A Blog about Fog
The “FATS, OIL and Grease, ( FOG) down below seems to be beneath many given the job of maintaining the critical elements of the Sanitary Sewer Lift Station. Much that is written about the Packaged Sanitary Sewer Lift Station covers the technical components. Many blogs cover the vast realm of controls with all varying electronic unit programmers. That which really resonates with professionals is the narratives on resonance and vibration gremlins. What Packaged Sanitary Sewer Lift Station builder isn’t interested in comparisons in the market of energy savings with Variable Speed Drives versus control Valves. The White Papers cover the challenges of meeting new and more stringent government standards for Premium efficient motors: the list goes on. As interesting as all the civil and M&E components are they all have their operational function threatened and face premature failure due to hydrogen sulfides if you don’t clean the fog in the Sanitary Sewer Lift Station.
Just like common grass decomposing builds up methane gas, Sewage effluent combined with food and grease going through the organic breakdown builds deadly hydrogen sulfide gas.
Here is the equipment in the Packaged Sewer Lift Station that is affected by Hydrogen Sulfide Gas.
- The concrete wet well
- The bolts and fasteners, ( Remember that 304 SS is no match for Hydrogen Sulfides over time)
- Hatches, ladders, and even railing above the hatch are susceptible to hydrogen sulfides.
- Discharge piping, and the vent ell.
- The rising main is further compromised by Fog as the presence of the greasy build can cause clogs and subsequent “SSOs” (sanitary sewer overflows).
- Electrical components if left to the corrosive binge of hydrogen sulfide and its 24/7 appetite, the term eaten away has real meaning.
- The pump itself although somewhat protected in the submersed condition, Hydrogen Sulfides in the reactionary organic breakdown process deteriorates the metals and adds a another area of destruction in the form of “cavitation induced by Hydrogen Sulfides”
- Liquid Limit measuring devices IE ultrasonic sensors and float switches can become totally inoperable from the “Goo”!
- Hoist Chains, and the guides can become rusty, pock marked, weakened “twigs”
- The danger of letting the bottom of your wet well “Boil” with the build-up FOG and the subsequent production of “HSG” is its deadly to those workmen or any personnel involved in inspection or maintenance of the Sanitary Sewer Lift Station.
Put this in your daily log, “FOG, Kills”. Its negative effects are that of rust, electrolysis, and harsh chemical reactions all in one. Its costs to our sewer infrastructure annually runs in the billions, but costs in the lives claimed by Hydrogen Sulfide each year is beyond measure.
Most of the articles concerning Fog tell of special equipment and energy robbing mixers that the effectiveness of the components themselves requires attention and maintenance. What’s wrong with just cleaning the well periodically? We as managers and suppliers of Packaged Sanitary Lift Stations will spend thousands on technology to try and take care of a problem that sometimes basic cleaning will do the trick, and this is especially true of FOG.
