Sewage Wet Well Definitions

These definitions correspond to the call-outs on the attached drawing of a Typical Submersible Pump Station.

1. Inlet Pipe - A pipe protruding into the wet well that allows the sewage -laden fluid to enter the wet well. Sometimes referred to as the invert pipe.



2. Control Panel - A device that provides power to the pumps in a sewage wet well during the required operation modes. General operation is in an automatic mode where the level control interacts with the electrical control to indicate when power is required to the pumps. Electrical control designs and features will vary depending on the specific application.



3. Access Cover - A cover plate located at the top of the wet well to provide access for maintenance and service. The access cover can be of a solid removable style, or of a hinged door style. May include frame, doors, locks, and other accessories.



4. Vent - A ventilation opening located near the top of the wet well to allow the venting of the gasses in the wet well.



5. Access Cover - see above.



6. Valve Box - A separate vault located near the wet well that commonly holds the check and isolation shut off valves for the discharge piping.



7. Discharge Pipe - The pressurized pipe that exits the pump and wet well. This pipe is commonly attached to the control and check valves prior to being attached to the field piping.



8. Intermediate Guide Rail Bracket - A bracket structure that supports the pump guide rail. This is commonly used on deep wet wells to prevent bending of the guide rails. Installed between the upper guide bracket and the base elbow (if necessary).



9. Level Control - An electrical switching device used to open or close a circuit in the pump control panel in response to the liquid level within the well.



10. Wet Well - The sewage to be transferred is retained in a containment vault commonly referred to as a wet well. In a standard submersible application the submersible pumps and associated items are all housed in the wet well.



11. Check Valve - A device to prevent backflow through the pumps into the wet well.



12. Isolation Valve - An adjustable valving device used to isolate the discharge piping and the field piping. Several types of solids handling valves are used in this application.



13. Lifting Cable / Chain - A cable or chain attached to a submersible pump to assist in removing it from the wet well.



14. Control Cable / Cord -- An electrical cable attached to the submersible pump that is used to monitor critical performance elements such as motor temperature, moisture, etc.



15. Power Cable - An electrical cable attached to the submersible pump that is used to transmit power to the electrical motor in the pump.



16. Submersible Pump - An integral pump design that includes the pumping wet end in combination with a submersible motor assembly, all designed to operate submerged in the pumping medium.



17. Discharge Base Elbow - A means for securing the pump to the discharge piping that will allow removal for servicing. This usually consist of an elbow or similar device mounted to the floor of the wet well. A mating assembly is mounted to the pump in a manner that it can be removed from the elbow assembly by pulling vertically on the pump assembly without entrance into the wet well.



18. Guide Rails - These are systems used to guide the pump onto the discharge base elbow during pump installation. Pipe is generally used as the guide rail, but other materials such as cable are also used.



19. Cable Support Bracket - A bracket used to retain the level control devices. Commonly this bracket retains the cable on a float style level control. The bracket is sometimes used to retain the pump power and control cables also.



20. Upper Guide Rail Bracket - A bracket structure that supports the top of the pump guide rail. This bracket is usually secured to the cover or side wall of the wet well.



21. Slide Bracket - This bracket is attached to the pump discharge and mates to the discharge elbow. The bracket is designed to mate to the discharge base elbow with close tolerance fit to seal properly. No secondary fasteners are required.



22. Anchor Bolts - The bolts or studs mounted at the bottom of the wet well to retain the discharge base elbow.



23. Electrical Conduit - The electrical conduit running from the pump control panel to the wet well. The electrical conduit(s) house the pump power and control cables entering the wet well. Sealing of the conduit is required to prevent explosive and corrosive gases from entering the pump control panel. Some systems utilize direct-bury cable instead of conduit. Sealing is accomplished with cord grips.