wastewater
Reliable Wastewater Handling in the Alps at 1,844 Meters Above Sea Level
Modified progressing cavity pumps sustainably transport wastewater into the valley
How do you manage wastewater in a mountain hut in the Alps at an altitude of 1,844 meters? This was precisely the question facing the German Alpine Club (Deutscher Alpenverein, DAV) when renovating the Kemptner Hut near Oberstdorf, so they contacted NETZSCH Pumps & Systems, your partner when it comes to handling complex product.
In close cooperation with the hut's operators, the experts at NETZSCH developed a solution optimally tailored to the requirements for reliable wastewater pumping. We will show you how to make wastewater handling sustainable in rough terrain.
Individual Consulting
Modern pumping solution for wastewater handling in the mountains
The Kemptner Hut, located on the grassy slopes of the Allgäu Alps near Oberstdorf, is one of the largest and most important of the German Alpine Club's refuges. Surrounded by rocky mountains over 2,400 meters high, it is located between the Oberstdorf and Memminger Hütte stations of the European long-distance hiking trail E5, as well as at the access point to the Heilbronner Weg between Oberstdorf and the Rappenseehütte. This makes it an ideal base for multi-day and long-distance hiking tours. The increased demand for overnight accommodation in recent years has pushed the hut, built in 1891, to its limits. Renovation was urgently needed. In addition to further kitchen and storage capacities for food and drinks, living and social rooms for the staff, larger washrooms, and an update on the fire protection measures, the entire wastewater handling system must be rethought and adapted to current environmental protection requirements.
Reliable pumping of wastewater: Customized solution for mountain hut
“There was no practical wastewater solution. The soak pit that had previously been in place near the hut would have been unable to cope in the future”, describes Olaf Textor, Head of Global Business Field Customer Service at NETZSCH. In addition to the difficult-to-access location of the mountain hut, the operators faced another challenge when selecting the appropriate pump solution for pumping the wastewater. Since the accommodation had no previous experience using pumps for sewage, it was difficult to estimate how much the composition and quantity of the sewage would strain the units. “Unfortunately, it happens only all too frequently that guests dispose of items through the toilets that do not belong there and can cause blockages”, says Textor. When showering, hair entering the wastewater can also increase the solid content and cause blockages. In addition, the soak pit used so far is also problematic regarding environmental protection and is no longer permitted. Therefore, the experts at NETZSCH and the DAV decided to find the optimal solution for pumping the wastewater during operation. “Planning and comprehensive service are crucial for a project of this magnitude”, explains Textor. “We are using our more than 70 years of experience in customized pump systems to implement a sustainable solution even in challenging surroundings. It was a matter of course for us to provide support and advice from the first day.”
Modified wastewater pump ensures smooth hut operations
In preparation for the renovation, construction equipment and materials had to be transported to the top by helicopter. At the same time, the parts of the building that were to be demolished in the first phase were cleared out. NETZSCH also assessed the conditions on-site to work with the operators to develop a customized pump solution. They decided on two NEMO® progressing cavity pumps with a pumping capacity of approximately 5.40 m³/h, which would pump the wastewater produced at a pressure of up to 15.90 bar through a two-kilometer-long pipe into the valley. Both wastewater pumps were flown to the hut and installed. After the operators had gotten a feel for the performance and actual load, another technician went to the hut to modify the two units based on the information provided by the operators. "Clogging is still a problem that can occur in a setting like this. We, therefore, installed a new pump housing with larger flanges during this service call", explains the Head of Global Business Field Customer Service. This way, on-site personnel can efficiently operate, service, and unclog the units. In addition to this, the previously used drive was replaced with an electric motor with a brake that the back-flow cannot activate.
Careful planning enabled us to set up and optimize a wastewater pump solution. The NEMO® progressing cavity pumps run reliably and are easy to operate, maintain, and clean by the operators' staff. True to our Proven Excellence performance promise – outstanding performance in all areas.
NEMO® BY progressing cavity pump in industrial design
- Medium: Wastewater
- Flow rate: 5.40 m³/h
- Pressure: 15.90 bar
