Pumping Stations
Our sewers slope downwards so sewage slowly flows along by gravity. The sewage must be pumped back up to the surface eventually for treatment.
Pumping Stations bring the sewage up to ground level for treatment or to allow it to continue flowing down through the sewerage system by gravity.
The three major pumping stations are at Kew, Brooklyn and Hoppers Crossing.
Kew Pumping Station
Kew Pumping Station moves sewage from Melbourne's north eastern suburbs into the south-east trunk sewer for transfer to the Eastern Treatment Plant.
The pumping station was upgraded in the early 1990s to increase its capacity so that it would be better equipped to handle high flows caused by heavy storms [link to stormwater / high flows content]. In severe wet weather these pumps are capable of pumping a total of more than 8500 litres a second.
Brooklyn Pumping Station
Brooklyn Pumping Station was built in 1964 to service Melbourne’s rapidly growing population. It replaced the Spotswood Pumping Station, which had been operating since the 1890s.
Sewage arrives at Brooklyn more than 50 metres below ground level. It is then lifted 25 metres by pumps, transferred to the western trunk sewer, then flows by gravity to the Hoppers Crossing Pumping Station.
Brooklyn Pumping Station is fitted with eight pumps. Each pump is capable of moving more than 2500 litres of sewage per second. In wet weather up to seven of these pumps can operate together.
Hoppers Crossing Pumping Station
Hoppers Crossing Pumping Station is one of the largest sewage pumping stations in Australia, reaching 22 floors deep.
Hoppers Crossing Pumping Station was commissioned in 1992 to pump sewage from the western trunk sewer and transfer it to the Western Treatment Plant for treatment.
The plant is fitted with eight pumps. Each pump is 4.5 metres high, 4 metres across, weighs 45 tonnes and is capable of moving more than 5000 litres of sewage a second.