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A cellar, a basement, a bathroom or a kitchen located below the sewer or the septic tank: the water will not drain away by itself. A lifting station collects this water in a tank, then one or two pumps send it to the outlet. The right choice depends on the water to lift (clean, loaded or waste water with toilets), the number of pumps, the tank volume and the lifting height. Here is how to choose without mistakes.
What is a lifting station?
A lifting station, or pumping station, is an automatic unit that removes water when gravity is not enough. It includes:
- a tank, in polyethylene, to bury or to stand on the floor, that receives the water;
- one or two submersible pumps, often mounted on a base with guide rails;
- a float or level control that starts the pump when the tank fills and stops it when it empties;
- a check valve and a valve, so that the water does not flow back into the tank;
- a discharge pipe and a vent; on two-pump models, a control panel and an overflow alarm.
It is useful when a water point (bathroom, toilet, washing machine, kitchen, utility room) is below the level of the sewer or the septic tank.
Which station for which need?
| Need | Type of station | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Rainwater, clean or very slightly loaded water | Single-pump station with an open impeller: for example the 230 L station, the 40 L micro-station or the CALIFILTRE station after a filter | Particle size, tank volume |
| Bathroom, sink, one toilet, slightly loaded water | 230 L station with a vortex impeller (25 mm passage) or 40 L all-stainless-steel micro-station | 25 mm passage: no bulky waste |
| Waste and loaded water from a home (toilets, kitchen, washing machine) | Station with a vortex impeller, 50 mm passage (Calpeda Calidom, CAL230 GQSM) or with a grinder pump (CAL230 GQGM, Zenit GR Blue Pro, 150 L station) | Free passage or grinder, lifting height |
| Small apartment block, business premises, lifting that must not stop | Two-pump station: CALIDOUBLE PA 13, PA 8, or two grinder pumps | Tank volume, alternating panel, overflow alarm |
| Toilet and washbasin that cannot be connected to the sewer | Lifting micro-station with a macerator: GEOTRIT, GEOCOMP, or the compact Sanipower module | Connected fixtures, discharge height and distance |
One pump or two pumps?
A single-pump station is enough for domestic use where a short stoppage is acceptable. A two-pump station makes them work in turn: if one fails, the other takes over, and wear is shared. Two-pump models come with a control panel and an overflow alarm; the CALIDOUBLE stations are rated for use up to 100 PE (population equivalents, the unit of pollution load of one inhabitant).
Vortex impeller or grinder pump?
A vortex impeller pump lets solids pass without cutting them: 50 mm on the Calpeda stations above, 25 mm on the small models. A grinder pump cuts stringy material and reduces impeller blockage. The guide choosing a sewage pump explains the difference.
Sizing: tank, flow and head
Three values guide the choice. The tank volume: our stations range from 40 L (micro-station) to 1,340 L (two pumps). The flow must cover the fixtures that discharge at the same time. The total dynamic head (TDH) is the height to climb between the pump and the discharge point, plus the pipe friction losses: see the guide calculating the total dynamic head and, for the pipe, choosing a hose or pipe.
Worked example
Calculation assumptions: the discharge point is 3 m above the bottom of the tank, with 15 m of pipe: we allow about 1 m of friction loss, giving a TDH of about 4 m. Look for a pump that gives the flow you want at 4 m on its curve, with a margin. As a reference, the Calidom station with a 1.10 kW pump is rated for a maximum lifting height of 10 m. These calculation values are assumptions, to be adapted to your installation.
The mistake to avoid
Choosing a clean-water station and connecting toilets to it: the impeller jams. Another trap: flushing wipes or waste, which block even a large-passage pump. Also remember the check valve and the tank vent.
Installation in brief
- Place the tank on a stable base, buried or standing; extension rings let you adjust the tank height.
- Connect the water inlet, then the discharge pipe with a check valve and a valve, to an approved outlet (local sanitation rules).
- Keep the tank vented and accessible. Pumps on guide rails can be removed without entering the tank.
- Power the station through a compliant electrical installation with a residual-current device, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Maintenance: cleaning the tank, changing a pump
Switch off the power before any work. Check the float regularly, it must move freely, and the condition of the tank; clean it if deposits build up. On models with guide rails, the pump is lifted out from above to be cleaned or replaced. Follow the installation and maintenance instructions; you can replace a pump yourself following the instructions or call an installer.
The selection method in 5 steps
- Identify the water: rainwater or clean, slightly loaded, waste water with or without toilets.
- Choose the technology: open impeller, vortex impeller or grinder pump.
- Decide the number of pumps: one pump, or two to make the lifting more reliable.
- Calculate the TDH and the flow, then the tank volume.
- Check the electrics, the discharge diameter, the check valve and the approved outlet.
Frequently asked questions
What is a lifting station?
It is a ready-to-install unit made of a tank, one or two pumps, a float and a check valve. It collects the water from a low point and sends it to the sewer or the septic tank located higher up.
Can toilets be connected to a lifting station?
Yes, with a station designed for waste water: a pump with a 50 mm vortex impeller or a grinder pump. For a single toilet and a washbasin with no access to the sewer, a micro-station with a macerator is suitable. Follow the sanitation rules of your municipality.
Which lifting station for rainwater?
A station with an open or multi-channel impeller pump, like the 230 L station, or a two-pump station such as the 500 L station for a more reliable flow. Check the particle size accepted.
Do I need one pump or two?
One pump is enough for a home if a short stoppage is acceptable. Two pumps working in turn make the lifting of an apartment block or business premises more reliable: if one fails, the other takes over.
What tank size should I choose?
It depends on the number of fixtures and how often they are used. Our tanks range from 40 L (micro-station) to 1,340 L (two pumps). The 230 L CAL230 station is rated for a home of up to 20 people according to its sheet; the CALIDOUBLE two-pump stations go up to 100 PE.
How do I clean a lifting station?
Switch off the power, take out the pump (by the guide rails if it has them), clean the tank and the float, then put the pump back. Follow the manufacturer’s maintenance instructions for the frequency.
Who changes a lift pump?
You can do it yourself following the instructions, especially if the pump lifts out on guide rails, or have an installer replace it. Always switch off the power before working on it.
Going further
Lifting stationsOne pump: clean, loaded and waste water.Two-pump stationsReliable lifting, up to 100 PE.Lifting micro-stationsOne toilet, one washbasin, with a macerator.Choosing a lift pumpWhich pump family for which water.Choosing a sewage pumpVortex or grinder.Calculating the TDHHeight, friction losses and curve.