Reliable, well-designed wastewater pumping facilities are essential for cities and sewerage systems across the U.S. This pump station design course provides valuable techniques and knowledge you can apply immediately to your own systems and projects. Attendees will learn about pumping equipment, applied hydraulics, the selection of pumping units, and operational and maintenance challenges. Participants will explore pump selection, hydraulic design, VFDs, energy efficiency, and station rehabilitation through real-world examples and live pump demonstrations. With hands-on problem-solving and collaboration with Gorman Rupp’s Fundamentals of Pumping Academy, attendees will leave with actionable insights for both new and existing systems.

• Be prepared to manage, design, and operate reliable and cost-effective pumping facilities and forcemains.
• Evaluate the pros and cons of different station designs.
• Know how to prevent hydraulic problems in pumps, wet wells, and forcemains.
• Understand how to improve station reliability and reduce problems in operation and maintenance.
• Learn how to select optimum pumping equipment, valves, and piping systems to reduce pumping energy costs and upgrade and rehab your pumping stations for the future.

• Wastewater engineers, operators, and managers
• Consulting engineers
• Federal agency and military base personnel
• Regulatory staff

This course is part of the Wastewater Systems Certificate. Course may be taken individually as well.

Pumping Station Types, Features, and Design Considerations 

• Types of stations 
• Types of pumping equipment 
• Valves, fittings, forcemain piping 
• Screening systems and grinders 
• Ventilation and odor control 
• Emergency power, generators 
• Station layout and geometry 

 Pumping Equipment 

• Drywell and submersible pumping equipment 
• Shafts, bearings, mechanical seals 
• Impellers, casings, wearing rings 
• Pump characteristics and performance curves 
• NPSH, cavitation, and other pump problems 
• Electric motors 
• Variable frequency drives (VFDs)
• Control systems 

 Applied Hydraulics and Selection of Pumping Units 

• Peak flow selection 
• Computing system head curves 
• Force main sizing 
• Pump selection 
• Energy usage, power demand 
• Pumping in parallel or series 
• Affinity laws 
• Variable speed vs. constant speed pumping 
• Wet well and storage considerations 

 Design Workshops 

• Analyze flow data 
• Select design parameters 
• Develop system curves 
• Select pumping equipment 
• Critique alternative layouts 

 Other Topics 

• Operation and maintenance challenges 
• Air valves in forcemains 
• Waterhammer protection: When and where do you need it? 
• Station rehabilitation projects 
• Special problems in wastewater pumping 
• Other topics as requested 

 Problem-Solving Exercises 

• Attendees will participate in problem-solving exercises that will help them to understand key aspects of wastewater pumping systems and lift stations. In-person participants are encouraged to bring laptops for in-class exercises, but laptops are not strictly required

For this course we will be collaborating with Gorman Rupp to have live pump demos and content from Gorman Rupp's Fundamentals of Pumping academy is included as part of the course.

"A terrific course. Best I've ever had."

"A fantastic course! A must-attend for all that are planning, designing, or operating a sewage pumping station."

"I will be applying what I learned almost immediately when I get back to the office."

Adib Amini

Adib Amini, Ph.D., PE, ENV SP, BCEE serves as Program Director in the College of Engineering’s Office of Interdisciplinary Professional Programs, with a focus on Water, Wastewater, Stormwater, and Sustainability. Dr. Amini also works with cities and industries as an engineering consultant, with experience in both drinking water and wastewater treatment. Dr. Amini has expertise in sustainability, engineering design, technology innovation, and renewable energy. Dr. Amini’s work has included the design of novel technologies, including on-site energy systems at facilities. He spearheaded the designs for the first wastewater treatment facilities in Iowa that are 100% powered by on-site renewable energy systems. Dr. Amini invented a novel system for ventilation of rated spaces, such as wastewater headworks buildings, for which he holds a provisional patent. Dr. Amini also has performed award-winning research in technology innovation and sustainability. Dr. Amini has spoken widely at conferences on topics related to water/wastewater treatment, sustainability, PFAS, on-site energy systems, and resilient infrastructure.

Chris Suomi

Chris Suomi is the Central District Manager for Gorman-Rupp Engineered Systems Division.  As a District Manager, Chris provides a wide range of duties including assisting distributors and customers with product sales and applications of Gorman-Rupp products.  Chris has conducted numerous pump hydraulics training courses throughout the Midwest with state water and wastewater organizations, municipalities, and college seminars.  Chris has a degree in Environmental Engineering from Michigan Tech University and has over 25 years of experience in the water and wastewater field in consulting engineering, and application engineering prior to joining Gorman-Rupp in 2011.

Robert Scott Trotter, P.E., BCEE

Scott Trotter is a professional engineer and a board-certified specialist in water/wastewater engineering by the American Academy of Environmental Engineers (AAEE).  Scott has over 35 years of experience in planning, design, and implementation of infrastructure rehabilitation, expansion and process modification projects. 

Throughout his career, he has earned the respect of clients, regulatory officials, and contractors alike for his technical skills, work ethic, and ability to bring projects together.  Scott has provided industry leadership through a number of organizations including serving as an officer of the Central States WEA, WEF Board of Trustees and University of Illinois CEE Alumni Board.  Scott has been involved with national policy initiatives including the USEPA integrated planning, nutrient planning, and WIFIA financing program.

Thomas Jenkins

Tom Jenkins PE is president of JenTech, Inc. He previously served as chief wastewater design engineer with Dresser Roots and as the founder of ESCOR (Energy Strategies Corporation). Tom is a professional engineer and a graduate of Marquette University, in mechanical engineering. He has extensive experience in developing wastewater control systems and technology. He is a co-author of the Water Environment Federation Manual of Practice #32, Energy Conservation in Water and Wastewater Treatment Facilities, and an adjunct professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.