Stormwater Conveyance Pumping

Stormwater pumping moves runoff out of low-elevation collection basins. Design head is dominated by static lift to the discharge elevation; friction is secondary. Variable-frequency drives are common for basin-level following.

Target industries

Recommended calculation methods

• Manning's equation (open-channel inflow)
• Hazen-Williams (force main)

Key design factors

• Pump down time at design storm peak inflow
• VFD vs. multiple-pump staging tradeoff
• Floatable debris handling (vortex pumps, bar screens)
• Reverse-flow check valves at the discharge

Common pitfalls

• Sizing for average flow rather than design-storm peak
• Insufficient suction submergence → vortex / air entrainment
• Single-pump installations with no redundancy