do you happen to know how to test the pump with a meter to keep track of Amps it’s supposed to run at? I’ve been told you can check the reading and if the amps are reading too low or too high they can tell you what’s going on with the pump
Yes, I use an amp clamp and have a history of the amps from the lead wires to the pump when the the pump was new and when its clean.. Changes in amp draw can show a problem before a red light at night!
With a meter if amps are too high chances are it has "stoppage" if amps are too low there could be mutiple problems; "airlock " is the most common, that usually happens when the station is pumped all the way below the inlet of the pump and it looses it prime. Ive only been in the waste water game for alittle over 2 years and i work 7 days a week dealing with lift stations and waste water plants. We dont have small pumps like these all are 3 phase minimal.
Man, someone needs to invent a toilet that doesn't flush these kinds of fibrous materials. If such a toilet existed and it were required by code, then we would all save money in the long run. Hell, most toilets already take several flushes to get some of that stuff down anyway. I'm sure it could be improved
Yeah we could go back to regular flush toilets that flush everything down in 1 flush instead of toilets that need to be flushed 2-3 times on top of dumping water down them. All that "save the world" nonsense is just that, nonsense. It's all so these people can sell the next big thing.
@@mikeznel6048 This was forced due to water conservation on the water side of things. I've worked both water treatment/distribution and wastewater treatment/collection, so I know. You need to get to 65 RGPCD to EPA's standards. Resident Gallons Per Capita Day. So 65 gallons per person per day, to get there, low flow toilets, low flow faucets, more accurate meters (to negate losses). So yeah blame the EPA for wanting cleaner waters. I agree and have done my part!
I have only been at one pump station and it was to install a back-up gen set. The maintenance guy told me I had till 3 pm to get the power back on, because that's when the school kids and their mothers would be home and start flushing toilets. (condo complex) Just my luck and the electrician never showed up that day, so I had to do a temporary "bug in" to get the juice back on!
In the real world the pits are 20 feet deep, and have no display panel, just a couple of hand off auto switches and it indicator light bulb when the pump is pumping, but the bulb is burned out anyway.
The smaller panel's, home owners and small duplex panel's only have a red alarm light. Most of the time somebody has removed the bulb. Our panel maker is, IFS by SJE Rumbus out of Detroit Lakes, MN.
Thank you for this interesting and useful video. I'm not a professional just a homeowner who enjoys learning about infrastructure. Thank you for keeping our wastewater systems in good shape.
We have what is called a "Base Elbow" The pump slides down a rail system and meets the gasketed flange. The weight of the pump keeps it snug to the base. And Bob's yer uncle!
Hey lee.... question. I have a pump with a sump mounted on the side of it. It is running high amps amd tripping the overload on the VFD. Nothing is clogged. Any thoughts?? Thanks
@@bubba6richards729 Have you checked the piping for clogs? Checks/valves? If the impeller spins freely and the VFD is showing high amps could be the motor. Does it pull high amps with nothing attached? Might want to MEG the motor and check for low resistance. A short to ground would fault out the VFD immediately, so if it's still running but pulling high amps, check the stuff I mentioned.
@@WildRapier figured it out! It was a clearance issue where the impeller mounts on shaft. Once I took the impeller off the shaft was loaded with string and wipes. Under normal inspection you couldn’t see it. When I spun by hand seemed a little “tight”. Removed junk bolted impeller back on and it’s been working for 10 months now no issues. Thank you very much for the reply. 👍🏼
As a custodian, I am amazed by the number of signs that have to be posted in the restrooms warning people not to flush female hygiene products and sanitizing wipes.
I had a lift Station next to a elementary school and the amount tee-shirts and underwear was amazing!
A day in a life of a field agent. Scooper, scrapper, extendable pole, trash bag, trash can, amp meter, disposable gloves, working truck and cellphone. On-site check amps, clean lift stations, clean float switches, test pumps, test high level alarm and record activities on paper. Take pic of paperwork for personal records and drop paperwork off to
property manager.
High amp clogged, low amp airlock, constant running pump bad transducer or float switch height setting bad, weird pump sound bad bearings or grits, pump not pumping check fuse. windings bad? Seal leak? Thermal overload? Solve puzzles and investigate paranormal activities. Rinse and repeat.
Yep that sounds correct. We call those annuals
Enjoyed the video Lee! I recently got a job as a Sewer Utility worker for a city so I’ve been watching videos about the systems. Lots to learn but looks interesting.
good luck to you in your new career!
Lift stations are generally deep, which is greater than 5' plus waste water is generally 45 degrees, at least here in Minnesota. Thank you for the question.
I would think this customer, (most customers) would benefit from the use of grinder pumps, instead of a solids handling pump when it comes to feminine hygiene/wipes going into the application. Good video btw.
These pumps are grinder pumps. It is to bad that people flush what they do. I would rather their pump plugs not mine.
Thank you!
We tend to design lift stations with “muffin monster” grinders in front on the lift station
Thank you for your video. I’m actually looking at this job. I’ve done residential plumbing and cvil engineering ( water mains and gas maine’s . There is a training position on lift station mechanic for my county and I’m just curious about what it is they do.
Your welcome, I've had 35 years as a plant operator and maintenance on lift stations. Please Join the team!!
@@lbundy442 good video! Can you get one when things go really wrong? I've been through (as an OP/Supervisor/Superintendent) ice storms, 8+" of rain in a day, pushed 1.414 MGD through a 0.75 MGD plant and held the solids, an F3 tornado taking out power to the city for days, with hundreds of E-One low pressure satellite stations at houses. Utility workers drilling through a marked 10" AC force main (sewer). We also handled the water side. I'll agree with you though, FLUSHABLE wipes will flush and cause problems all through the system. The people who put flushable on those wipes should be billed for all labor and costs related to their MIS-information. I have found a whole lobster tail on a bar rack before, never ask how!
@@WildRapier
I disapprove of e-ones, I live in a state of lakes and resorts. Lots of problems with those units. I prefer hydro-matic pumps which are rebuildable. Good luck to you, and watch for splash back!
It's been a few years since your comment but I started working for the city on our lift stations pretty recently and I honestly love the job. I'm coming from retail/warehouse work and this job is far less shitty (sorry, bad joke.)
I have good benefits, pay is decent but could be better admittedly, unionized, great job security, and lots of room for advancement. Every day is different and you're constantly learning something new.
Also, the smell really isn't as bad as you'd think. Some lift stations are worse than others but I gag while cleaning up dog turds but don't even make a face when I open up a wet well or open up a pump to clean it. If you like fulfilling, purposeful work, it's a good gig.
Is the camouflage so that you blend in? good job! hahaha Without people who do your job civilization could not exist (if it even does.)
Thank you for your service.
i hope you wash your hands
lol, I just came home from trucking for 2 months, so my hot water smells like rothen egg. I had to flush my water heater. but now I got full emersion into this video, visual, audio and smell.
Yep rotten egg 🥚 remember, breath through your teeth. Not your nose!
We need at least 2 guys and must wear fall protection to pull a pump.
You have a nice truck mount crane, swing that pump over ground and service. Put a garbage bag or small tarp down. Nothing pisses me off more than guys dropping tools and the plug back into wetwell!!
I agree, what else is when you pick the pump up and the plug drops back into the water 😔
Bathroom tissue doesn’t come out of me.
Sodahead dont know about wipes
I deal with this all the time (at the shipping/trucking terminals at the beautiful port of Los Angeles) rags t shirts and of course the infamous "flushable " wipes ! come on people
Minnesota is suing for rewording of the products. But the gate has been opened, and the cows are out. People will not stop flushing. Good luck to you.
Nice video! Do you happen to know how to test the pump with a meter to keep track of Amps it’s supposed to run at? I’ve been told you can check the reading and if the amps are reading too low or too high they can tell you what’s going on with the pump
Yes, I use an amp clamp and have a history of the amps from the lead wires to the pump when the the pump was new and when its clean.. Changes in amp draw can show a problem before a red light at night!
With a meter if amps are too high chances are it has "stoppage" if amps are too low there could be mutiple problems; "airlock " is the most common, that usually happens when the station is pumped all the way below the inlet of the pump and it looses it prime. Ive only been in the waste water game for alittle over 2 years and i work 7 days a week dealing with lift stations and waste water plants. We dont have small pumps like these all are 3 phase minimal.
Man, someone needs to invent a toilet that doesn't flush these kinds of fibrous materials. If such a toilet existed and it were required by code, then we would all save money in the long run. Hell, most toilets already take several flushes to get some of that stuff down anyway. I'm sure it could be improved
Yeah we could go back to regular flush toilets that flush everything down in 1 flush instead of toilets that need to be flushed 2-3 times on top of dumping water down them. All that "save the world" nonsense is just that, nonsense. It's all so these people can sell the next big thing.
@@mikeznel6048 This was forced due to water conservation on the water side of things. I've worked both water treatment/distribution and wastewater treatment/collection, so I know. You need to get to 65 RGPCD to EPA's standards. Resident Gallons Per Capita Day. So 65 gallons per person per day, to get there, low flow toilets, low flow faucets, more accurate meters (to negate losses). So yeah blame the EPA for wanting cleaner waters. I agree and have done my part!
Thanks for video , I just start working for my county department of utilities sewer systems .
I bet whatever you say is useful but all I hear is pump
Sorry about that I got to far away from my microphone
Thanks for posting this content Lee! Do you have an email where I can reach out to you. I'd love to pick your brain.
All our lift stations are fence enclosed. Some are protected by big concrete bollards too.
Served with threephase too.
Two thumbs up! 👍👍Can you drop a link to your merch?
Sure I can bring the catolog over tomorrow.
I don't have anything to sell, Just free advise
Honestly great in depth video, way better than my coworkers.
I have only been at one pump station and it was to install a back-up gen set. The maintenance guy told me I had till 3 pm to get the power back on, because that's when the school kids and their mothers would be home and start flushing toilets. (condo complex) Just my luck and the electrician never showed up that day, so I had to do a temporary "bug in" to get the juice back on!
Yes, the school rush, kids holding it in all day! Lots of solids. Good times 😝
In the real world the pits are 20 feet deep, and have no display panel, just a couple of hand off auto switches and it indicator light bulb when the pump is pumping, but the bulb is burned out anyway.
The smaller panel's, home owners and small duplex panel's only have a red alarm light. Most of the time somebody has removed the bulb. Our panel maker is, IFS by SJE Rumbus out of Detroit Lakes, MN.
Thank you for this interesting and useful video. I'm not a professional just a homeowner who enjoys learning about infrastructure. Thank you for keeping our wastewater systems in good shape.
Me two!
Turd rustlers rule .
Great video
How does the pump get connected back to electricity and to the outlet pipe after you just drop it back down
We have what is called a "Base Elbow" The pump slides down a rail system and meets the gasketed flange. The weight of the pump keeps it snug to the base. And Bob's yer uncle!
pump has power isolation switch.....whr im from your supposed to lock and tag isolation switch.
Does the wet wipe toilet paper break up in the sewer system?
No, they roll in the pipe and will actually become like rope. Gets clogged in the pump.
Not supposed to flush them or put them in a septic.
What do use to lift pumps?
I have a F550 and it has a 3000 lb Lift More crane. Its a little big for these pumps but better big than a hand crank!
I have a service truck with a Lift Moore crane
Thanks for the video, just wondering what keeps the water in the well from not freezing?
The depth.. lol
The water depth is below the frost. And the water temperature is about 40- 45 degrees f.
Hey lee.... question. I have a pump with a sump mounted on the side of it. It is running high amps amd tripping the overload on the VFD. Nothing is clogged. Any thoughts?? Thanks
@@bubba6richards729 Have you checked the piping for clogs? Checks/valves? If the impeller spins freely and the VFD is showing high amps could be the motor. Does it pull high amps with nothing attached? Might want to MEG the motor and check for low resistance. A short to ground would fault out the VFD immediately, so if it's still running but pulling high amps, check the stuff I mentioned.
@@WildRapier figured it out! It was a clearance issue where the impeller mounts on shaft. Once I took the impeller off the shaft was loaded with string and wipes. Under normal inspection you couldn’t see it. When I spun by hand seemed a little “tight”. Removed junk bolted impeller back on and it’s been working for 10 months now no issues. Thank you very much for the reply. 👍🏼