Pump Products Installs New Sewage Pumps to Relieve Lady Liberty

One of the country’s proudest landmarks received a critical upgrade thanks to New Jersey-based businesses Pump Express and Public Sewer Service. Pump Express and Public Sewer Service, affiliate businesses of Pump Products, refurbished the entire sewage system for Liberty Island, longtime home of the Statue of Liberty.

The renewal project was part of the continued efforts to restore the proud historical site after the extensive damage caused by Hurricane Sandy. When the storm touched down in October 2012, many coastal communities in the Northeast suffered heavy losses and Liberty Island was no exception.

The statue of liberty
The Statue of Liberty

Sandy devastated the supporting infrastructure that kept the island functional as a tourist attraction. The Statue itself remained relatively unscathed thanks to a design that allows the structure to sway with the wind. Although Liberty Island reopened as a tourist attraction in 2013, the scars of the damage remain and recovery has been a steady process.

According to the National Park Service website, the storm rendered the docks and pathways unusable. “Electric, water, sewer, HVAC systems, phone systems, security systems, and radio equipment,” were completely destroyed. At the peak of the flooding, water covered over 75% of Liberty Island.

“The [existing] sewage system needed replacing because of how bad the damage was,” says Pump Products general manager Ed Drejman. “Obviously, when extreme flooding occurs it overwhelms the capacity of the pumps. The entire complex had backed up sewage water.”

Although Liberty Island reopened as a tourist attraction in 2013, the recovery effort continues. Pump Express and Public Sewer Service played a critical role. Pump Express is experienced with restoring the plumbing systems of important landmarks: in 2014, the company installed BJM shredder pumps at Ellis Island.

The joint project began on May 23 and finished in early July. Barges transported men, equipment and trucks from both companies through New York Harbor to Liberty Island.

The team began the project by excavating the existing sewage pits. Public Sewer Service ejected and cleaned the backed up sewage water. Pump Express installed new Myers submersible grinder pumps. Previously, the sewage system at Liberty Island used ejector pumps that do not break down solids.

Grinder pumps use cutter blades to macerate waste solids such as organic waste and tissue paper into a fine slurry. Myers grinder pumps are ideal for applications with long discharge runs or high static heads.

A Visual Guide to the Process

Public Sewer Service and Pump Express trucks being transported to Liberty Island.
Public Sewer Service and Pump Express trucks being transported to Liberty Island.

Trucks, equipment and men traveled to Liberty Island by barge. The Statue of Liberty has stood at the site, situated in Upper New York Bay, since 1886. The island was named Bedloe’s Island until an act of Congress renamed it to Liberty Island in 1956. Long a national tourist destination of interest, the island took a hit when Hurricane Sandy touched down in 2012, although the statue stayed standing strong.

A Pump Express truck with the Statue of Liberty in the background.
A Pump Express truck with the Statue of Liberty in the background.

Pump Express, a sister business of Pump Products, handles service projects regarding the installation, repair and maintenance of pumping systems. Pump Express is based in Wallington, New Jersey.

Liberty Island's sewage system needed a complete renovation.
Liberty Island’s sewage system needed a complete renovation.

Hurricane Sandy’s severe winds and rain damaged the entire infrastructure of Liberty Island and the sewage system was not spared. The NPS estimates that at one point over 75% of the island was covered with water. Pumping systems are designed to operate within certain thresholds and excessive flooding causes backup.

A Pump Express technician sizing an elbow.
A Pump Express technician sizing an elbow.
A Pump Express technician tightening a bolt on a new pipe.
A Pump Express technician tightening a bolt on a new pipe.

Factory trained technicians sizing and adjusting the pipe fittings. Pump Express experts are well-versed in installing pumps to fit within existing systems or replacing systems entirely.

Technicians using a winch to lift old pumps out of the sewage system
Technicians using a winch to lift old pumps out of the sewage system.
Sewage ejector pumps were replaced by Myers grinder pumps.
Sewage ejector pumps were replaced by Myers grinder pumps.

Technicians using a winch to remove old, degraded pumps. Grinder pumps from Myers were installed by Pump Express.

“We’re very proud to help restore a landmark that is important to the whole country and this area particularly,” Drejman says.

A Public Sewer Service truck and the Statue of Liberty
A Public Sewer Service truck and the Statue of Liberty.