With the advent of modern packaged pumping stations, it is often possible to connect to a main sewer, even if the sewer is located some distance away.

Pumping equipment is generally very reliable, and pipeline is manufactured in long flexible lengths. A typical installation consists of a pumping chamber which has a holding capacity of 24 hours of sewage from the associated dwelling;  two pumps mounted on quick-release brackets to facilitate ease of maintenance; and associated valves to prevent sewage flowing back into the chamber once it has been pumped away.

Operation of the pumps is fully automatic, with the two pumps running alternately. The pumps self test every 24 hours, and if a fault develops in one pump, the second pump takes over and an alarm is raised, usually in the form of a flashing beacon.

The biggest problem with the operation of any pumping station (even the very big ones at the public sewage works) is lack of respect for what the pumps can do. With minimal maintenance a good quality pump will operate satisfactorily for up to 15 years, and will deal with all the day-to-day stuff that is flushed down the W.C. They are not designed to pump used razors, lipstick containers, plastic bottles, dodgy underwear, false teeth, bath towels, or Coke cans, although our engineers have pulled these items and many others from the inside of sewage pumps over the years.

A properly designed and installed pumping station does not have any volume restrictions. I.H.S. Systems Ltd. can installed pumping stations to serve a variety of sites from just one dwelling or a house extension where ground levels will not allow direct connection to the drains, to a complete school, factory, campsite, hotel, or even a village or town.