What is the role of a pump station in a collection system?

The role of a pump station in a collection system is fundamentally to lift sewage to higher elevations to facilitate flow. In many collection systems, particularly those in flat or low-lying areas, gravity alone cannot move wastewater effectively to treatment facilities. Therefore, pump stations are strategically located to provide the necessary force to elevate sewage through piping systems, allowing it to flow to treatment plants or higher terrain. This action is crucial for maintaining the efficiency and functionality of the entire wastewater collection system, ensuring that all sewage can be transported without backflow or stagnation.

Other functions like treating wastewater or separating debris do happen at various points in wastewater management, but those are typically responsibilities of treatment facilities or specialized equipment, not pump stations. Similarly, cooling wastewater prior to treatment is not a function of a pump station and is generally handled within the treatment plant itself.