There are construction
advantages as well as operation
advantages to
using vacuum sewers, most of which are “green”. These advantages
include substantial reductions in water use, material costs, excavation costs
and treatment expenses. In short, there is a potential for overall cost-effectiveness.
AIRVAC’s team of municipal Regional
Managers is responsible for underground vacuum sewer systems for municipalities,
counties, and other public entities. This team has extensive product knowledge,
accumulated through thousands of hours of on and off-the-job training, and
has an average of nearly 20 years of experience with vacuum sewage systems.
AIRVAC’s U.S. municipal sales team is supplemented by a network of
U.S. Manufacturer’s Representatives that
provide technical support on the local level. Note that these representatives
do not cover indoor markets. Contact AIRVAC’s Environmental
Group for information regarding local representation for indoor markets.
Smaller pipe: Small PVC pipe sizes (3", 4", 6", 8" and 10”) are usually used.
No manholes: Manholes are not used in vacuum sewers.
Field change ease: Field changes can easily be made
as unforeseen underground obstacles can be avoided by going over, under
or around them, reducing impacts from construction
Less excavation: Installation of smaller diameter pipes at shallow depths eliminates the need for wide, deep trenches reducing excavation costs and the duration and severity of community/environmental impacts.
Only one source of power: Power is only required at the vacuum station. No on-lot power demands exist at valves.
One
vacuum station replaces multiple lift stations: In addition
to power cost savings, this also means less instances of “not
in my backyard”.
Operation Advantages
No blockages: High scouring velocities are attained, reducing the risk of blockages and keeping wastewater aerated and mixed.
Operator friendly: The system is completely sealed
and has no confined space issues which protects the maintenance personnel
from exposure to the risk of H2S gas hazards.
Environmentally friendly: The system will not allow
major leaks to go unnoticed, resulting in reduced environmental damage
from exfiltration of wastewater.
Reliable: A standby generator at the vacuum station
ensures uninterrupted service to the customer during power outages.
Smaller treatment plants: The elimination of infiltration
permits a reduction of size and cost of the treatment plant and results
in less power being required.
Pretreatment: The air/sewage mixture enters sewers at high velocity, and the air provides some pretreatment to the sewage inside the vacuum sewers.
There are 