Virginia Law

A. Force mains in general.

1. Velocity. At pumping capacity, a minimum self-scouring velocity of two feet per second shall be maintained. A velocity of eight feet per second should not be exceeded.

2. Air relief valve. Air relief valves shall be placed at high points in the force main, as necessary, to relieve air locking.

3. Bedding. All force mains shall be bedded to supply uniform support along their length.

4. Protection against freezing. Force mains shall be placed deep enough to prevent freezing.

5. Location. Force mains shall not pass closer than 50 feet to any drinking water source unless pressure tested in place at pump shut-off head. Under no circumstances shall a force main come within 10 feet of a nonpublic drinking water source.

6. Materials of construction. All pipe used for force mains shall be of the pressure type with pressure type joints.

7. Anchors. Force mains shall be sufficiently anchored within the pump station and throughout the line length. The number of bends shall be as few as possible. Thrust blocks, restrained joints and/or tie rods shall be provided where restraint is needed.

8. Backfilling and tamping. Force main trenches shall be backfilled and tamped as soon as possible after the installation of the force main has been approved. Material for backfilling shall be free of large stones and debris.

B. Pumping station and pumps in general.

1. Sizing. Pumping station wet wells shall provide at least one quarter (1/4) day storage above the high level alarm set point. Actual volume between high and low level limits is determined on a case-by-case basis depending on the objective of pumping: (i) when low pressure dosing is utilized see 12VAC5-610-940 A for sizing requirements; (ii) when pumping to a gravity distribution box the wet well shall be sized to provide a working volume between 1/4 the daily flow and the daily flow; (iii) when pumping for the purpose of enhancing flow distribution (see 12VAC5-610-930 A) the working volume of the wet well shall be 0.6 of the volume of the percolation piping.

2. Materials. Materials for construction of pumping stations are the same as for septic tanks (see 12VAC5-610-810). All materials and equipment utilized in pumping stations shall be unaffected by the corrosive action of sewage.

3. Access. An access manhole terminating above the ground surface shall be provided. The manhole shall have a minimum width dimension of 24 inches and shall be provided with a shoe box type cover adequately secured.

4. Construction. Pumping stations constructed of precast or poured in place concrete shall conform with the construction requirements contained in 12VAC5-610-815 E. When precast concrete pipe is utilized for a pumping station, the pipe shall be placed on and bonded to a concrete pad at least six inches thick and having a width at least one foot greater than the diameter of the pipe. All pumping stations shall be watertight. All conduits entering or leaving the pumping stations shall be provided with a water stop. The influent pipe shall enter the pumping station at an elevation at least one inch higher than the maximum water level in the wet well (total usable volume).

5. Installation. Placement of pumping stations shall conform to the requirements for placement of septic tanks contained in 12VAC5-610-815 F.

6. Pumps. All pumps utilized shall be of the open face centrifugal, vertical turbine, or suction lift type designed to pump sewage. Pumps utilized for the sole purpose of pumping effluent to a higher elevation shall have a capacity approximately 2.5 times the average daily flow in gallons per minute but not less than five gallons per minute at the system head. Pumps utilized for the purpose of enhancing flow distribution (See 12VAC5-610-930 A) shall have a minimum capacity of 36 gallons per minute at system head per 1200 linear feet of percolation piping. Pumps discharging to a low pressure distribution system shall be sized in accordance with 12VAC5-610-940 A. Dual alternating pumps are required on systems 1800 linear feet or greater in accordance with 12VAC5-610-930 B. Pumps shall be so placed that under normal start conditions it shall be subjected to a positive suction head. When multiple pumps are used, each pump shall have its own separate suction line. Suitable shutoff valves shall be provided on the discharge line and suction line (if provided) for normal pump isolation. A check valve shall be placed in the discharge line between the pump and shutoff valve. When the pump discharge is at a lower elevation than the high liquid level in the pump station, an antisiphon device shall be provided on the pump discharge. Pumps shall be piped so that they can be removed for servicing without having to dewater the wet well.

7. Controls. Each pumping station shall be provided with controls for automatically starting and stopping the pumps. When float type controls are utilized, they shall be placed so as to be unaffected by the flow entering the wet well. Provisions shall be made for automatically alternating the pumps. The electrical motor control center and master disconnect switch shall be placed in a secure location above grade and remote from the pump station. Each motor control center shall be provided with a manual override switch. The control panel shall be located to allow for working access, taking into consideration the finished ground surface elevation.

8. Alarms. A high water alarm with remote sensing and electrical circuitry separate from the motor control center circuitry shall be provided. The alarm shall be audiovisual and shall alarm in an area where it may be easily monitored. When multiple pumps are utilized, an additional audiovisual alarm shall be provided to alarm when a pump motor fails to start on demand.

9. Ventilation. Positive ventilation shall be provided at pumping stations when personnel are required to enter the station for routine maintenance.

a. Wet wells. Ventilation may be either continuous or intermittent. Ventilation, if continuous, shall provide at least 12 complete air changes per hour; if intermittent, at least 30 complete air changes per hour. Such ventilation shall be accomplished by mechanical means.

b. Dry wells. Ventilation may be either continuous or intermittent. Ventilation, if continuous, shall provide at least six complete air changes per hour; if intermittent, at least 30 complete air changes per hour. Such ventilation shall be accomplished by mechanical means.

C. Conveyance pumps and pump stations that move TL-2 effluent or TL-3 effluent to a soil dispersal system shall comply with the following.

1. Subsection A of this section shall apply, except that the minimum velocity in the force main may be reduced to one foot per second.

2. Pump station wet wells shall provide at least one-quarter-day storage above the high level alarm set point. Alternatively, storage may be provided in a treatment tank such as a recirculation tank, but the maximum water level must be one inch below the invert of the pipe from the septic tank.

3. Subdivisions B 2, B 3, B 4, B 5, B 7, B 8, and B 9 of this section shall apply.

4. All pumps utilized shall be of the open face centrifugal, vertical turbine, or suction lift type designed to pump sewage.

a. Pumps utilized for the purpose of enhancing flow distribution (See 12VAC5-610-930 A) shall have a minimum capacity of 36 gallons per minute at system head per 1,200 linear feet of percolation piping.

b. Pumps discharging to a low pressure distribution system shall be sized in accordance with 12VAC5-610-940.

c. Dual alternating pumps are required on systems 1,800 linear feet or greater in accordance with 12VAC5-610-930 B.

d. Submersible pumps shall be placed so that under normal start conditions the pump shall be subjected to a positive suction head.

e. When multiple pumps are used, each pump shall have its own separate suction line. Suitable shutoff valves shall be provided on the discharge line and suction line (if provided) for normal pump isolation. A check valve shall be placed in the discharge line between the pump and shutoff valve. When the pump discharge is at a lower elevation than the high liquid level in the pump station, an anti-siphon device shall be provided on the pump discharge. Pumps shall be piped so that they can be removed for servicing without having to dewater the wet well.

D. Pumps integral to treatment systems are pumps that move wastewater within the treatment unit and are required to achieve the desired effluent quality. Subsections A, B, and C of this section do not apply to these integral pumps.