Anglian Water has set out plans to upgrade a faulty pumping system on a single vacuum pumping station built by developers and subsequently adopted by Anglian Water.
The Brendon Walk pumping station has a pumping main discharging to the 150mm diameter sewer with three vacuum (suction) lines which serve a total of 631 properties.
During December 2009 the whole vacuum system failed repeatedly and Anglian Water could not maintain a service without 24/7 intervention. In February 2010 part of the system was isolated and the section was then sewered by tankers twice a day.
Anglian Water started investigation and appraisal work for a capital scheme to resolve the problems in May 2010. In June 2010 the following root causes of failure were identified:
- lack of vacuum pressure and standby vacuum pumps
- unreliable sewage pumps
- water logging of the vacuum mains
- insufficient pass forward flow of the sewage pumps
After examining a variety of options for the capital scheme, Anglian Water has now announced plans to refurbish the pumping station with new sewage pumps, refurbished electrical equipment and a boxed standby vacuum pump to increase operational reliability.. The proposals would also provide air ingress valves and refurbished odour control.
The decision was taken at an Anglian Water Capital Investment Group meeting in December last year - although other options are still available if necessary to reduce further the risk of failure.
Interim solutions to date have included a complete system refurbishment, the installation of new temporary vacuum pumps,new ingress valves and the installation of two new hire pumps. In December 2010 the odour control plant at Brendon Walk PS was also refurbished. However, although sewage tankering ended in September 2010 the sewerage system is still considered to be at risk of failure.
The project team will now return to Anglian Waters Capital Investment Group in April 2011 to seek approval to commence works.
In a TV show that will explain the complex journey of the wastewater treatment process, Lakeside Equipment Corporation is set to feature in US Public Television’s All Access program with Andy Garcia.
Environmental Services & Solutions (ESS) Expo, the UK’s largest environmental event, has released the full speaker programme for its 2025 event, which now features seven shows spanning all corners of the environmental sector, under one roof at the NEC Birmingham.
We are exhibiting at WWEM – Water, Wastewater and Environmental Management Expo, which is one of the eight exhibitions taking place at the NEC, Birmingham 17-18 September 2025 as part of ESS Expo 2025. Please come along and visit us at Stand WW-S60.
Publication of the Independent Water Commission’s Final Report, alongside new legislation and updated national standards, marks a major turning point in the wider adoption of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) by water companies and developers, according to Alex Stephenson, director, SuDSPlanter.
Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.
Find out more about the remarkable career opportunities on offer at WSP - scroll down to watch the inspirational video. 
What is to be done about the UK’s failing utilities? Listen to Professor Dieter Helm explore the options to tackle the UK’s failing utilities – Thames Water, the Royal Mail and Network Rail in particular.