1. Operation and maintenance
Vacuum vs. gravity
BG, Sofia Nov 2016

2. Vacuum sewer systems
Operation and maintenance
Operation and maintenance | 11/22/2016 Page 2
The myth: no maintenance in gravity systems
The truth: a whole industry is built on cleaning and repairing gravity systems

3. Vacuum sewer systems
Operation and maintenance
The truth:
Operation and maintenance | 11/22/2016 Page 3

4. Vacuum sewer systems
Operation and maintenance
The myth: no maintenance
in gravity systems
So, let us speak about it!
Operation and maintenance | 11/22/2016 Page 4
The truth:

5. Vacuum sewer systems
Operation and maintenance
Roediger® vacuum systems
Labour
▪ Regular check of collection chambers
▪ Regular check of vacuum station
Replacement/repair
▪ Annual service of the vacuum station
▪ Controllers (app. every 10 years) replacement
▪ Valve membrane (app. every 5 years) replacement
Gravity systems
Labour
▪ Regular check of manholes
▪ Pipeline inspection, CCTV inspections
▪ Cleaning accumulated sludge, slime and debris
(jetting with high-pressure)
▪ Flushing
Replacement/repair
▪ Service of all discharging pumps from pump- and
lifting stations
▪ Rehabilitation of gravity sewers
▪ Rehabilitation of manholes
Operation and maintenance | 11/22/2016 Page 5

6. Vacuum sewer systems
Operation and maintenance
Roediger® vacuum systems
Electricity consumption
▪ Vacuum pumps (approx.15-25 kWh/PE/year)
▪ Discharging pumps (2 pieces)
Network maintenance:
▪ No maintenance, vacuum network is self-cleansing
Sewage treatment:
▪ Handle only wastewater
▪ Handle aerated waste water
▪ Closed system - handle only communal wastewater
Gravity systems
Electricity consumption
▪ Discharging pumps of all lift- and pump stations
Cleaning the system:
▪ H2S deodorization
▪ Cleaning of sedimentation
▪ Flushing, spooling the system
Water treatment:
▪ Handle big amount of infiltrated ground water
▪ Handle aged and possibly septic wastewater
▪ Handle wastewater from unsure source
Operation and maintenance | 11/22/2016 Page 6

7. Vacuum sewer systems
Operation safety
Roediger® vacuum systems
Safety operation!
Gravity systems
Operation and maintenance | 11/22/2016 Page 7

8. Vacuum sewer systems
Operation safety
Roediger® vacuum systems
Operation safety
▪ No operational risks to operators
▪ All equipment can be accessed from the ground
level
▪ No direct contact with wastewater
▪ No climbing into manholes or confined spaces
required
Gravity systems
Atmospheric hazards in confined spaces:
▪ Low oxygen (two men required)
▪ Hydrogen sulphide (corrosion)
▪ Explosive concentrations of methane
Physical hazards with confined space entry
▪ Objects falling onto operators
Biological hazards:
▪ Germs and diseases
▪ Viruses
▪ Pathogenic organisms
Insects, animals
Bad smell
Operation and maintenance | 11/22/2016 Page 8

9. Vacuum sewer systems
Operation costs
Operation and maintenance | 11/22/2016 Page 9

10. Vacuum sewer systems
Maintenance costs
Operation and maintenance | 11/22/2016 Page 10

11. Vacuum sewer systems
Operation costs
Operation and maintenance | 11/22/2016 Page 11

12. Vacuum sewer systems
Maintenance costs
Operation and maintenance | 11/22/2016 Page 12

13. Vacuum sewer systems
Operation and maintenance
Wishful thinking: System with no maintenance
Reality: Every system needs maintenance
Operation and maintenance | 11/22/2016 Page 13

14. Aqseptence Group GmbH
Vacuum Sewerage & Recovery Systems
Kinzigheimer Weg 104-106
63450 Hanau / Germany
Telephone +49 (6181) 309-0
roediger.water@aqseptence.com
www.aqseptence.com