Sewage Pumps: How They Work
In above-ground homes, sewage flows downhill into a municipal sewer or septic tank using gravity. However, basement sewage is often located below septic systems, requiring a sewage pump to move waste upward.
Function of a Sewage Pump
- Moves sewage liquids and solids from one location to another.
- In residential areas, it pumps waste (including soft solids up to 2 inches) from a holding tank to a sewer or septic tank.
- The sewage pump is placed at the lowest point of the wastewater tank.
Types of Sewage Pumps
- Submersible Sewage Pump – Installed in the wastewater tank, submerged most of the time.
- Manual Pump – Requires manual switching on/off.
- Automatic Pump – Uses a float switch to activate the pump when wastewater reaches a preset level.
- Dual-Mode Pump – Can function as either manual or automatic, depending on how it is connected.
Note: Manual pumps are not recommended for sewage tanks due to the risk of overflow.
How Sewage Pumps Work
- Centrifugal design allows solids to pass without clogging.
- When activated, the motor rotates the impeller, creating pressure.
- This pressure pushes water up and out through the outlet pipe.
