For many consulting engineers, the modus operandi in municipal wastewater lift stations centers around submersible pumps: a mechanical-electrical scheme submerged in water in a deep, corrosive, and hazardous wet well, designed to lift wastewater from lower to higher elevations within collection systems. Despite the dissonance of such an arrangement, it has become an “easy” specification to pull from the archives. However, continuing to rely on this legacy approach drains municipal budgets, endangers utility operators, and limits the performance and resilience of collection systems as a whole.
Are we designing infrastructure for 1996 or 2026?
A new paradigm is redefining industry-best practice. Above-ground, pre-engineered packaged pump stations such as Smith & Loveless EVERLAST™ offer tangible advances from both a technical and design-engineering perspective. These systems are engineered to be safer, more accessible, and far easier to maintain. Unlike their submersible counterparts, the heart of the above-ground system, the pumps, controls, and valves, are housed in a climate-controlled enclosure at grade level – outside of any confined space wet well and valve pit.
While above-ground packaged pump stations represent a technical and operational leap forward for wastewater collection systems, they also create significant new opportunities for consulting engineers.
Not only do these above-ground packaged pump stations deliver safer, more resilient, and cost-effective results for their municipality clients, but they also empower engineering firms to work more efficiently, scale their offerings, and improve overall profitability. In this shift, what's better for the municipality—streamlined, simpler projects that deliver a progressive approach to operator safety and cost-savings—is also good for the consulting business.
Streamlined Engineering for Higher Value
Traditional, custom-built submersible pump stations may require significant hours of cross-disciplinary engineering and drafting. These projects can tie up senior specialists and leave some firms vulnerable to delays or stretched resources—a problem magnified by the current engineering talent crunch.
By specifying pre-engineered, factory-built above-ground stations, engineers can complete most of the project work—site integration and submittal review—in a fraction of the time. This freeing of high-skilled labor enables firms to take on more projects, increasing their throughput and profitability within a fixed-fee or value-based compensation structure.
Here lies the core takeaway: this streamlined, modern paradigm is actually more profitable for consulting engineering firms. Fewer hours per project do not mean less value delivered; on the contrary, they enable firms to increase their project volume, improve margins, and keep clients satisfied with strong, reliable solutions.
This streamlined delivery does not mean sacrificing quality or technical integrity. Rather, packaged designs act as a force multiplier. Teams handle more projects with existing staff, sidestepping bottlenecks associated with recruiting and training new talent. With increased efficiency, engineering firms can position themselves as responsive, agile partners, able to meet evolving municipal needs without compromising their own standards of excellence.
Minimizing Liability, Maximizing Professional Security
Risk reduction is another core benefit. Every custom-made pipe support or electrical integration carries the potential for errors and omissions. Under traditional models, the engineer of record bears broad liability for system performance.
Above-ground, packaged stations shift warranty and performance risk to the manufacturer. With all key elements assembled and checked in a controlled facility, the risk of field integration failures decreases. For engineers, that means less exposure to liability claims or errors and omissions insurance events.
Shaping the Future of Public Infrastructure
The shift toward above-ground packaged pump stations marks a collective move forward, one grounded in both sound engineering and smart business. For municipalities, adopting accessible, reliable infrastructure means safer operations, lower long-term costs, and enduring system performance. For consulting engineers, this transition offers a distinct professional advantage: the ability to serve as the strategic driver for transformative, safe-access projects. Above-ground solutions are not just a new specification, they’re the architecture of the future, engineered for progress, resilience, and lasting value.
Learn more about the packaged above-grade pump station concept. To request an easy, preliminary budget quote and design concept, click below.