#Belowground sewage ejector systems how to#
#Belowground sewage ejector systems code#

We must remember that the discharge from the sewage ejector is under a constant positive pressure from the pump but once it enters the regular house drains it will need to flow by gravity, therefore the gravity line will need to be much larger.Īll Drain, Waste & Vent lines are sized by the DFU method. Many people are under the false assumption that since the discharge line from the pump is only 2' that we could connect to any line 2' or greater, but such is not the case. Selecting the point where we intend to connect the discharge from the Sewage Ejector Pump to the house gravity drain system can be rather complex. The IRC sets the minimum at 14.2gal/min and the UPC minimum is 20gal/min.

#Belowground sewage ejector systems code#

Using the standard DFU (Drainage Fixture Unit) tables published in the code book we first determine the total DFU load for the sewage ejector, then select a pump suitable to the load however, the codes have established a minimum allowable size of the pumps. In order to determine what size of pump you need you would first begin with a list of all fixtures that will be discharging into the sewage ejector pit. Sewage ejection pumps come in a very broad range of sizes from a small single fixture pump built into an upflush toilet up to super large 24' diameter or greater systems used on municipal sewer mains.

Some local jurisdictions also require that a sewage ejector pump system be equiped with either a flashing light or audible alarm to indicate if the pump malfunctions. The connection to the gravity flow line must be made by means of a Wye fitting in the Gravity line with the side opening of the Wye oriented in a vertical position. The Ejector Pump discharge line must rise vertically to a point higher than the horizontal gravity flow drain to which it will discharge into. The purpose of the gate valve is to be able to manually close the line to permit servicing the backwater valve or the pump assembly. The vertical discharge line MUST BE equipped with a 'Backwater valve' and it must also have a manually operated 'Gate Valve' above the backwater valve.

(A macerator grinder is an optional built in cutter mechanism similar to a garbage disposal). To this end Under both the International Residential Code(IRC) and the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) the discharge line from a sewage ejector pump must be a minimum of a 2' diameter line except, the IRC will permit the discharge line to be a minimum of 1-1/4' if the pump is equipped with a macerator grinder. While a sump pump is only designed to pump water, by necessity a sewage ejector pump must be capable of passing some suspended solids, especially if serving a water closet. The Sewage Ejector control float must be adjusted so that the lowest line discharging into the pit will remain a minimum of 2' above the highest level of liquids in the sump.

The sewage ejector pit must have a dedicated vent through the roof and the vent may not be combined with any other vents in the structure. The sewage ejector sump pit must be fitted with a removable water tight cover. In its basic configuration a Sewage Ejector Pump assembly appears quite similar to a submersible sump pump & sump pit assembly, however there are some very distinct differences. Sump pumps are to be used solely to discharge storm drainage and in no case may a sump pump be be used to convey sanitary waste or connected directly to a sanitary drain. Some have suggested that we might drain a laundry tub or shower stall into a sump pit then use a sump pump to lift the water up to the drains, but that method is strictly prohibited by the plumbing codes. Whenever the fixture drain outlet is below the elevation of the house drains we obviously must have some means of pumping the waste vertically before discharging into the gravity flow house drains.

#Belowground sewage ejector systems how to#

In recent months I have received a number of inquiries about how to install a laundry sink, shower stall, water closet of bathroom group in a basement where the house drains are elevated above the floor and you cannot achieve drainage by means of gravity flow.