Solid waste in water could make users wary of clogging in piping as well as pumps. But with the right dewatering pump, there is simply no cause for worry. VEMC is the leading Kirloskar pump dealer based in Mumbai, and in this blog we talk about the challenges and possibilities of dealing with solid waste and debris using dewatering pumps.
Challenges of solid waste in dewatering
- Physical blockage: For starters, solid wastes like rags, wood or plastic bags can create physical blockage inside the pump, thus reducing its efficiency.
- Wear and tear: With repeated passage of solid waste especially abrasives like sand and gravel, the wear and tear of pumps may increase, reducing their working life.
- Pump capacity is reduced: Obstruction caused by solid wastes can reduce the capacity of the pump to displace water significantly.
- Rise in maintenance costs: Repeated wear and tear can cause breakdowns and result in rise of maintenance costs over a period of time.
- Higher downtime: Pumps that process solid wastes along with water always carry the risks of sudden and unexpected breakdowns. This can affect business operations that are directly dependent upon pumping.
Features of dewatering pumps that can help manage debris
While above challenges are quite realistic and can pose significant risks to your pumps, some features of your dewatering pumps can help manage the debris with ease.
- Capacity to handle solids: Dewatering pumps are specially designed to handle solid wastes in water. Pumps with large impeller passages or vortex impellers can be highly useful for this.
- Design features: Dewatering pumps have a unique non-clogging design (say using vortex impellers, built-in strainers and filters) which reduce the risks of clogging.
- Lesser wear and tear: With their robust construction of cast iron or stainless steel, dewatering pumps can withstand wear and tear due to abrasion admirably.
- Variable speed and flow: Some dewatering pumps can optimise their performance even with debris by adjusting their speed and flow. This can prevent clogging and improve efficiency.
- Self-priming: Pumps that are self-primed are easy to operate and maintain especially with high debris content in the water.
- Ease of maintenance: Dewatering pumps provide ease of access to their internal component parts, making it convenient to clean and maintain them regularly.
Pre-filtering water to minimise solid waste
While all the above features are a great add-on to your dewatering pumps, it is always advisable to pre-filter water before it reaches your pumps. It can add a significant layer of safety for your pumps and reduce the need for maintenance and regular cleaning, prevent system damage, and improve pump performance.
How to clear debris from your pumps
- Inspect the intake visually to identify debris
- Remove the debris manually while wearing protective gloves.
- Flush the intake with clean water using a hose.
- If the pump has intake screens or filters, clean them or replace them regularly.
- Inspect pump components like impellers, volutes, seals etc.
For more on using your dewatering pumps for processing water full of solid wastes and debris, feel free to call us on 022 43436655 or email us at marketing@vemc.co.in. VEMC is the leading Kirloskar pump dealer based in Mumbai.