Used primarily in wastewater situations, concrete wet wells are designed to hold sewage in place until it is lifted or pumped out. Properly constructed wet wells are watertight to prevent any seepage and groundwater contamination. In some cases, dry wells work with wet wells to disperse filtered water.
Submersible pumps, lift stations, and gravity flow structures can all be used with the wet wells. Location is usually the determining factor for the best system, as manhole accessibility, ground condition, and grade should be investigated. Overall wet well size is a consideration as well.
Wet wells can be constructed in several configurations, including single wells, multi-level wells, and dual or multi-compartment. No matter what your situation calls for, Columbia Precast Products will manufacture a superior water-treatment solution. We can handle any size or shape and custom applications are a specialty of ours!
Why Precast Concrete?
Some form of concrete has been used for hundreds of years, starting with ancient Romans and their (still-standing) aqueducts. As concrete production improved, its use became more widespread and applications grew. Now it is used in dams, sports stadiums, and skyscrapers around the world.
On a smaller scale, concrete is the go-to product for infrastructure projects. It’s strong, sustainable, and nearly maintenance-free, perfect for vaults, basins, and wells in both residential and industrial uses.
So is precast really that much better than poured-in-place concrete? Absolutely! What are the main concerns for almost any building project? Construction cost and the timeframe to completion. Precast concrete can help a project manager with both aspects.
Cost
There are more cost considerations than materials alone. Labor, security, and time costs all contribute to the bottom line. After the hole has been excavated, installation times vary widely between the two options.
With poured in place, forms need to be built, concrete poured, and time spent curing and strengthening. That means more labor costs, including site security while the hole is still an active work site. Other aspects of the project may need to be halted until the installation is complete. And if the weather isn’t cooperating (it is the Pacific Northwest after all), everything can be pushed back even further.
There are no such concerns with precast products. Made well before installation, precast pieces are ready to go when the excavation is done. Then it’s just a matter of putting it in place, making connections, and backfilling. Instead of waiting a week or more, the rest of the job in the area can move forward.
Strength Considerations
There’s no question concrete is the best material to use because of its strength properties. With Columbia Precast products, you’ll know you are getting the strongest pieces available. We know this because we run strength tests on every wet well before it leaves the facility.
You just can’t get that kind of guarantee with poured in place concrete. Strength testing can only happen after installation and even then it won’t reach full strength for some time after. If there were any imperfections during the pour, it may never reach full strength.
If you need a wet well as part of a housing development or commercial project, call Columbia Precast Products. We have more than 140 years of combined experience and our facility allows us to control the precasting process every step of the way. Contact us today – we look forward to hearing from you.
