New Engineering Tool Guides Submersible Pump Selection For Groundwater Remediation And Landfill Pumping

Ann Arbor, MI — A new free website helps environmental project managers and engineers choose the most effective, economical submersible pumps for a broad spectrum of groundwater remediation, landfill leachate and methane condensate pumping applications. Guidance in pump selection is often needed in these applications because of the many factors that can adversely affect pump performance, durability, maintenance requirements and interaction with other on-site equipment systems. The interactive Pump Wizard at http://www.submersiblepumpguide.com correlates numerous site-specific factors to manufacturers' specifications and O&M instructions for the major submersible pump types available.

Groundwater remediation wells and landfill risers are not equivalent to ordinary water supply wells. Standard electric pumps function best in relatively pure, cool water, with maximum flow rate and discharge head as the primary performance objectives. They are not designed for use in other conditions, including viscous fluids, high levels of suspended solids, the presence of flammable or explosive solvents, corrosive chemicals, high liquid temperatures, gases and foaming potential, or nonstandard liquid level requirements or pump duty cycles.

Alternative pump types, including automatic air-powered pumps and piston pumps, often perform better and last longer under challenging site conditions. The Pump Wizard evaluates these pumps and electric pumps for each unique site factor and assigns overall ratings for each pump for the specified application. This allows the user to choose the right pump for the site without costly, time-consuming trial and error.

SOURCE: QED Environmental Systems, Inc.