The nitty-gritty on Bondi WWTP's tough pumps

When Sydney Water’s Bondi Wastewater Treatment Plant needed repairs to two Gorman-Rupp Grit Pumps, authorised Australian distributor Hydro Innovations was called upon.

The plant has four channel-type grit inlets, each with a Gorman-Rupp 6″ Super T Series pump sitting on a moving bridge above these channels, which ‘vacuums’ up the grit that sinks to the bottom of the channels.

The Bondi plant has been using Gorman-Rupp pumps in this application for more than 30 years. During this time, the pump manufacturer has developed harder materials to cope with abrasive applications like pumping grit and sand. Sydney Water was one of the first organisations to recognise the benefits of these harder components, which result in less downtime and longer intervals between repairs.

Being self-priming, the pumps can be located above the water in a safe and easily accessible position, allowing quick and easy monitoring and repair. Cranes are generally not required to access pumps and inspection covers allow operators to gain access to pump internals without removing the unit from the pipe system.

A patented internal clearance adjustment system also allows one operator to safely adjust clearances in minutes with just two spanners, keeping pumps at peak efficiency for the life of the installation.

With pumps available in sizes from 50 mm (suction and discharge) to 520 mm, flows from just a few litres per second (L/s) to 200 L/s and a variety of materials of construction, the pumps can be tailored to individual applications.