Xylem Bypass System Helps Facilitate Pump Station Rehab In Covington, Kentucky

Sanitation District No. 1 of Northern Kentucky (SD1) needed to perform wet well concrete rehabilitation to two pump stations in Covington, Kentucky, located just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati. The Eighth Street pump station is designed to pump up to 26.3 million gallons per day (MGD) under normal conditions and 28.5 MGD during flood events, while the Patton Street pump station is designed to pump up to 12.8 MGD under normal conditions and 20.1 MGD during flood events.

While the stations were being rehabilitated, the wastewater that would typically be routed through them needed to be bypassed using alternative pumping solutions. Each wet well is more than 28 ft deep, necessitating the use of submersible equipment. In addition, the engineering firms associated with this project required contractors to provide constant remote monitoring while the bypass system was in use, as well as facilitate the ability to monitor the sump level and adjust the pumps’ output according to flow conditions. The contractors would also need to make sure that the bypass system would not create excessive amounts of noise and disturb area residents.