Grinder Pumps
 Grinder Pump Operating Guidelines DO control excessive water discharge from your home. Your grinder pump is sized to handle water from your home up to about 11 gallons per minute. Water output from multiple fixtures can exceed the capacity and cause a sewage back-up. Controlling discharge from your home to at or below the grinder station discharge rate will reduce the potential for sewage back-ups and increased system costs due to unnecessary service calls. |
| DO refrain from water usage during any pump malfunction until repairs are made |
| DO refrain from water use during any DTE/ Consumers Energy electrical outage, unless your grinder pump is connected to an emergency/stand by generator. Emergency power requirements for grinder pumps are as follows: 5KW, 240 VAC, 20 amps with a neutral lead. A larger generator will be needed if additional loads will be put on the generator. Improperly installed or sized generators can cause damage to the grinder station resulting in malfunction and damage to various components. The homeowner is responsible for paying all costs incurred to repair or replace grinder station components for damage caused by improper installation or size of a generator. We recommend the use of a licensed electrician to size and install all emergency generators that will provide power to your grinder pump station. |
| DO call MLWSA at 877-806-3741 whenever an alarm occurs. If your neighbor's grinder system is in an alarm state, and you suspect that they are not home, please call the dispatch number. |
| DO ensure the grade around your grinder pump stations slopes down from the outside of the station. Please allow grinder cover to be at least 4” above grade and remain uncovered. |
| DO familiarize yourself with the location of the grinder pump control panel. If you have a house sitter, be sure to tell them the function and location of the control panel. |
| DO be aware that maintenance of the plumbing from the home/business to the grinder pump is the responsibility of the property owner. |
| DO NOT introduce the following materials into your grinder pump: Kitchen related – grease and seafood shells. Bathroom – dental floss, large amounts of hair, sanitary napkins, tampons/applicators, condoms, baby or adult wipes, disposable or cloth diapers, orthodontic or other rubber bands. Miscellaneous. Household - elastic, “Swiffer” type cloths, glass, rope/string, cat litter, aquarium gravel, or other abrasives. Construction related – sand, steel wool, metal or wood shavings, lapping compound, sawdust, screws/staples/nails, drywall compound, dust from drywall installation, grout, rags or paint (latex and/or acrylic). Chemicals – liquid drain cleaners, dark room chemicals, explosives, gasoline or other flammable/combustible materials. |
| DO NOT interrupt the electrical power supply to the grinder pump alarm panel. Ensure contractors working at a home/business equipped with a grinder pump understand that the grinder pump power should remain on at all times. |
| DO NOT attempt to make grinder pump or service line repairs yourself. |
| DO NOT attempt connecting to a pressure sewer or gravity sewer without the proper approvals and permits. |
| DO NOT excavate (by hand or machine) near the grinder pump, grinder pump wiring, or grinder inlet/discharge piping before underground utilities are located and marked. Phone MISS DIG at 811 or 1-800-482-7171, at least 72 hours in advance of any digging. |
| DO NOT connect water softeners, downspouts, sump pumps or storm drains to the grinder pump, or allow any other surface water to get into the grinder pump. |
| DO NOT drive on the grinder pump cover. You will damage your grinder pump cover and accessway. |