Advanced Wastewater Pumps Will Pay Dividends In Energy Savings For City Of Andalusia, Alabama

The sewer utility for the City of Andalusia, AL, was in line to receive stimulus funds for energy-related conservation projects, but the proposed use for replacing aging pumps at two lift stations along the municipal sewage collection system had to be fully demonstrated to be eligible.

The local office of the engineering firm of Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood, Inc., broke ground for the grant opportunity. The engineering firm communicates routinely with state and federal agencies to identify potential sources for grants to help underwrite their cash-stretched local government clients needing infrastructure projects, explained Bob Carter, PE. He called the grant to the city’s attention and collaborated in providing input to prepare the application and proposal before leading the eventual project. The final report on the project scope and month-long monitoring results required the scrutiny — and seal — of a licensed professional engineer to verify the facts for grant eligibility.

The prerequisite for eligibility required at least 30 days of documented monitoring to substantiate a guaranteed 25% reduction in electrical consumption by the replacement pumps versus the existing pumps. Flygt brand N-pumps, supplied by Xylem, were specified as replacements.