Frequently Asked Questions

A. In most cases, the MOPS Pump Station Engineering Report is provided at no charge to consulting engineers and land planners.

A. We provide the complete Engineering Report at our expense as a no-cost, time-saving service, and to further advance the MOPS name and product.

A. The normal turnaround time is 2-5 days.

A. No. We ask for professional courtesy if an alternate is proposed on the project. We will provide you with a side by side comparison of the stations showing compliance.

A. We provide the MOPS Pump Station as a complete functional package and do not promote a particular pump brand. We select the best pump for the application.

A. MOPS are stations designed to be 100% Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) compliant.

However, they do not follow the specific design criteria of particular Cities and Counties for 'dedicated' stations. HOWEVER, when it is allowed, tightening municipal budgets sometimes dictate the savings that can be realized by using a MOPS station in place of a city/county standard station.

A. True, all pump stations generate sewage gases, but it is what escapes untreated that is offensive. MOPS Pump Stations have a multi-stage Odor Gas Scrubber that eliminates the odor normally associated with sewage.

Besides the odor scrubber, the station has inherent design features that control odor.

A. Explosion-proof pumps, in most cases, are required by the National Electric Code. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) uses the latest edition of the "Recommended Standards for Wastewater Facilities" (RSWF), also known as the Ten States Standards.

An integral part of the RSWF is the National Electrical Code – this code defines a sewage pump station (one not serving only a single-family dwelling) as a Class 1, Division 1, Group D rating – requiring special precautions be taken in equipment selection and installation.

A. It is due to the Class 1, Division 1, Group D rating given to certain areas of sewage pump stations outlined above. The control panel we manufacture is rated UL 698A, Control Panels for Hazardous Locations.

A. MOPS Pump Stations can be as small as two feet in diameter and as large as twelve feet in diameter. Depth of a MOPS station can vary from five feet to thirty or more feet. The maximum size is generally based on truck shipping restrictions.

A. Yes, there are special considerations for stormwater stations.

A. We approach this issue uniquely and efficiently.

The Old Way: The general contractor brings in a subcontractor, whose specialty is strictly installing pump stations. This specialty subcontractor is the only entity that deals with both the underground work and the electrical work required to install a pump station. He brings his men and equipment to the job site and adds his labor and profit to the price.

The MOPS Way: We work with the site contractor. Upon receiving an order, we manufacture the MOPS station – but we do not simply ship it and walk away. We work with the site contractor, who installs the MOPS wet well and valve box at the proper elevation. Then MOPS personnel arrive on-site and perform the Trim-Out Service – they install the pumps, float switches, and control panel.

The only responsibility the GC has is to bring power up to the disconnect box, and then the station is ready for start-up procedures. When the station is ready for an officially approved start-up, MOPS personnel return to commission the station. The engineer, any officials, and MOPS technicians are coordinated for this event.

The advantage of MOPS is that one less contractor is involved. The specialty pump station contractor is eliminated, as his underground efforts are duplicated with the site contractor. The company that designed and manufactured the station is performing the most critical work, which covers the actual performance and appearance of the station.

The responsibility of a properly operating sewage pump station falls upon MOPS, eliminating problems associated with multiple unrelated parties involved in the installation.

A. Apples to apples, we are not undersold. With our standard MOPS offering, we do include more in our pump stations than anyone else. For instance, we include our Trim-Out Service (description above). For most pump stations, we also include the first year's maintenance, among other items.

A. No, not with a MOPS pump station. We utilize and over-sized base flange and calculate our flotation figures very conservatively. The weight of the wet-well, pumps, equipment, soil friction, and the cone effect are neglected. Plus, a safety factor of 10% is added above and beyond.

If the calculations demonstrate ballast is required, then the proper amount of concrete is specified. Quite often, with smaller stations, no ballast is required saving money for the client and scheduling issues with the contractor.

A. Yes, we can specify a traffic rated pump station.

A. No, they do not lend themselves to being manufactured in a factory setting, which is our area of expertise.

A. Typically, not.

A. Please contact us with basic design criteria – or, better yet, enter it on the design application, and we can produce an accurate quotation.

A. Yes, we often hold MOPS presentations with groups of engineers. Please contact us for details.

A. Yes, we have successfully placed in operation many similar low-flow applications.

A. Yes, every MOPS station has an emergency generator receptacle as required by FDEP.

A. The OGS is designed to function properly for 2-5 years, but in practice, it normally lasts far longer. We make sure that every OGS is sized with excess capacity to address variances in sewage flow.

A. We have MOPS stations at all of the above types of buildings. When the initial cost savings are realized, MOPS becomes an extremely attractive alternative to a concrete pump station built to municipal standards, especially with tight budgets.

A. Yes, there is a MOPS-specific generator system available for standby emergency power. It is unique in that it only operates when the station needs to be pumped down, saving fuel and increasing the total functioning time during extended power outages.

A. Yes, please Contact Us with special operating conditions for your proposed station.

A. Yes, we have been involved with a number of low-pressure sewer systems for residential developments.

A. Yes. Your client can certainly benefit from the features of a MOPS Pump Station, and we would normally be pleased to bid on the project.

A. Click on the design application navigation button. Fill out each text field and data field with the project information and hit the "submit" button at the bottom of the page. Alternatively, you can use the Word format and email or fax that form when completed. This will initiate the MOPS service for your pump station.

A. We have supplied a number of MOPS stations to the Caribbean. The fact that the MOPS station is manufactured in our plant, rather than constructed completely on-site, lends itself to be easily transported.

A. It is sometimes possible to rehabilitate an existing pump station.

A. MOPS is ideal for you. We keep abreast of the latest developments with sewage pump station requirements, so you can concentrate on other portions of your project, and know that the MOPS station that we design for you is 100% compliant with current statutes.