Which is the correct lift station?

When do you need a lifting station?

Wastewater normally flows by gravity to the sewer. If the discharge point is lower than the sewer connection, this no longer works, and the water must be pumped up. Typical situations:

• a toilet, bathroom, or laundry room in the basement or cellar;
• an extension, garden shed, or practice room without gravity drainage to the sewer;
• a houseboat or plot of land located lower than the main sewer;
• risk of backflow from the sewer during heavy rain.

A lifting station consists of a collection tank, a pump, a level control switch, and a pressure line with a non-return valve. When the tank fills up, the system pumps the water up to the sewer in one go.

Step 1: What type of water are you pumping?

Please note: in most municipalities, wastewater and rainwater must be discharged separately. If you have both, two systems or a separated system are required.

Step 2: Macerator or large free passage?

For toilet water, there are two techniques. Which one you choose mainly depends on the discharge pipe you can install.

Rule of thumb: if you can only lay a thin pipe, choose a macerator, such as the HOMA San.iQ cut or a system with MultiCut.

Step 3: Single-pump or dual-pump?

In a single-pump system, everything stops if the pump fails. In a family home with a second toilet on the ground floor, this is annoying but not dramatic. A dual-pump system has a backup pump and switches automatically. Choose this for:

• apartment complexes, care facilities, and hotels;
• catering establishments and businesses, especially behind a grease separator;
• pumping rainwater, where you cannot control the inflow;
• situations where failure directly leads to flooding or standstill.

Step 4: Where will the system be installed?

For a floor installation, the HOMA Saniquick UF100 is a compact solution: the pump sump completely disappears into the floor.

Components you should not forget

• Non-return valve: prevents water from flowing back into the tank from the discharge pipe. Without a valve, the pump will switch on unnecessarily and wear out quickly.
• Shut-off valve in the discharge pipe: not mandatory, but useful. You can then replace the pump without the pipe emptying.
• Ventilation: the tank must be able to vent air when it fills up. Indoors, use an air admittance valve with a carbon filter to prevent odours.
• High-water alarm: an alarm system warns before the tank overflows. A regular float switch does not do this.

Maintenance and typical malfunctions

Have a lifting station in a home checked annually; more frequently for multi-family homes and businesses. Most malfunctions are caused by wet wipes, sanitary towels, and grease entering the tank via the toilet or sink. Even with a macerator, this leads to blockages and blunt blades. During maintenance, check the non-return valve: a worn rubber allows water to flow back, causing the pump to cycle more frequently.

Which system suits you?

GREY WATER

HOMA Saniquick 1A

Plug & play for shower, washbasin, or washing machine below sewer level.

€1,066.95

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TOILET WITH THIN PIPE

HOMA San.iQ cut / Sanifox

Compact WC macerator, directly behind the toilet.

from €1,090.95

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COMPLETE TOILET + BATHROOM

HOMA Sanistar C102 / C106

Faecal lifting station for a complete basement or cellar area.

from €3,102.95

View system

For apartments, catering establishments, or businesses, see the dual-pump systems.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a lifting station and a pumping station?

It's the same: a tank with a pump that pumps wastewater up to the sewer. In Belgium, the term "opvoerstation" (pumping station) is often used, while in the Netherlands, it's "opvoerinstallatie" (lifting station) or "vuilwaterlift" (wastewater lift).

Can toilet water be discharged via a regular submersible pump?

No. Toilet water contains solid particles and paper; for this, you need a faecal lifting station with a macerator or a large free passage. A regular submersible pump will get clogged.

When do I choose a dual-pump system?

For multiple households, catering establishments, businesses, rainwater, or when failure directly leads to flooding. The second pump automatically takes over.

How do I prevent odours from a lifting station?

With an odour-tight tank and external ventilation or an air admittance valve with an activated carbon filter.