Which lifting station is right for you?
David MeijerQuick answer: if your drain (toilet, shower, washing machine) is lower than the sewer, you need a lifting station. Choose by type of water: grey water (shower, washing machine) can be handled by a wastewater lifting station, while toilet water requires a sewage lifting station with a cutter or large free passage. For multiple households or businesses, choose a dual-pump system.
When do you need a lifting station?
Wastewater normally flows to the sewer by gravity. If the discharge point is lower than the sewer connection, that no longer works and the water has to be pumped up. Typical situations:
- a toilet, bathroom or laundry room in the basement or cellar;
- an extension, garden building or practice room with no fall towards the sewer;
- a houseboat or plot that lies lower than the main sewer;
- a risk of backflow from the sewer during heavy rain.
A lifting station consists of a collection tank, a pump, a level control and a discharge pipe with a check valve. When the tank fills up, the station pumps the water up to the sewer in one go.
Step 1: what type of water are you pumping?
| Type of water | Source | Suitable station |
|---|---|---|
| Grey water | Shower, washbasin, washing machine, kitchen | Wastewater lifting station (e.g. Saniquick 1A) |
| Black water | Toilet (faeces, paper) | Sewage lifting station with a cutter or large free passage |
| Rainwater | Roof, terrace, skylight | Separate station; rainwater must not be mixed with wastewater |
Note: in most municipalities, wastewater and rainwater must be discharged separately. If you have both, you need two stations or a separated system.
Step 2: cutter or large free passage?
There are two techniques for toilet water. Which one you choose mainly depends on the discharge pipe you can install.
| Cutter (macerator) | Free passage | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Blades shred solids | Solids pass through the pump intact |
| Discharge pipe | Narrow (from approx. 32–40 mm) | Wide (often DN80–DN100) |
| Ideal for | Long or awkward pipe routes, renovation | New builds with room for a wide pipe |
| Maintenance | Blades become blunt over time | Less wear, somewhat more sensitive to wipes |
Rule of thumb: if you can only lay a narrow pipe, choose a cutter, such as the HOMA San.iQ cut or a station with MultiCut.
Step 3: single-pump or dual-pump?
With a single-pump station, everything stops if the pump fails. In a family home with a second toilet on the ground floor, that is annoying but not dramatic. A dual-pump station has a standby pump and switches over automatically. Choose one for:
- apartment buildings, care facilities and hotels;
- restaurants and businesses, especially downstream of a grease separator;
- pumping rainwater, where you cannot control the inflow;
- situations where a failure immediately leads to flooding or downtime.
Step 4: where will the station go?
| Placement | Advantages | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Freestanding in a basement or plant room | Easy to install and maintain | Visible and takes up space |
| Built into the floor | Invisible, the cover can be tiled | Watertight installation where there is groundwater (wall collar) |
| Underground outdoors | No loss of indoor space | Load-bearing, odour-tight cover; flotation risk in groundwater |
For a floor installation, the HOMA Saniquick UF100 is a compact solution: the pump sump disappears completely into the floor.
Components you must not forget
- Check valve: stops water in the discharge pipe from flowing back into the tank. Without one, the pump starts unnecessarily and wears quickly.
- Shut-off valve in the discharge pipe: not mandatory, but handy. It lets you replace the pump without the pipe draining.
- Venting: the tank must be able to release air as it fills. Indoors, use an air admittance valve with a carbon filter against odours.
- High-water alarm: an alarm system warns you before the tank overflows. An ordinary float switch does not.
Maintenance and typical faults
Have a lifting station in a home inspected every year, and more often in multi-occupancy buildings and businesses. Most faults are caused by wet wipes, sanitary towels and grease entering the tank via the toilet or sink. Even with a cutter, this leads to blockages and blunt blades. Check the check valve during maintenance: a worn rubber seal lets water flow back, so the pump switches more often.
Which station suits you?
GREY WATER
HOMA Saniquick 1A
Plug & play for a shower, washbasin or washing machine below sewer level.
View current price
TOILET WITH A NARROW PIPE
HOMA San.iQ cut / Sanifox
Compact WC macerator with a cutter, fitted directly behind the toilet.
View current price
COMPLETE TOILET + BATHROOM
HOMA Sanistar C102 / C106
Sewage lifting station for a complete basement or cellar room.
View current priceFor apartments, restaurants or businesses, see the dual-pump stations.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a lifting station and a pumping station?
They are the same thing: a tank with a pump that lifts wastewater up to the sewer. In Belgium the term “opvoerstation” is more common, while in the Netherlands people say “opvoerinstallatie” or “vuilwaterlift”.
Can toilet water be discharged with an ordinary submersible pump?
No. Toilet water contains solids and paper, so you need a sewage lifting station with a cutter or a large free passage. An ordinary submersible pump will clog.
When should I choose a dual-pump station?
For multiple households, restaurants, businesses, rainwater, or whenever a failure would immediately cause flooding. The second pump takes over automatically.
How do I prevent odours from a lifting station?
With an odour-tight tank and a vent to the outside, or an air admittance valve with an activated carbon filter.
Not sure which pump is right?
Send us a sketch or photo of the situation: what needs to be connected, and how high and how far away is the sewer? We will size the station for you free of charge.
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