From Manual Hazards to Hands-Free Operation

At the City of Des Moines Water Reclamation Authority (WRA), maintaining sump pumps in wastewater treatment pits wasn’t just unpleasant—it was dangerous. Mechanical float switches regularly failed, leaving staff to descend into six-foot-deep pits filled with black water to make repairs. Seeking a safer, more reliable solution, WRA contacted Ramco. Instead of a basic sensor swap, Ramco delivered a fully engineered Enhanced Services solution that automated the process and eliminated the need for operators to enter the pit altogether.

The Challenge: Clogged Floats and Hazardous Maintenance

In harsh wastewater environments, mechanical floats often become fouled with debris, leading to process failure - sumps would overflow or pumps would run dry. Fixing them required workers to physically enter confined sump pits—spaces filled with untreated black water. The old setup posed serious risks and maintenance headaches.

WRA needed a cost-effective solution that:

  • Eliminated the need for confined-space entry
  • Automatically controlled the sump pumps based on fluid level
  • Could alternate between pumps to reduce wear
  • Was simple to deploy and easy to maintain

The Solution: Sensor-Based Automation in a Turnkey Panel

Ramco’s team designed and built a custom panel in-house, integrating smart fluid-level sensors and pre-programmed logic to safely automate sump pump operation.

Key components included:

  • Banner T30R Radar Sensors: Rugged, non-contact sensors ideal for black water environments, used to detect liquid level in the sump pit.
  • Alternating Relay Logic: Ensures wear is distributed evenly between the two pumps by alternating which pump starts first.
  • Pre-Wired Control Panel: Built and tested by Ramco, the panel housed all pump control and sensor logic and fit seamlessly into the existing infrastructure.
The system runs without remote reporting, keeping it simple and affordable—yet dramatically improves reliability and safety.

The Result: Safer Work Environment, Smarter Operation

With the new sensor-based solution, WRA eliminated the need for workers to enter hazardous sump pits for float repairs. The automation ensures:

Hands-free reliable pump control

Even wear across both pumps with alternating logic

No more dirty, dangerous float switch failures

The impact was significant. Ramco delivered a clean, compact, cost-effective fix that removes personnel from harm’s way and keeps the system running reliably.

Ready to upgrade safety and simplify your process?

Let our Enhanced Services team design a custom solution for your toughest challenges.
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