An uptick in the home-building market signifies changes on many different levels that seem to ripple around a community. The first and most obvious is that the economy is strong, developers are moving forward with new projects and people are buying homes. For most people, new homes are a positive sign and that is really all that matters, but for those of us working “behind the scenes,” there is more to it than just new houses.
On the surface, a strong economy means revived homebuilding, but if you dig a bit deeper, you see that new homes bring everything from new sub divisions, schools, and commercial buildings, to new lift stations, water booster pump stations, and increased demands on infrastructures.
As communities expand, everything must expand with them. From the standpoint of a municipality, this means stretching existing infrastructure, expanding reach, and preparing for increased demand on the system that will vary depending on what these new builds bring.
Most municipalities are already designed and prepared for some expansion because communities hope and plan for growth and the infrastructure follows suit, but eventually these plans must be updated due to increasing population and large commercial developments that follow. After reaching this tipping point, it becomes clear that existing equipment, mainly sanitary collection and water distribution systems, will no longer be able to provide the capacity necessary to keep things running smoothly as sprawl takes everything farther away from city centers.
The Challenge
Lift stations often face two primary challenges. The first is sourcing confusion. It is common for lift stations to use components (pumps, controls, SCADA, valves, etc.) sourced from multiple manufacturers, and this makes it difficult for owners to know who to call with an issue because responsibility is limited and spread thin. Second, inclement weather of all sorts can delay construction and, in extreme cases, derail the project timeline.
The Solution
Metropolitan Ind., a Romeoville, Ill., based custom pumping and control solutions manufacturer for the water and wastewater industry, knows a thing or two for working around the elements. Metropolitan builds every custom control station in its weather-controlled facility. This arrangement allows the ability to monitor quality and helps limit the need for labor in the field as each station – customizable right down to the exterior finish – is delivered ready to go, requiring nothing more than connection at the site.
The Results
Metropolitan’s knowledge allows its experts to help you plan your project, understand the specifications and parameters, obtain the necessary permits and, when the time comes, deliver solutions and service that offer everything you need. New home building and an expansion of the community should be a positive experience for everyone involved, and Metropolitan helps to make that possible.
