Bredel Hose Pumps Overcome Sewerage Challenges At UK Fuel Stations

Watson Marlow 17/09/2018

79 3 minutes read

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Bredel hose pumps prove ideal for septic tank emptying duties at service stations
With no rotor or diaphragm to obstruct, ragging or blocking issues are eliminated
Pumps installed in ground-level enclosures for easy access

A leading provider to the environmental and industrial sectors has been leveraging the performance attributes of Bredel hose pumps from Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group (WMFTG) to solve an increasing number of sewerage issues at UK fuel stations.

As many UK fuel stations are not connected directly to mains sewerage, Bredel pumps are proving to be a vital option for those seeking an effective way to empty septic tanks and keep toilets and washroom facilities at service stations in operation.

Due to logistically challenging locations on motorways, dual carriageways and trunk roads, a large number of UK fuel stations rely on underground holding tanks for their effluent. These tanks vary in size, typically from 15 to 25 m3. When approaching full, the transfer of effluent waste into the nearest mains supply, which can sometimes be up to 50m away, presents the underlying challenge.

Unfortunately, the problem has been exacerbated in recent years due to the growth in non-fuel services. Many fuel stations on major routes now have adjacent hotels and a selection of food outlets.

Consequently, the increased footfall at such locations leads to even greater quantities of effluent for disposal. In many instances, the septic tank originally installed to serve the fuel station alone, is now way under capacity.

Significant business impact

From a business perspective, a full septic tank means that toilets and washrooms have to close, along with any food outlets. As a result, revenue is lost and annoyed customers leads to a loss of reputation.

Regular external tank emptying is expensive, at around £600 a visit, so a more automated solution, based on the latest pump technology, provides a commercially attractive alternative.

However, some pump types are simply not suited to handling the objects that some people like to flush away, namely non-degradable wet wipes and nappies. Such items cause submersible pumps, which historically have been deployed at many UK fuel stations effluent treatment facilities, to suffer from ragging or blocking, which in turn leads to increased pump maintenance costs.

All of these issues had been duly noted by Adler & Allan, a leading supplier of environmental clean-up solutions that has long-standing maintenance contracts with multinational fuel retailers such as Shell and BP, covering a high number of service stations.

Proven capability

Engineers at Adler & Allan had seen Bredel pumps in action at a number of chemical processing sites that the company also serves. Of particular note, one chemical company stated that “Bredel is the only pump we do not have problems with.”

Retaining this thought, Bredel pumps from WMFTG became the first choice when Adler & Allan wanted to conduct trials involving the emptying of septic tanks at a select number of motorway service stations for which the company has maintenance contracts.

The trials proved a resounding success. Thanks to a suction lift of 3 to 4m for typical tank sizes of 3000 to 5000 litres, the Bredel 50 hose pumps fitted with abrasion resistant NR Endurance hoses make light work of a difficult job. With no rotor or diaphragm to obstruct, the ability to handle challenging solids and avoid issues such as ragging, ensures Bredel pumps are ideal for the task.

The pumps typically run intermittently at 10 rpm providing flow rates of around 29 litre/minute in order to handle solids. Hi-lo tank level float switches determine when the pump operates to remove effluent from the septic tank and transfer it up to 50 metres away to the mains sewerage pipe.

Last but not least, as the Bredel pumps are installed at ground level in kiosks/enclosures, access is straightforward with no confined spaces or safety issues.

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Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions

01326370370
info@wmftg.co.uk
https://www.wmfts.com/
Bicklandwater Road, Falmouth Business Park, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 4RU GB

About us

Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group (WMFTG) peristaltic tube and hose pumps meet requirements including: value for money; low cost of ownership; reliability and ease of maintenance to the food and beverage, chemical, pharmaceutical, mining and many other industries.

We demonstrate how pumps deliver significant process efficiencies over the lifetime of the equipment. Whether performing flavouring addition in food processing, chemical metering in water treatment or mineral recovery, we have a solution which can cut pump downtime and reduce costs through higher accuracy metering and transfer. WMFTG has dedicated application engineers available to help customers make the right pump and tubing choice from a range providing microlitres per minute to 80 cubic metres per hour flow rates.

The only part of the pump to come into contact with the product is the tube or hose. This means there are no seals or valves that can wear or fail. Replacing the tube or hose can be performed quickly and safely. Peristaltic pump benefits include:

Total fluid containment with no seals No ancillaries Handle viscous and abrasive slurries and sludge Self-priming capability Dry running without damage to the pump In addition to their range of positive displacement pumps, Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group has added PTFE-lined chemical and industrial hoses to their range. Aflex hoses are reinforced to withstand the most severe conditions and use.

Where we supply to

Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, South America, North America

Industries we supply to

Automation, Chemicals, Consultants, Components Electronics, Energy and Power, Food and Beverage, Glass Ceramics Cement, Metals and Minerals, OEM, Paper and Pulp, Pharmaceutical Cosmetics Toiletries, Plastics and Rubber, Recycling, Textiles, Tobacco, Water and Wastewater

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