Environmental Science & Engineering Magazine, October 2017
Solid and fibrous materials in wastewater streams can block or clog pumps, valves and piping systems. Abrasive materials, such as sand, can cause premature wear in pump components.
Large flow variations, especially those encountered in pump stations that need to deal with a combination of wastewater and stormwater, can make it impossible to keep pumps running in their most efficient operating range. Low velocity flows in pipes and tank structures can lead to solid wastes settling out into hard-to-move masses, while very high-velocity flows can cause air entrapment and cavitation at pump intakes.
While it is impossible to prevent all such problems, there are ways to prevent some of them.