Flygt Experior Pump System Helps Louisiana Lift Station Overcome Clogging Problems

Jefferson Parish, Louisiana extends along a 15-mile wide corridor west of and upriver from New Orleans. As demonstrated by the recent Hurricane Isaac, the Parish is vulnerable to tropical storms and hurricanes from June through November in a region already known for high rainfall events throughout the year. To make matters worse, the structural and operational integrity of the sanitary sewer lines and pump stations are compromised by age and very minimal budgets to maintain the equipment in place.

Jefferson Parish sewer rates are among the lowest in the country for a system of this size and economic importance to the region. Even routine storms can spawn enough rainfall to induce surges of inflow and infiltration (I&I) that can overload stretches of the Parish’s 1500 miles of gravity sewer lines, 200 miles of force mains and 505 lift stations that range from single-horsepower installations to facilities with multiple 400-hp pumps.

Rain events—frequently two to four inches—and poor soil conditions would surcharge the collection lines and aggravate the already chronic clogging of lift stations when flows carry in non-woven consumer products such as dusters, cleaning and hygiene wipes.