What is the Advantage and Disadvantage of Gorman Pump Parts

14, Jul. 2025

 

Advantages and disadvantages of 3 different types of centrifugal ...

Pumps play a major role in water and wastewater treatment plants and pumping stations. Ease of maintenance and repair are important consideration for those responsible for keeping pumps in good working condition. Pumps in pumping stations get waste from its source to the treatment plant and from there pumps are used to move influent, raw water, primary sludge, secondary sludge and return activated sludge through to final effluent.

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Centrifugal pumps are among the most commonly used in wastewater treatment plants and pumping stations. At one time, the dry-pit solids handling (or non-clog) pump with flexible drive shaft and motor above grade was quite possibly the most popular style of pump at the WWTP and PS.  Today municipalities weigh the benefits of staying with dry pit pumps vs. dry-pit submersibles and true (wet pit) submersible pumps. There are varying opinions about which is better as each offers its own benefits and drawbacks.  So between them which is the most convenient to maintain and repair and offer the most trouble free long term operation?

  1. Dry-Pit Pumps

Dry-pit pump stations are still quite common and found in operation across North America. Typically built below ground, pumps (usually vertical) with flexible drive shafts and above grade air cooled motors are installed in a dry well, adjacent to a wet well. There is usually a superstructure to allow personnel access to the dry well which also houses electrical and other equipment required to run the station.  Over the past 100 years, these types of heavy duty centrifugal pumps have proven to be the rugged, reliable, work-horses of the industry.

Advantages and Disadvantages: The primary advantage of dry-pit pumps is that they are not submerged into the wastewater. Because they are not submerged, maintenance personnel can see, touch, listen to and easily repair the pumps. This makes them easier to repair, reduces the amount of time required to diagnose and correct a pump failure.  There are fewer health and safety risks associated with repairing dry-pit pumps as well, since they are not submerged, they’re not covered in sewage. Dry wells themselves often provide space required to manoeuver and provide protection from the elements. A disadvantage of a dry-pit pump is it’s typically below ground level and almost always susceptible to flooding.

  1. Dry-Pit Submersible Pumps

Dry-pit submersible stations a.k.a. submersible dry well stations are growing in acceptance and popularity for dry-pit applications. A dry-pit submersible pump station is not entirely different from a dry-pit station in that it still has a dry and wet well, however the pump configuration, particularly the motor is different.  In this configuration, the motor is mounted directly to the pump, eliminating the intermediate shaft.  The motor itself will circulate either sewage or glycol (superior to sewage) to cool the motor, which is designed to run continuously in air as well as submerged.

Advantages and Disadvantages: The big benefit of a dry-pit submersible pump is full protection against station flooding. The close coupled motor eliminates problems associated with flexible drive shaft breakages. Many conventional dry-pit pumps can be easily retrofitted to dry-pit submersible quickly and cost effectively. Some disadvantages of the dry-pit submersible can be related to motor failures in sewage cooled style motors.  Particles from the sewage settle out and if not properly flushed/cleaned can lead to overheating of the motor.  Glycol cooled CLC motors are far superior and virtually maintenance free.  Another downside to retrofitting an old dry-pit pump installation with a new dry-pit submersible pump is piping doesn’t always match up which can ultimately be inconvenient and expensive to change.

  1. Submersible Pumps

As implied, submersible pumps are designed to be submerged directly into the wet well and do not require a dry well. Most commonly these pumps use a pull-up design and run up and down on guide rails.  The pump discharge is equipped with a self locking coupling, connecting it to a stationary elbow at the bottom of the pit. Submersible pumps have motors that are designed to run completely immersed in wastewater.  Submersible pump stations do not typically have a structure to house a control center, rather a cabinet on the surface above the pit.

Advantages and Disadvantages: The advantage of submersible pump stations is they are less expensive to construct as they have only a wet pit and may not have any above ground construction. The disadvantage of submersible pumps is they are not readily accessible. Maintenance personnel cannot easily monitor the running condition of a submersible pump as while submerged one cannot see, listen to our touch the pump.  Essentially, the pump must fail before any problems with it can be detected.  Since they are submerged, they must be uninstalled to be inspected and repaired.  There are also health and safety risks as they will be covered in sewage.  A crane is required to uninstall the pump and since there is no structure on the surface, the pump must be transported to a local repair facility for inspection and repair. This can make submersible pumps more expensive to repair and may take longer as compared to the dry-pit and dry-pit submersible pumps described above.

How ABBA Can Help

Call today to learn more about how ABBA can help convert conventional dry-pit pumps to dry-pit submersibles. It’s convenient and cost effective – no piping changes!

ABBA Pump Parts and Service is a qualified and experienced Aftermarket Parts Solutions Specialist (APSS). For 30 years, ABBA has specialized in manufacturing high quality replacement centrifugal pump parts & assemblies for municipal wastewater and water authorities. Our experience has evolved from a strong background in pump design, manufacturing, application engineering and pump repair.

We have sold hundreds of retrofit pumps to municipalities across North America and our business remains strong and growing. We pride ourselves on quality and service knowing that we must always be at least equal to or better than our O.E.M. competitors in every respect.

ABBA manufactures replacement parts, rotating assemblies and complete pumps to fit or replace existing Fairbanks Morse (Pentair), Allis Chalmers (FLYGT A-C), Worthington, Smith & Loveless and many more. Replacement centrifugal pump parts, assemblies and pumps are our specialty.

We guarantee our pumps and parts are equal to or better than the O.E.M. for ‘Fit, Form and Function’ and have done so for 30 years with very few warranty claims and zero performance related issues. All of our designs, standards and specifications are based upon original O.E.M. designs, standards and specifications with improvements or enhancements where possible. All of our products are guaranteed to be direct drop in replacements.

More information on converting dry-pit pumps to dry-pit submersibles – click

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Compelling Reasons to Choose Gorman-Rupp - Envirep/TLC

When choosing pumping equipment, the focus should be on achieving the best long-term system performance, not just the lowest initial cost. Here are some compelling reasons to select Gorman-Rupp wastewater pumping stations.

Low Lifetime Costs

The total lifetime cost of a pumping station includes its purchase, installation, operation, and maintenance expenses. Evaluating all these costs when choosing equipment is crucial, as making the proper selection leads to substantial long-term savings.

Non-Clogging

Gorman-Rupp suction lift pumps feature semi-open impellers for handling large solids. The pumps can be enhanced with Eradicator Plus™ anti-clogging technology for extreme-duty wastewater applications.

Easy to Maintain

Gorman-Rupp suction lift pumps offer simple maintenance with a full-sized cover plate for easy access to clear clogs or replace the impeller. The rotating assembly is quickly removed using common hand tools.

Operator Safety

Gorman-Rupp suction lift pumps situated in an above ground enclosure, ensuring a safe working environment. Maintenance is conducted inside the pump room, eliminating confined space risks and exposure to hazardous substances. No electrical wiring or junction boxes are necessary in the wet well.

Life Expectancy

Gorman-Rupp pumps have a remarkable track record, with an average life expectancy exceeding 30 years!

Availability of Spare Parts

Spare parts availability is a compelling reason to choose Gorman-Rupp. Gorman-Rupp keeps a substantial stock of spare parts in Mansfield, Ohio, ensuring prompt shipping for most orders. Envirep located in Camp Hill, PA, also has a significant inventory of Gorman-Rupp spare parts. This is one of many reasons operators choose Gorman-Rupp.

Premium Efficient Motors

Gorman-Rupp utilizes off-the-shelf NEMA Premium Efficient ODP and TEFC motors. The motor is physically separate from the pump, maximizing motor life and ensuring that a pump seal failure does not cause motor damage. Replacement motors are found locally, avoiding the long delivery times.

V-Belt Driven

V-belt drives offer critical advantages over direct-driven pumps: they allow quick and cost-effective adjustment of the pumping rate by changing belts and sheaves. They also absorb shock during pump startup and clogging, safeguarding critical components like the impeller, shaft, seal, bearings, and motors from damage.

Peak Pump Efficiency

Gorman-Rupp pumps boast a user-friendly design for hassle-free impeller-to-wear plate clearance adjustment without draining the pump or dismantling drive components. This smart feature maintains design capacity, ensures peak efficiency, and maximizes the life of wearing parts.

Pumps and Motors are High and Dry

Gorman-Rupp suction lift pumps are conveniently located above ground to provide easy access for inspection and preventive maintenance. The pumps, motors, valves, and controls are housed in a warm, dry, and hazard-free environment, perfect for operators.

Large Inspection Cover

Gorman-Rupp pumps have a large removable inspection cover plate for easy removal of clogs. This user-friendly design simplifies the unclogging process.

Service Agreements

Regular pump servicing is essential for maintaining peak efficiency. Envirep provides service agreements for routine maintenance performed by our factory-trained technicians. Our highly skilled service team possesses extensive hands-on experience with Gorman-Rupp equipment.

Customer Support

Gorman-Rupp and Envirep excel in customer service. Our skilled service team specializes in pump station startup, maintenance, and troubleshooting, assisting with mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical issues by or in the field. We help you with your pumping equipment needs and optimizing system performance. Trust us to deliver the right solution for your pumping applications with the expertise to make it work.

Envirep/TLC serves the municipal and industrial water and wastewater market in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Do you need help selecting the right equipment for your application? Contact Envirep at 717-761- or .

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