Ejector pit conveying waste water from the entire dwelling

[dstrunk (David J. Strunk)]

Hello Everyone,

I just inspected a house that had all of the upper floor waste water pipes extend all the way into the basement and through the basement floor. From there the pipes took a lateral path to the ejector pit which then pumped the water back up to the building drain which was located 4-5 feet above the floor. I would seem to me that standard practice would be to have the upper floors gravity feed to the building drain and the ejector pit only conveys waste water that was produced in the basement. Why would anyone send all of the waste water to the ejector pit when it could be gravity fed? Has anyone else seen anything like this and how would I report?

Thanks

[mlarson (Michael Larson, WI Lic. # 1672-106)]

@dstrunk

Hello Everyone,

I just inspected a house that had all of the upper floor waste water pipes extend all the way into the basement and through the basement floor. From there the pipes took a lateral path to the ejector pit which then pumped the water back up to the building drain which was located 4-5 feet above the floor. I would seem to me that standard practice would be to have the upper floors gravity feed to the building drain and the ejector pit only conveys waste water that was produced in the basement. Why would anyone send all of the waste water to the ejector pit when it could be gravity fed? Has anyone else seen anything like this and how would I report?

Thanks

My home is plumbed as you describe. 1999 build

[msylvester (Mark Sylvester, #0500001766)]

Yes, it’s a lift station not a defect…

[dstrunk (David J. Strunk)]

Thank you for your responses. This is why I find this business to be so interesting…always something new to learn.

[relliott (Rick Elliott)]

Did you check for the back flow valve…? Critical under those conditions. There should be one above the pit on the exit side the holding tank and the street line to prevent back flow into the house in the event there is a problem with the city services.

[dstrunk (David J. Strunk)]

The house is on a private septic system. It had a check valve .

[jjonas (Jeffrey Jonas)]

@dstrunk

The house is on a private septic system. It had a check valve .

And there is your answer as to why it is as it is.

[belliott (Bob Elliott, 450.0002662)]

@jjonas

And there is your answer as to why it is as it is.

I was about to question same as the poster till that last bit of info.

[mlarson (Michael Larson, WI Lic. # 1672-106)]

@belliott

I was about to question same as the poster till that last bit of info.

I have a municipal sewer connection and I do not see what a private septic has to do with it.

My interior lift stain is very large 5ft deep and over 3 ft. in diameter and exits the structure at about 2 ft off the basement floor. I also have a spare lift pump ready to go should a failure ever occur. Yes I have a lift station alarm and check valve.

[rmayo (Randy Mayo, P.E.)]

A grinder pump on a private septic system is not a good thing IMO … In your standard septic tank you want the solids to settle out, but the grinder pump converts the solid waste into tiny pieces which becomes suspended solids. This allows the solids to flow out potentially clogging your drain field. If you don’t have one I suggest a good effluent screen on the tank outlet.

[mlarson (Michael Larson, WI Lic. # 1672-106)]

@rmayo

A grinder pump on a private septic system is not a good thing IMO … In your standard septic tank you want the solids to settle out, but the grinder pump converts the solid waste into tiny pieces which becomes suspended solids. This allows the solids to flow out potentially clogging your drain field. If you don’t have one I suggest a good effluent screen on the tank outlet.

There is a difference between a grinder and sewage pump.

http://www.jimmurrayinc.info/sewage-pump-vs-grinder-pump/

A true grinder pump will actually chop and shred the sewage and pump it through a 1-1/4″ pipe. These are powerful pumps, usually 1 or 2 horse power and 230 volt depending upon the brand, they in fact are capable of pumping the waste for over a mile to a gravity sewer.

A sewage pump for most residential applications is either a 4/10 or ½ horse power and 115 volt, they have a 2″ or 3″ discharge and they will , in most cases, only need to pump up to 15 feet of lift to a gravity sewer.

There is a huge difference in the replacement cost of the grinder pumps, which can have a $2,000.00 to $3,000.00 retail price depending upon installation and labor. The replacement cost of a sewage pump could be in the $400.00 to $600.00 price range depending upon installation and labor.

The typical sewage pump installation we see is where there is a bathroom group of fixtures in a lower level that drains and collects into a basin and gets pumped to a gravity line which is connected to the gravity sewer or septic system. The sewage pump is usually installed in that 18″ x 30″ or larger basin with a sealed cover, sealed vent and discharge, and a check valve to prevent backflow from the gravity sewer.

A grinder pump is usually used in jobs where the gravity sewer is a long distance from the home, or there is a high vertical lift of 30′ or more, and in a lot if situations, is part of a pressure sewer system. There are in fact whole subdivisions where all the homes have grinder pumps. These have sewer laterals that are 1-1/4″ with sewer mains being 2″. The ground up waste is pumped to a municipal sewer station for treatment.