Background:
The city of Aberdeen, Washington, has a population of about 17,000 and receives about 70-100 inches of rainfall annually. The Aberdeen Wastewater Treatment Plant relied on older "non-clog" type pumps, which were highly susceptible to plugging and while being both electrically and hydraulically inefficient.
The Problem:
The old influent pumps needed to be unclogged at least once a day, which meant at least two work hours a day for mechanics to keep the pumps running, incurring hard costs as well as safety risks. Additionally, rags and other elements were present in the system, causing downstream wear and tear as well as increased "clean up time" when the facilities were taken down for maintenance.
The Solution and Results:
The city of Aberdeen purchased one 60 HP, 1180-RPM model PE8N10CS-133 Vaughan chopper pump in October 2012 to see how the pump would work alongside the older influent pumps. The installation was a success, with maintenance reduced to standard preventative maintenance, as opposed to the daily unclogging required previously. Given the purchase price and mechanic costs at the time, the pump paid for itself in under 10 months. The Vaughan chopper pump is so effective at eliminating clogging problems and the associated costs compared to the older pumps that it is used as the primary influent pump and the older pumps are rarely used, left in standby mode.
