SIZING GUIDELINES

For New or Replacement Sewage Pumps

Sump and Sewage Pump

Manufacturers Association
Deron Oberkorn
derono@Zoeller.com
 SSPMA
Sump and Sewage Pump Manufacturers Association
Since 1956, we are a North American trade organization of sump, effluent,
and sewage pump manufacturers and their suppliers.

Working together to:

□ train wastewater and plumbing professionals, and
□ create product performance and safety standards.

SSPMA members collaborate with each other and government regulators to

educate consumers and professionals on the latest products, their
application, proper sizing techniques, safe installation and use, and good
maintenance practices.

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www.SSPMA.org
 SSPMA MEMBERS
Barnes Pumps / Crane Pumps & Systems
Champion Pump Company, Inc.
Eco-Flo Products Inc. / Ashland Pump Company
Franklin Electric / Little Giant
Goulds Water Technology, a xylem brand
GP Enterprises Co., Ltd.
Liberty Pumps
Pentair Water
Superior Pump Company
Zoeller Company
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SSPMA ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
AK Industries
Alderon Industries
John Crane, Inc.
LevelGuard / Touch Sensor Technologies
See Water, Inc.
SJE-Rhombus
Topp Industries, Inc.

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Pumps bearing the “SSPMA-Certified” seal have been tested
by the member manufacturer in accordance with SSPMA
Industry Standards.

The Standards are designed to provide accurate performance

data for sump, effluent and sewage pumping equipment, to
assist in their proper application and selection.

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www.SSPMA.org
▪ Pump Capacity How much flow do you need?

▪ Total Dynamic Head (TDH) of the installation

▪ Solids-Handling Requirements

▪ Basin Selecting the right size

▪ Simplex or Duplex System?

▪ Sizing Example
PUMP CAPACITY

▪ Refers to the rate of flow in gallons per minute (GPM)

which is necessary to efficiently maintain the system.

Most practical approach to determine this figure is the

Fixture Unit method. This method assigns a relative
value to each fixture, or group of fixtures that flow into
the pump system.
Pump Capacity

To determine the required

PUMP CAPACITY,
follow these 2 steps:
Step 1: Determine Total Fixture Units
Step 2: Find resulting Pump Capacity
 Step 1
List all fixtures involved in the installation and, using Figure A, assign a
Fixture Unit value to each. Determine the Total Fixture Units.

PUMP CAPACITY
 Refer to Figure B, locate the total Fixture Unit amount along the
horizontal axis of the graph. Follow vertically along until the
intersecting plotted line. Follow this intersection point horizontally
and read the PUMP CAPACITY in GPM on the vertical axis.

34 Fixture units
require a 22 GPM
capacity.

Using 34 fixture units

as an example.

FIGURE B
TDH is a combination of Static Head and Friction Head
and is expressed in feet.

TDH = Static Head + Friction Head

▪ Static Head is the actual vertical distance
measured from the minimum water level in
the BASIN to the point of discharge.
Refer to Figure C.
Static Head

FIGURE C
 CAUTION!
The point of discharge may not be the highest point in the
piping system. A pump must be selected that has a shut-off
head greater than the highest point in the pipe system.

TOTAL DYNAMIC HEAD

2 FT

9 FT
Friction Head

▪ Friction Head is the additional head created in

the discharge system due to resistance to flow
within its components. All straight pipe, fittings,
valves, etc. have a friction factor which must be
considered.

▪ These friction factors are converted, and

expressed as equivalent feet of straight pipe,
which can be totaled and translated into feet of
head.
Step 1 in calculating Friction Head
▪ First determine the discharge pipe size.

▪ 2” or 3” diameter is common on solids-handling

sewage applications in residential / light commercial
▪ In order to ensure sufficient fluid velocity to carry
solids (which is generally accepted to be 2 feet per
second), the following are minimum required flows
- even if the GPM required for the fixture units is
less.

MINIMUM FLOW REQUIREMENTS

2 feet per second =
21 GPM through 2” pipe
46 GPM through 3” pipe
78 GPM through 4” pipe

If you don’t have these minimums –

you won’t move the solids!
Step 2 in calculating friction head
▪ The length of the discharge piping is measured
from the discharge opening of the pump to the
point of final discharge, following all contours and
bends.
Step 3

Consider all fittings - elbows, gate valves, check valves used in the installation…
(2) …..2” 90 degree elbows = 5.2 x 2 elbows in our example = 10.4 feet of pipe
(1) …..2” check valve = 17.2 feet of pipe
Added all up……. 27.6 feet (or 28 feet)

Now add this 28’ (equivalent feet) to the existing

200’ length of discharge piping for a total of 228’.
 Refer to Figure E. Using the required PUMP CAPCITY (GPM) in the left
Step 4 column, follow across to the number below the pipe size being used. This
number represents the Friction Head per 100 feet of pipe. Multiply this
number by the number of 100ft increments to determine Friction Head.

Our Example required FRICTION

22 GPM Using a 2” line with flow of 25 GPM,
we have 1.3 feet of head for every
100 feet of pipe. For our example
with 228’ of equivalent length of pipe…
2.28 x 1.3 = 2.96 feet of head.
(round up to 3’ of Friction Head)
 TOTAL DYNAMIC HEAD
(TDH) IS?

TDH = Static Head + Friction Head

Static Head………….… 7 Feet

+ Friction Head………….. 3 Feet
Total Dynamic Head……10 Feet

Now look at pump curves in Figure F…..

At 10 feet of head, we need a pump that
can give us a minimum of 22 GPM.
 Pump Selection

SEWAGE PUMP CURVES

70

65

60

55
E
At 10 Feet of TDH,
Pump BPump
will produce
A producesmore than
50 Pump C & D are also adequate.
enough20 gpm.
GPM Probably
But are they too- large?
The pump 45 is required to the To
bestMove
fit. Solids!
TDH

Not Enough
deliver at least
40 22 gpm D
at 10 feet of TDH
35

30
C
25

20

15
B
10

5
A
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Gallons Per Minute
 Oversizing the Pump?

▪ The most efficient part of the curve is

usually in the middle of the curve,
away from maximum head or flow
▪ More horsepower or flow is not always
better – especially in smaller basins.

▪ Short cycling may reduce the life of

the pump. A longer pumping cycle
will be better for pump longevity.
▪ Solids-Handling requirements may be determined
by local codes and/or by the type of application
and types of solids.

▪ Unless otherwise specifically stated, SSPMA

recommends that a sewage pump should have
the capacity of handling spherical solids of at
least 2” diameter.
BASIN SELECTION
Selection of the basin is best accomplished by
relating to the required Pump Capacity as
determined by the Fixture Unit method.

Figure G shows the recommended Basin

Diameters assuming a pump differential of 8”
(Distance between pump turn-on and turn-off).

Other factors such as pump size, controls, and

accessories may impact the required basin
size.
Basin depth should normally be at least 24” for
most pumps, and deeper where greater
pumping differentials are anticipated.
 Recommended BASIN Diameters

Any Basin 18” in diameter

Our Example required or greater may be acceptable
22 GPM
The question of whether to use a Simplex (one pump) or
Duplex (two pump) System depends on the type of
installation and/or local codes requirements.

Domestic/Residential Use:
Simplex System is adequate in
most instances; however if entire
residence is on the system,
duplex may be required.

Public/Commercial Use:
Duplex System is essential.
 Simplex or Duplex System?

Duplex systems make use of special controls in order

to alternate the usage of two pumps. Duplex systems
provide several advantages over Simplex systems:

▪ The pumps alternate and therefore share the load.

▪ The lag pump is activated in the event of failure or

lockage of the lead pump.

▪ The second pump is activated along with the lead

pump in instances of unusually high inflow.

Copyright © 2011, Sump and Sewage Pump Manufacturers Association

 SIZING EXAMPLE
Using the pump curves from Figure F, fill out the Sewage
Pump Sizing Worksheet and find a suitable pump to serve
a 4 bathroom home, including a dishwasher, kitchen sink
with disposal, washing machine, laundry tray, and a water
softener.

▪ The Static Head is 15 feet

▪ The discharge pipe is 2” diameter
▪ The discharge piping is 500 feet long
▪ The discharge piping will include (1) check
valve, (3) 90 degree elbows, (2) 45 degree
elbows, and (1) gate valve.
Example: Pump Capacity

Step 1: Determine Total Fixture Units

(Reference Figure A)
▪ (4) Bathroom Groups 6 Fixture Units each X4 = 24 Fixture Units
▪ (1) Dishwasher = 2 Fixture Units
▪ (1) Kitchen sink w/ disposal = 3 Fixture Units
▪ (1) Washing Machine = 2 Fixture Units
▪ (1) Laundry Tray = 2 Fixture Units
▪ (1) Water Softener = 4 Fixture Units

Total = 37 Fixture Units

 37 Fixture units
require a 23.5 GPM
capacity.

37 fixture units
per the example.

FIGURE B
Example: Pump Capacity

Step 2: Find resulting Pump Capacity

(Reference Figure B)
37 Fixture Units = 23.5 Gallons per Minute
Minimum flow for = 21 Gallons per Minute
2” diameter pipe
Minimum GPM = 23.5 Gallons per Minute
for this example
Round up to 24
Gallons per Minute
 TDH = Static Head + Friction Head = 22 feet
Static Head = 15 feet
Friction Head = 7 feet

Friction Factors Equivalent feet

(Reference Figure D)
(3) 90 degree 2” elbows = 5.2 X 3 15.6
(2) 45 degree 2” elbows = 2.8 X 2 5.6
(1) 2” Gate valve = 1.4 X 1 1.4
(1) 2” Swing Check valve = 17.2 X 1 17.2
39.8 equivalent ft
+ 500’ straight pipe = 539.8 equivalent ft
539.8 ft X 1.3/per 100 ft = 7.02 ft. of friction head
 Example: Pump Selection

SEWAGE PUMP CURVES

70

65

60

55
E
Pump C will be the best choice,
50 It would
At 22
perform
Feet oftowards
TDH, the
middle
Pump Aof&the
B cannot
pump curve
perform.
for
The pump 45 is required to best efficiency.
TDH

deliver at least
40 24 gpm D
at 22 feet of TDH
35

30
C
25

20

15
B
10

5
A
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Gallons Per Minute
Questions?

Thank You
 Septic System Issues

Field experiences and common fixes

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 Onsite Common Problems

Septic Systems
Pumps
Controls
Junction Boxes
Effluent / Debris

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 Onsite Common Problems
Pumps:
• Never use an automatic pump with an integral switch
• Always use a non-automatic pump with a piggyback
switch
• Switch can be / recommended to be hardwired
• Pump last less than 18 months, floats not set right
• Never use a grinder pump before a septic system
• Pumps should set on a block in the tank

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I found the problem, it’s the pump!

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 Onsite Common Problems
Controls:
• Number 1 failure mode is electrical issues
• Inadequate power supply
• Lack of dedicated alarm circuit
• Improper neutral
• Float levels critical
• When should 230v 1ph be used?
• Distributor doesn’t stock 230v piggyback switches
• If there is an electrical failure, who do they call?
• Understand, inspect, sign off, or you will be back.
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 Onsite Common Problems
Junction Boxes:
• Number 2 failure mode is improper sealing / splicing
• All splices in tank must be gas tight
• If they are gas tight they will be water tight
• Improper neutral
• Float levels critical

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Onsite Common Problems

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Onsite Common Problems

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Onsite Common Problems

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Onsite Common Problems

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 Onsite Common Problems
Effluent / Debris
• Grease biggest problem when a pump is present
• Wipes are pump killers
• Wipes are float killers
• Filters aren’t popular, pumps and leach fields love them
• Garbage disposal present, great! Service contract
• Use powdered detergent, great! Service contract

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Onsite Common Problems

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Onsite Common Problems

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 Sump and Sewage Pump
Manufacturers Association

This concludes the education portion

of this session
Thank you for attending enjoy the show

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