Waste pumping stations

A waste pumping station is made up of a two main components: (1) a large plastic tank (known as an accumulation tank or chamber) into which (2) a submersible pump (or pumps) is fitted.

Available in a range of volumes and sizes,  the plastic tank acts as the receiver for sewage and/or grey water* from a glamping pod, several glamping pods, a building or even a group of buildings.

The waste pumping station is "sized" according to the projected waste volume your glamping pod or application will create within a certain timescale (usually a 24 hour period), and the distance and height the waste is to be pumped. For the pumping aspect to work, you will need mains electricity and, depending on your application, waste pumping stations are available in single or three phase electrical supply versions.

Waste from the individual sources (toilet, shower, sink etc.) flows under gravity into the accumulation tank where it will "sit" until it [the waste] reaches a predetermined level. The inbuilt pump incorporates a float switch, the latter rising on the waste as the chamber fills. Once the float switch reaches a certain level, the pump will kick in to "churn" and pressurise the sewage so that it will be pumped out of the chamber. Waste "leaves" the waste pumping station through appropriate hose or pipework, uphill and/or over distance to a point where it enters the mains sewer or is directed into a separate waste holding tank such as our flat tank.

The waste pumping station (depending on the model) has one or several 4" waste inlets (the same size as standard waste pipe from a domestic toilet) into which you direct the waste from your toilet(s). The outlet for the "churned" and pumped waste is via a 32-50mm fitting to which suitable pipe / hose is connected so that the waste is pumped away over distance. Finally, for the pumping station to work properly whilst this liquid is flowing in and being pumped out, a breather valve is also included.

Depending on your application, we may advise a macerating pump or a vortex pump.

*Please note: when collecting the waste from kitchen sinks where fats and cooking oils may be "introduced" into the waste water, we strongly recommend the installation of a grease trap underneath the sink / between sink and waste pumping station. Whereas fats and greases will readily flow into the tank in their warm or hot liquid states, once these liquids cool when they come into contact with the toilet waste inside the tank they will congeal as fat "bergs." This is certainly to be avoided as the operation of the pump(s) will be adversely affected.

When to use a waste lifting station?

Where your glamping pod is low to the ground and a "slide under" waste collection tank is not an option

In low-lying areas where the mains sewer or waste collection tank sits on higher ground than your glamping pod / house

Where you need to pump the waste a short distance to a separate waste collection tank, which is accessible for a liquid waste contractor

Where you have several glamping pods in fairly close proximity and wish to consolidate the waste handling with one piece of equipment

Where planning permission is not available owing to ground conditions (SSSI, ground water level, tree roots etc.)

When the cost of groundworks to put in pipework to allow the waste to flow by gravity is prohibitively expensive

When you wish to pump waste over water - e.g. from floating glamping pod to shore

Technical Aspects - pros and cons

Pro: a convenient way to manage waste on glamping sites, which, by their very nature, tend NOT to be near a mains sewer

Pro: relatively diminutive in size and groundworks requirement compared with a septic tank or sewage treatment plant

Pro: removable lid for easy access to pump(s) for maintenance purposes

Pro: may offer a more cost-effective route to get your glamping site to market

Pro: some models can be fitted with alarms / monitoring systems to keep operators in control

Pro: automatic operation requires no human intervention - health problems minimised

Pro: a size and model to suit most glamping applications

Pro: sourced from market-leading brand names

Consider: expert installation via plumber (for example) to ensure equipment is commissioned correctly

Consider: providing the correct electrical installation. Consult an electrician to check that your power supply is not overloaded.

Consider: grease traps to prevent the build up of fat bergs within the pumping station

Consider: warning signs to warn users against putting inappropriate items down their toilets