Homeowner: What is an Environment One grinder pump?
The Environment One grinder pump is a UL-listed, self-contained appliance that consists of a
wastewater-holding basin, a 1-hp SPD grinder pump, on-off controls and a high water alarm. The
Environment One system is engineered with specific features for residential applications. For
example, we have a 5 .-inch grinding area that eliminates clogging. Also, the design of the
pump will virtually eliminate a clogged discharge line due to sediment buildup, and the nonfouling
level controls, as well as the entire grinder pump station, require zero preventive
maintenance.
Homeowner: Why does my lot need a grinder pump?
Because of difficult terrain (flat, wet, rocky or hilly) or a failing septic tank, using an E/One
system is more practical for moving wastewater from the lot to the public sewer system.
Conventional sewer systems are impractical, if not impossible, for this location.
Homeowner: Is an E/One system the same as a septic tank?
No. An E/One grinder pump grinds waste from the home and pumps it to a public sewer system.
Septic tanks leach the wastewater into the ground and require periodic pumping.
Homeowner: My septic tank works fine.
You have probably done a great job maintaining your septic tank. But, we still have pollution in
the area from the existing septic sites. This is a problem that your sewer authority has to
address. The E/One low pressure sewer system is designed to eliminate the pollution issues that
are having an impact on the quality of life in your community.
Homeowner: How much does an E/One grinder pump cost?
The cost of a completely installed system depends on the type of system you select, the soil
conditions of your lot, and the distance from your grinder pump to the public sewer tap. Costs
typically range from $3,000 to $6,000 installed.
Homeowner: What happens when this pump fails?
I don’t worry about the current system failing; I never have a problem. Will I have to stop using my toilet while this pump is fixed?
The E/One grinder pump is a self-contained unit designed to be repaired quickly and easily. Each
unit has an alarm that alerts you to call the local service center. Service calls usually are finished
in less than one hour. You should keep water use to a minimum until a technician arrives. If you
need to shower, close the drain so you won’t overwhelm the unit. Use your toilet sparingly.
Homeowner: How long will my pump last before I need to repair or replace it?
E/One currently has systems in place that have been in operation for over 25 years. Typically
there is an 8- to 10-year period before service is required to replace wearing pump parts. Some
of the very first pumps were installed in 1974 at Weatherby Lake, Missouri. Today, after more
than 25 years of successful operation, the E/One Sewer system at Weatherby Lake has grown to
more than 600 pumps; more than 300 of these pumps are more than 20 years old.
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Homeowner: Does the pump have an alarm to warn me if something is wrong?
Yes. An alarm panel, located outside your home or inside your garage, has an audible and visual
alarm that indicates high water levels in your grinder pump’s tank. If there is a problem with the
unit, you will get a notification by the alarm. Use the silence switch to silence the alarm and call
for service immediately.
Homeowner: Do E/One pumps require much maintenance?
No. Unlike other appliances or equipment in your home, no periodic maintenance is required. The
E/One system is designed to be virtually maintenance-free for long periods. The grinder pump
core is an electro-mechanical device that will eventually require service. You can expect some
sort of repair to a properly installed unit after 8 to 10 years.
Homeowner: Am I limited as to what I can pour down the drain or into my E/One
pump? What materials or objects will clog the pump?
As with conventional sewer systems, do not allow strong chemicals, oils, flammables, glass,
metal, diapers, plastics, etc. to enter the pump or pressure sewer system. If in doubt, refer to
your grinder pump owner instructions/warranty card.
Please contact your local authority for proper disposal methods.
Homeowner: Can I use a garbage disposal?
Yes; again, refer to instructions/warranty card for items/foods that are not to be put in the
garbage disposal. Also, check your local regulations. Some sewer districts do not allow garbage
disposals on their system.
Homeowner: Do I need to do anything special to the system if I am gone for long
periods of time?
The system does not need to be turned off or altered before you leave for a length or time. If
you plan to be away for more than one week, fill the bathtub with water, and then drain it. The
water will flush the tank and pump out any solids before you leave.
In vacation (part-time residences) homes, it can be expected that many of the units would not
operate for prolonged periods of time. This has not proven to cause a problem in any of the
currently installed systems in the United States.
Homeowner: Do I need to pump out my E/One Sewer like I would a septic tank?
No. Wastewater is temporarily stored in the basin and then pumped out when the water reaches
a certain level; solids are ground up and removed as well. Septic tanks are simply tanks and need
to be pumped periodically.
Homeowner: How is all the stuff that might go down my toilet going to go out
through 1.-inch pipe?
The pump has been designed to grind up everything that normally goes into a sewer — even
plastic toys, clothes pins, diapers, or socks. Everything is ground up small enough to pass
through the 1 .-inch lines to the main sewer line.
Homeowner: What about a power outage? What happens when the power comes
back on?
It is important to be aware of the power outage history in the community. The maximum
duration of failure is the relevant parameter. As shown by data from the Federal Power
Commission, the average power outage in the United States lasts less than two hours, and the
tank storage capacity is more than adequate for these short intervals. This is especially true since
all water–using appliances are inoperable during a power outage, and the per capita usage drops
dramatically during such periods.
Even so, it is a legitimate question to ask, “What happens if the power is off for several days and
all the pumps try to turn on at once when power is restored?” In such a situation, the pipe
friction losses go far above the calculated values, which are based on simultaneous operation of
a small fraction of the pumps at any given time. Under such circumstances, those pumps with
the highest total dynamic head losses will turn on momentarily but will be automatically tripped
off the line in a few seconds by the built-in thermal overload protector. Meanwhile, those pumps
nearest the discharge point and with the lowest static heads will see lower pressures, will pump
out normally, and shut off in three or four minutes.
Meanwhile, the other pumps will have cooled down enough to come back on a second time and
try again. Some will still see high enough heads to be tripped back off again. Others will find the
line pressure has reduced enough to permit them to pump out and shut off. In this way, the
system completely and automatically restores itself to normal operation within 30 to 45 minutes
following restoration of power. No one must visit the pumps because they reset automatically.
Although such long outages are rare, several instances of automatic resetting, including
Weatherby Lake, Missouri, are known to have successfully occurred.
The automatic reset thermal overload protectors are very rugged devices custom designed for
the grinder pump motor. As evidence of this durability, these protectors must cycle on and off
locked rotor current for 15 continuous days before gaining the UL seal of approval.
E/One pumps automatically resets after a power failure. E/One pumps are designed to handle
flows and heads developed when all the pumps come on at the same time. Centrifugal pumps
will all go to shut-off because of the high head and won’t pump anything.
Homeowner: How much tank storage capacity does the E/One station offer?
The E/One grinder pump stations have storage space in their wet wells for storage of sewage in
the event of pump or power failure. The detention time in each E/One unit is given below.
Model 2010 Model 2012
Standard Unit Larger Tank
(Gallons) (Gallons)
Capacity of emergency use 38 66
Average flow per day 180 180
Total gallons per hour (over 12 hours) 15 15
Average emergency storage 2.5 hours 4.4 hours
Average emergency storage at 50% reduced flows* hours** 8.8 hours**
*During power failure, washing machines, dishwashers, etc. cannot operate and washing up and
showering is likely to be diminished. Therefore, a 50 percent flow reduction is reasonable.
**As shown by data from the Federal Power Commission, the average power outage in the
United States is less than 2 hours in duration, and the tank storage capacity is more than
adequate for these short intervals.
Given the fact that E/One sewers eliminate inflow and infiltration, these emergency storage
volumes provide greater reliability than the storage volume provided in sewer pumping stations.
Homeowner: But I have six kids.
If you desire, we can give you larger storage capacity. The Environment One pump is
standardized, so the same size is used even for larger applications. For instance, at a day care
center, the pump is the same but we can go up to a 500-gallon storage tank if needed.
Homeowner: What if the unit requires service? If I get an alarm what should I do?
Call your local distributor if you experience problems with your pump (information should be
written on your user instruction/warranty card). Also, each alarm panel has a company name tag
on it with a telephone number to reach our 24-hour service department. A trained service
technician will respond to your home to service the pump. The occupants of the home can
continue minimal use of the system while the service technician is in route. Most repairs are
completed on site.
Homeowner: How long is the warranty for the E/One grinder pump? What type of
Warranty does this pump unit have?
The standard warranty is two years. Contact your local distributor or Environment One Customer
Service (518-346-6161, press “1”) for more information.
Homeowner: What will this do to my electric bill?
What is the average yearly electrical cost to operate a unit servicing the typical single typical home?
A typical single family home will use 250 gallons of water per day. The E/One pump for this
home will consume about 200 KWh of electricity per year. At $.011 KWh x 200 KWh = $22.00 per
year cost of electricity to operate the E/One pump.
Homeowner: How noisy is the pump?
With an outdoor unit buried in the ground, you will not hear it at all if you’re 10 or 15 feet away.
If you’re standing on top of it, it sounds like your washing machine when it’s running — just a
hum.
Homeowner: What will this look like in my yard?
The system will be buried and the only thing you’ll see is top cover, which is less than 30 inches
in diameter. The cover is designed to blend into your yard as much as possible and can easily be
landscaped to become more invisible.
Homeowner: Does the E/One grinder pump emit any unpleasant odors?
Odors can be a problem from time to time in all types of sewer systems. Large-diameter, longdistance
gravity mains have been a classic source of gas generation and odor. The closed
network of small-diameter pipelines of a pressure sewer system is inherently less susceptible to
odor problems.
Well-designed pressure sewer systems minimize the potential for odor by designing for short
retention time. When pressure sewers discharge a short distance, as in a typical service line to a
receiving gravity sewer, the residence time in the pipeline is usually short enough for the
wastewater to be relatively fresh or even stale, but not so septic as to present a problem of odors
or corrosion at the receiving sewer. With increased retention time the wastewater becomes
totally septic. Corrosive gases tend to deteriorate capital equipment and have a negative impact
on treatment. Long lines, oversized piping, seasonal occupancy and slow build-out are among the
causes for excessive retention times, but properly designed systems can minimize excessive
retention times.
Homeowner: What about my property values?
It is well founded that a public sewer system adds value to your property over the installation of
a septic tank.
Homeowner: What if I have a party and my neighbor has one too? Will the pumps be
overloaded?
No, the pumps operate independently of each other and are designed to handle the flow from
the number of fixtures in your house without being overloaded.
Homeowner: What about vandalism? That’s just plastic top — what’s to prevent kids from getting in there?
Every unit has a lid that is bolted down and can be locked to prevent unauthorized people from
opening the cover.
Homeowner: Who can install my E/One grinder pump?
For newly constructed homes, your builder, through his plumbing subcontractor, can install the
unit as part of the normal course of construction of your home. For an existing home, the
contractor hired by the town or engineer will install the unit.
Homeowner: Who can I call for more information about E/One grinder pumps?
Call your local distributor or Environment One Customer Service for complete information about
E/One grinder pumps. Information can also be found at E/One’s web site, www.eone.com.
Homeowner: If I want to replace the unit in 10 years, can I put in a new E/One
pump? Will this pump become obsolete?
The E/One pump station is designed to be repaired or replaced indefinitely.
Homeowner: Is there a chance of backflow into my home from my unit or the whole system?
No. Check valves on the grinder pump and at the street prevent the street main sewage from
entering your pump and home. If installed properly any serious malfunction will result in sewage
discharging outside the home.
Homeowner: What if the alarm goes on during heavy use and then goes off?
During this event, it is recommended that you reduce flow to the pump station until the alarm
stops.