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Water management in the Netherlands:

The Netherlands has traditionally had an increased focus on water management. Not least because of its location in a delta where several rivers converge. Our country is therefore directly affected by climate change, much more so than our neighbouring countries. This is also the reason that plenty of activities are being developed to make the Netherlands resistant to climate change, and pumps are an important factor in this.

"Water management is extremely important in the Netherlands," begins Jos Kelderman of Gorman-Rupp Europe. "From the Netherlands, we are responsible for selling products throughout Europe. We thus have a good picture of how we deal with water management in the Netherlands compared to abroad. Especially in Southern and Eastern Europe there are still steps to be made. The urgency may not yet be felt there as much as in the low-lying Netherlands. We directly experience the consequences of climate change in the form of heavy rainfall, but also increasing drought. Reason that in our country plenty is and has been invested in the construction of, for example, climate-proof infrastructure, disconnecting sewers, widening and/or rerouting waterways."

For a period of almost two years, Gorman-Rupp built a temporary pumping station in Belgium during the renewal of the fixed pumping installation of a lock on the Charleroi-Brussels Canal.

Wide range

Gorman-Rupp Europe is a subsidiary of Gorman-Rupp Pumps with a range of many thousands of pumps in capacities up to 4,000 m3/hour. Kelderman: "In addition, we can draw on a range of pumps from several sister companies, such as Patterson, specialized in the range above that. We can provide a suitable solution for all situations, from a small wastewater pump for a sewer contractor to large pumps for use in work on lock complexes and waterways. In the market segment of sewage disposal, we are strongly positioned abroad, but still have a very limited presence in the Netherlands. We will focus on this in the coming years. For this reason we have established a specialized branch where engineers think along with clients when it comes to sewage issues and can devise smart systems for this. After all, the pump is part of a complete system."

Modify sewer system

An important aspect in making our country climate-adaptive is disconnecting stormwater runoff from the sewer system so that rainwater stays where it falls. "As a result, sewer systems have to be sized differently," states Jan Heuvel of Gorman-Rupp Europe. "The pumping stations located in these sewer systems also need to be designed differently. By disconnecting rainwater runoff, less water flows through the sewer system and the dirt concentration is also higher. We have developed a number of systems to address these challenges. A great example is the above ground sewage pumping station, a self-cleaning pump solution, as an alternative to the traditional submersible pumping station."

Not only in the Benelux countries does Gorman-Rupp supply pumps for diversions. These units are also popular abroad for all kinds of temporary applications.

Self-cleaning pump solution

To reduce problems with accumulation of debris in sewer pump stations, Gorman-Rupp developed the Self-Cleaning Sump System. "The SCS System is an integrated technology with an inclined mini-collector that does not even require the installation of a sump," Heuvel explained. "Residence time in the collector is minimized, which makes sediment settling and grease deposition on the sump walls significantly lower. With each pumping cycle, floating matter and sediments are removed without the risk of clogging.     

As a result, a sewer pump station becomes self-cleaning. Combined with the ease of maintenance of the above-ground Gorman-Rupp Reliasource pumping stations, this is a total solution that manages to significantly reduce the required maintenance for Dutch sewer operators - and thus save operational costs. In Belgium, we have already used the SCS System several times successfully."

To reduce problems with accumulation in sewer pump stations, Gorman-Rupp has developed the Self-Cleaning Sump System.

Fluffing and draining

Not in all situations is the SCS System applicable, Heuvel acknowledges. "For existing situations where it is difficult to deploy our self-cleaning pump solution, we also have an alternative to deflect the increased dirt concentration. We can then mount a valve in the discharge line that periodically, and depending on the degree of contamination, generates agitation and vortex in the well, so that all the dirt can be stirred up and discharged. We can develop a suitable solution for any situation with our engineering facility. Supplying a pump is one thing, but at its base, of course, a pump is an unsuspecting product that obeys the laws of physics. Our added value lies in the fact that we reflect our knowledge on pump installations and influence the situation as much as possible to make a pump function optimally."

Adaptations to the sewer system, waterways and lock complexes are mostly the direct result of climate change, Kelderman summarizes. "Our goal is to relieve customers of much more than just supplying a pump set. We also have a huge rental fleet. For example, for a period of almost two years in Belgium we built a temporary pumping station during the renewal of the fixed pumping installation of a lock in the Charleroi-Brussels Canal. The temporary pumping station consists of two Patterson pump units, with a flow rate of 9000 m3/h in total, associated 40-inch pipes and control and monitoring systems. We don't shy away from any challenge."