Gabriel Greco A00201829

Topic Identification Assignment

Technical Report Research
TEC-3501

By: Gabriel Greco A00201829

Date: Sept. 22, 2021
 Gabriel Greco A00201829

A wet-well functions as a designated storage tank designed to receive and hold sewage until it is
pumped out. Municipal wastewater utilizes gravity to travel down the municipal sewage line until it
connects with a larger collection system. When there is a low point in the system and wastewater can
no longer flow by gravity, the wastewater collects in a large chamber called a wet-well. Wet-wells are a
type of lift system where pumps are submerged in wastewater within the wet-well. Sensing devices such
as mass-flow meters, float switches, and pressure sensors are connected inside the wet-well. These
devices collect real-time information about the process inside the wet-well and communicate them via a
PLC (programmable logic controller). When parameters are reached within the wet-well, the pumps
active and transport the wastewater to a higher elevation so that it may continue to flow. Wet-wells can
vary in shape and size but serve only one function- to transport wastewater to a higher elevation so that
it may continue to flow. Pumps are sensing devices which are subject to mechanical stress, as such,
require replacement and or servicing at least 1-2 times a year.

Figure 1: Wet-Well Design

Citation: Fecarotta, Oreste & Carravetta, Armando & Morani, Maria Cristina & Padulano, Roberta.
(2018). Optimal Pump Scheduling for Urban Drainage under Variable Flow Conditions. Resources. 7. 73.
10.3390/resources7040073. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Sketch-of-the-wet-well-
of-the-pumping-station-with-a-single-submersible-pump_fig1_328936860
 Gabriel Greco A00201829

Sources
i) The City of Regina. (2021, January). Design Standard Waster Water Lift Station. Regina.
https://www.regina.ca/export/sites/Regina.ca/business-development/land-property-
development/.galleries/pdfs/Design-Standard-Wastewater-Lift-Station.pdf

This is an official document outlining the installation guidelines, installation locations, pumping
capacity, and maintenance for wet-wells and lift stations in the city of Regina. The document
goes in-depth on installation provisions, odor control, electrical installation, lift-station
configurations, and emergency overflow and bypass operations. The document also highlights
pump control and instrumentation requirements, as well, engineering/architectural drawings,
and an operation and maintenance manual.

ii) The Province of Ontario (2019, May 3). Sewage Pumping Stations. Ontario.
https://www.ontario.ca/document/design-guidelines-sewage-works/sewage-pumping-stations

This is an official document released by the provincial government of Ontario outlining proper
design guidelines for sewage works in Ontario. Chapter 7 covers the design of sewage pumping
stations and forcemains. The document outlines several key topics such as location, types, flow,
emergency options, and other design details for pumping stations. Section 7.2.7 specifically
outlines the provincially regulated guidelines for wet-well installations in Ontario. Topics such as
design, fill time and minimum pump-cycle time, slope of the wet-well, access to pumps, and
proper ventilation are discussed.

iii) Articles- Wessuc Inc. (2018, April 18). Wet Well Maintenance and Cleaning Essentials. Wessuc.
http://wessuc.com/2018/04/11/wet-well-maintenance/

Wet Well Maintenance and Cleaning Essentials is an article released by Wessuc Inc. outlining
proper wet-well maintenance and cleaning. It is stressed that there is no set standard when it
comes to pumping station design or maintenance schedules, and that each station has a specific
cleaning and maintenance schedule in accordance with the flow and sewage characteristics it
needs. The article also focuses on topics such as wet-well safety considerations, creating plans
for cleaning and maintaining wet-wells, water considerations, wet-well cleaning disposal, and
timing of cleaning.