In order to provide you with suitable wastewater disposal, your home is served by a low-pressure sewer system. The basic unit in this system is an Environment One grinder pump. The tank collects all solid materials and effluent from the house. The solid materials are then ground to a small size suitable for pumping as a slurry with the effluent water. The grinder pump generates sufficient pressure to pump this slurry from your home to the wastewater treatment receiving line and/or disposal plant.
The Environment One pump is capable of accepting and pumping a wide range of materials. Regulatory agencies advise that the following item(s) should not be introduced into any sewer, either directly or through a kitchen waste disposal unit:
- Glass
- Metal
- Seafood or eggshells
- Grease
- Sand/grit
- Stormwater connections/discharges
- Diapers, socks, rags or cloth
- Plastic objects, (toys, utensils, etc.)
- Sanitary napkins or tampons
- Cat litter
- Fish tank stone
- Chicken bones
In addition, you must never introduce into your sewer:
- Explosives
- Flammable material
- Strong Chemicals
- Gasoline
- Lubricating oils and grease
If your home or building is to be unoccupied for longer than a couple of weeks, perform the following procedure:
Purge the System – Run clean water into the unit until the pump activates. Immediately turn off the water and allow the grinder pump to run until it shuts off automatically.
Duplex Units – Special attention must be taken to ensure that both pumps turn on when clean water is added to the tank.
Caution – Do not disconnect power to the unit.
Your grinder pump cannot dispose of wastewater without electrical power. If electrical power service is interrupted, keep water usage to a minimum. The alarm will not function during a power failure.
When the unit is in alarm prior to the arrival of an authorized service technician, water usage must be limited to the reserve capacity of the tank.
To silence the alarm, please press the silence button on the bottom of the unit. The red light will remain on until a technician services the grinder pump.
For service, please contact the Northwestern Water & Sewer District office toll-free at (877) 354-9090.