“Uh Oh! Now what do we do?” – Utilizing Portable Pump Systems in Emergency Response Plans for SSO Under Proposed CMOM Regulations

An integral part of the proposed cMOM regulations is Emergency Preparedness and Response Planning. One of the key elements of reducing the number of Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSO) is the proper maintenance of collection systems and pump stations in municipal sewer treatment facilities. Achieving good preventive maintenance has always been a challenge for owners and operators. Often, repairs are done on an emergency basis when failures occur. Creating an emergency response plan is the first important step toward cMOM compliance for responding to system distress and potential sanitary sewer overflows. Addressing alternative ways of moving sewage during system distress simply cannot wait until the incident occurs.Portable pumping has played an important role in the ability of municipalities to react to collection system and pump station failures. In emergency conditions, bypass applications allow for repairs to permanently installed equipment (Response). This role now is being expanded to include preventive maintenance on systems during normal operation (Preparedness). Municipalities are turning to preferred vendors for assistance in developing surveys and emergency response plans to deal with unexpected electrical and mechanical equipment failures.Supporting information will include the results of a study of system distress causes (Hoover, AL 1994) showing that 14% of lift station failures resulted from a loss of municipal power while 86% were the result of mechanical, switchgear or control panel failures. Traditional back up generators proved useless in those situations. Portable pumping was utilized to keep station activity normal during the system distress.Portable pump system design and installation will be presented on the poster to demonstrate available options for alternative pumping during system distress or failure. In addition, an example of a cMOM compliant emergency response plan will be presented showing the necessary information to expedite the delivery and set up of a portable pump system during system distress.