Wastewater Pumping Systems and Lift Stations

Reliable and well-designed wastewater pumping facilities are essential for cities and sewerage systems across the United States. This course will provide you with valuable techniques and knowledge that you can apply immediately in your own systems and projects. This course will help you: 

  • Manage, design, and operate reliable and cost effective pumping facilities and forcemains 
  • Evaluate pros and cons of different station designs 
  • Prevent hydraulic problems in pumps, wet wells, and forcemains 
  • Improve station reliability 
  • Understand electric motors and VFDs 
  • Reduce problems in operation and maintenance 
  • Select optimum pumping equipment, valves, and piping systems 
  • Reduce your pumping energy costs 
  • Upgrade and rehab your pumping stations for the future

Upcoming dates coming soon!

Take course number RA00240 when it’s offered next.

What You Will Learn:

Reliable wastewater pumping is essential for any city or sanitary district.  Learn the latest practices and technologies to help you to design, upgrade, and operate reliable and cost effective pumping systems, lift stations, and forcemains. 

Who Should Attend:

  • Wastewater engineers, operators, and managers
  • Consulting engineers
  • Federal agencies and military bases
  • Regulatory staff

Keep Up With This Course

Course Details: RA00240

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

Course Outline

Pumping Station Types, Features, and Design Considerations 

  • Types of stations 
  • Types of pumping equipment 
  • Valves, fittings, forcemain piping 
  • Screening systems and grinders 
  • Ventilation and odor control 
  • Emergency power, generators 
  • Station layout and geometry 

 Pumping Equipment 

  • Drywell and submersible pumping equipment 
  • Shafts, bearings, mechanical seals 
  • Impellers, casings, wearing rings 
  • Pump characteristics and performance curves 
  • NPSH, cavitation, and other pump problems 
  • Electric motors 
  • Variable frequency drives (VFDs)
  • Control systems 

 Applied Hydraulics and Selection of Pumping Units 

  • Peak flow selection 
  • Computing system head curves 
  • Force main sizing 
  • Pump selection 
  • Energy usage, power demand 
  • Pumping in parallel or series 
  • Affinity laws 
  • Variable speed vs. constant speed pumping 
  • Wet well and storage considerations 

 Design Workshops 

  • Analyze flow data 
  • Select design parameters 
  • Develop system curves 
  • Select pumping equipment 
  • Critique alternative layouts 

 Other Topics 

  • Operation and maintenance challenges 
  • Air valves in forcemains 
  • Waterhammer protection: When and where do you need it? 
  • Station rehabilitation projects 
  • Special problems in wastewater pumping 
  • Other topics as requested 

 Problem-Solving Exercises 

  • Attendees will participate in problem-solving exercises that will help them to understand key aspects of wastewater pumping systems and lift stations. 

Program Director & Instructors

  • Adib Amini

    Program Director

    Adib Amini, Ph.D., PE, ENV SP, BCEE serves as Program Director in the College of Engineering’s Office of Interdisciplinary Professional Programs, with a focus on Water, Wastewater, Stormwater, and Sustainability. Dr. Amini also works with cities and industries as an engineering consultant, with experience in both drinking water and wastewater treatment. Dr. Amini has expertise in sustainability, engineering design, technology innovation, and renewable energy. Dr. Amini’s work has included the design of novel technologies, including on-site energy systems at facilities. He spearheaded the designs for the first wastewater treatment facilities in Iowa that are 100% powered by on-site renewable energy systems. Dr. Amini invented a novel system for ventilation of rated spaces, such as wastewater headworks buildings, for which he holds a provisional patent. Dr. Amini also has performed award-winning research in technology innovation and sustainability. Dr. Amini has spoken widely at conferences on topics related to water/wastewater treatment, sustainability, PFAS, on-site energy systems, and resilient infrastructure.

  • Chelsea Lambert

    Chelsea Lambert is a water and wastewater project management for municipal and industrial clients. She has a degree in Environmental Engineering from Louisiana State University. Chelsea specializes in wastewater systems, pipeline and treatment design and pump station rehabilitation. As a water/wastewater engineer for Stanley Consultants, Chelsea handles project design, daily operations and client relationships, with effective communication and project delivery. She manages the full lifecycle of wastewater treatment projects, from planning and design to construction, collaborating closely with clients to meet their specific needs. Chelsea also conducts engineering evaluations, prepares reports and presents findings to stakeholders. Additionally, she develops construction drawings, technical specifications and sets office standards for wastewater assessments. Throughout her career, Chelsea has conducted comprehensive feasibility studies, network modeling and planning and design for both municipal and industrial projects.

  • Chris Suomi

    Chris Suomi is the Central District Manager for Gorman-Rupp Engineered Systems Division.  As a District Manager, Chris provides a wide range of duties including assisting distributors and customers with product sales and applications of Gorman-Rupp products.  Chris has conducted numerous pump hydraulics training courses throughout the Midwest with state water and wastewater organizations, municipalities, and college seminars.  Chris has a degree in Environmental Engineering from Michigan Tech University and has over 25 years of experience in the water and wastewater field in consulting engineering, and application engineering prior to joining Gorman-Rupp in 2011.

  • Robert Scott Trotter, P.E., BCEE

    President

    Scott Trotter is a professional engineer and a board-certified specialist in water/wastewater engineering by the American Academy of Environmental Engineers (AAEE).  Scott has over 35 years of experience in planning, design, and implementation of infrastructure rehabilitation, expansion and process modification projects. 

    Throughout his career, he has earned the respect of clients, regulatory officials, and contractors alike for his technical skills, work ethic, and ability to bring projects together.  Scott has provided industry leadership through a number of organizations including serving as an officer of the Central States WEA, WEF Board of Trustees and University of Illinois CEE Alumni Board.  Scott has been involved with national policy initiatives including the USEPA integrated planning, nutrient planning, and WIFIA financing program.

  • Program Director

    Adib Amini

Total Credits:
CEU 1.8
PDH 18

Course Administration

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

Payment Options

If you are planning to attend an Interdisciplinary Professional Programs course, payment is required at the time of registration. Below are the payment options:

Pay by Credit Card

Enroll online and pay by credit card.

  • Search for the course on the website and then click on the Enroll Now button from the course webpage.
  • Enter all necessary course attendee information and payment information on the course enrollment page.
  • You will receive an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Enroll over the phone and pay by credit card.

  • Call CERC Registrations at 608-262-2451.
  • Provide the registrations representative with:
    • the course name, dates, and/or course number.
    • the necessary course attendee information and payment information.
  • You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment payment.

Pay by Check

Mail in a completed registration form and check payable to UW Madison.

  • Fill out a registration form (found either in the back of the course brochure you received in the mail or here).
  • Prepare a check, made payable to UW Madison.
  • Mail the registration form and check to: CERC Registrations 21 N Park St, Ste 7101 Madison, WI 53715
  • You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Pay by Purchase Order

Military

If using SF-182 form, please call our registration number at 608-262-2451 or email interpro@union.wisc.edu for details and instructions.

Event Cancellation

We reserve the right to cancel a course due to insufficient enrollment or unforeseen events. If we cancel a course, participants will be notified via email or phone and will be given the option for a full refund or to transfer their registration and any fees paid to another course. We are not responsible for non-refundable plane tickets, hotel reservations, and other travel related expenses. For enrollee Course Cancellation, refer to notes on course page.

"A terrific course. Best I've ever had."

"A fantastic course! A must-attend for all that are planning, designing, or operating a sewage pumping station."

"I will be applying what I learned almost immediately when I get back to the office."

"Well done workshop. Put together superbly."

"I've never seen a better technical speaker. It's one thing to present material to college kids, and quite another to present design concepts to PE's with 25 years of experience and O&M personnel with the same. Ned did a masterful job."

Create a custom learning experience

We can deliver this course as an on-site learning experience tailored to your organization’s specific training needs.