Pumps and Controls
A practical guide to pumps, controls, sensors, and monitoring considerations for water, stormwater, reuse, and drainage applications.
Pump selection starts with the duty point
The duty point combines the required flow rate and total dynamic head. The system should also consider operating range, wet-well storage, pump cycling, solids handling, power, controls, alarms, backup operation, and maintenance access.
Common components
- Pump, motor, impeller, and casing suited to the fluid and application.
- Level switches, pressure sensors, transducers, or ultrasonic/radar level sensors.
- Control panel, variable frequency drive, starters, alarms, and remote monitoring.
- Check valves, isolation valves, discharge piping, fittings, and restraints.
- Emergency overflow, standby pump, generator, or backup operating plan where needed.
Key design checks
- Estimate inflow and required discharge rate.
- Calculate static lift, friction losses, and total dynamic head.
- Check pump curve against operating conditions.
- Review wet-well storage and pump cycling.
- Confirm overflow, alarms, backup power, and maintenance access.