A submersible wastewater pump is designed to transfer treated or partially treated wastewater and contaminated water. These pumps are commonly used in wastewater treatment plants, effluent treatment plants, industrial process-water systems and municipal wastewater networks.
Flow Chem's submersible wastewater pumps are designed for industrial effluent treatment, ETP and STP discharge and contaminated-water transfer applications.
Depending on the application, wastewater pumps may be available with different materials and configurations to suit the liquid characteristics and solids present in the wastewater.
What Is a Submersible Sewage Pump?
A submersible sewage pump is designed for wastewater containing sewage, suspended solids and other contaminants. Sewage applications can be more demanding because the liquid may contain fibrous materials, sludge and larger solids.
The pump therefore needs to be selected according to the solids characteristics, required flow, total head, installation conditions and duty cycle.
For applications involving sewage and sludge, Flow Chem's submersible sewage and sludge pumps are designed for demanding wastewater and sewage handling applications.
Submersible Wastewater Pump vs Sewage Pump: Key Difference
The main difference is the nature of the liquid being pumped and the solids that the pump needs to handle.
| Factor | Wastewater Pump | Sewage Pump |
|---|---|---|
| Typical application | Treated or partially treated wastewater | Raw sewage and sludge-containing wastewater |
| Common locations | ETP, STP and industrial wastewater systems | Sewage collection, STP and municipal systems |
| Solids | Typically lower or controlled solids load | May involve larger suspended and fibrous solids |
| Clogging risk | Depends on wastewater characteristics | Can be higher where rags and fibrous solids are present |
| Selection priority | Flow, head, liquid characteristics and solids | Flow, head, solids handling and sewage characteristics |
When Should You Use a Wastewater Pump?
A wastewater pump may be suitable when the application involves treated or partially treated wastewater with a relatively controlled solids load.
Typical applications include:
- Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs)
- Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs)
- Industrial wastewater transfer
- Process-water discharge
- Municipal wastewater systems
- Commercial wastewater transfer
- Effluent discharge systems
The correct selection still depends on the actual liquid characteristics, flow requirements, head and solids content.
When Should You Use a Sewage Pump?
Sewage pumps are generally considered when the liquid contains sewage, sludge, suspended solids or other contaminants that require appropriate solids-handling capability.
Typical applications include:
- Municipal sewage systems
- Sewage collection tanks
- Sewage pumping stations
- STP inlet and transfer applications
- Sludge handling
- Industrial sewage systems
- Commercial building sewage systems
If the wastewater contains significant fibrous material or ragging, the pump configuration becomes especially important.
What Is the Role of a Cutter Pump?
Some sewage and wastewater applications contain fibrous materials, rags or other solids that can create clogging problems.
In such conditions, a cutter pump can be considered. A cutter mechanism is designed to reduce certain fibrous materials before they enter the pumping system.
Flow Chem provides a submersible cutter pump option for applications where solids and fibrous materials may create additional clogging challenges.
How to Choose Between a Wastewater Pump and Sewage Pump
The best way to choose between the two is to start with the application rather than simply selecting a pump based on horsepower.
1. Check the Liquid Type
Identify exactly what the pump will be handling. Is it treated wastewater, partially treated effluent, raw sewage, sludge or industrial wastewater?
The liquid composition can have a major impact on pump selection and material requirements.
2. Determine the Required Flow Rate
Flow rate is the amount of liquid that needs to be transferred over a given period. It is commonly expressed in m³/hr, L/min or L/s.
Selecting a pump with the correct flow capacity helps the system meet its required operating performance.
3. Calculate Total Head
Total head is another critical factor. The pump must overcome the vertical lifting height as well as losses caused by pipes, bends, valves, fittings and other system components.
A pump with sufficient flow capacity may still fail to achieve the required performance if the total head has not been correctly calculated.
4. Check Solids Size
Solids handling is particularly important for sewage and sludge applications. Determine the approximate size, concentration and nature of the solids present in the liquid.
5. Consider Fibrous Materials
Rags, fibres and other stringy materials can increase the possibility of clogging. If the application has a high risk of ragging, discuss the operating conditions with the pump manufacturer before selecting the equipment.
6. Evaluate Liquid Chemistry
Industrial wastewater can contain chemicals that may affect pump materials. Consider factors such as pH, temperature, chloride content, corrosiveness and chemical composition.
7. Consider Duty Cycle
A pump operating continuously in an STP or ETP has different requirements from a pump used intermittently for drainage or emergency water removal.
Identify whether the pump will operate:
- Continuously
- Intermittently
- During peak flow periods
- For emergency pumping
- For temporary applications
Wastewater Pumps for ETP and STP Applications
Effluent Treatment Plants and Sewage Treatment Plants use pumps at multiple stages of the treatment process.
Depending on the plant design, pumps may be used for:
- Raw wastewater transfer
- Effluent transfer
- Sludge movement
- Treated water discharge
- Tank drainage
- Recirculation
- Aeration and mixing
For aeration applications, Flow Chem also manufactures submersible jet aerator pumps designed for wastewater treatment aeration and mixing applications.
Why Correct Pump Selection Matters
Selecting a pump only by motor power can lead to poor system performance. Two pumps with the same horsepower can have very different performance curves, solids-handling characteristics and application suitability.
Incorrect selection can contribute to problems such as:
- Frequent clogging
- Insufficient flow
- Excessive power consumption
- Seal problems
- Motor overheating
- Frequent maintenance
- Reduced pump life
- Unplanned downtime
This is why application information should be provided to the pump manufacturer before finalizing the pump.
Information to Provide When Requesting a Pump
To receive a more appropriate pump recommendation, provide as much information about the application as possible.
- Liquid type
- Required flow rate
- Total head
- Solids size
- Solids concentration
- Liquid temperature
- pH and chemical characteristics
- Installation depth
- Discharge pipe size
- Operating hours
- Available electrical supply
- Application and installation conditions
Why Choose Flow Chem Pumps?
Flow Chem Pumps is an ISO 9001:2015 certified industrial and submersible pump manufacturer based in Gujarat, India. The company has been manufacturing submersible pump solutions since 2002 for sewage, wastewater, drainage, dewatering and slurry-handling applications.
Flow Chem's product range includes wastewater pumps, sewage and sludge pumps, drainage pumps, cutter pumps, jet aerator pumps and slurry-related solutions.
Learn more about Flow Chem as a submersible pump manufacturer in India and explore the company's manufacturing capabilities and application support.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a wastewater pump and a sewage pump?
A wastewater pump is commonly used for treated or partially treated wastewater, while a sewage pump is designed for applications involving sewage and potentially higher levels of suspended or larger solids. The correct choice depends on the actual liquid and solids characteristics.
Can a wastewater pump be used for sewage?
It depends on the sewage characteristics and the specific pump design. The pump must have suitable solids-handling capability and be compatible with the required flow, head and operating conditions.
When should I use a cutter pump?
A cutter pump may be considered when fibrous materials, rags or similar solids create a significant risk of clogging. Application conditions should be evaluated before selecting a cutter configuration.
Which pump is suitable for an ETP?
ETP pump selection depends on the treatment stage, liquid characteristics, flow rate, head, solids content and operating conditions. Wastewater or effluent pumps are commonly considered for treated and partially treated effluent transfer applications.
How do I select the right submersible pump?
Start with the liquid type, flow rate, total head, solids size, temperature, chemical characteristics, installation depth and duty cycle. Providing these details to the manufacturer helps determine the appropriate pump configuration.
Conclusion
Understanding the difference between a submersible wastewater pump vs sewage pump is important when selecting equipment for STP, ETP, municipal and industrial applications.
Wastewater pumps are commonly used for treated and partially treated wastewater, while sewage pumps are designed for more demanding sewage and solids-handling applications. However, the final selection should always be based on actual site conditions rather than the pump name alone.
Flow rate, total head, solids size, liquid chemistry, temperature, installation conditions and duty cycle should all be evaluated before selecting the pump.
If you need help selecting the right wastewater, sewage, sludge or industrial submersible pump, you can contact Flow Chem Pumps with your application requirements for pump selection support.