LandCode
Paulding CountyUnified Development Ordinance

Title 3 — Development Regulations, Chapter 490 — Pump Stations.

current as of 2026-04-14verified current · checked 2026-08-24Officialofficial source9 sections · full chapter
§ 490-10

General

490-10.01 This section provides the minimum guidelines for the design and construction of

pump stations. The method of design and/or construction shall be in accordance with these Design and Construction Standards and Specifications and the following:

A.American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Green Book, latest edition
B.American Concrete Institute (ACI) Standards, latest edition
C.American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM), latest edition
D.American National Standards Institute (ANSI), latest edition
E.American Water Works Association (AWWA), latest edition
F.Georgia Environmental Protection Division State of Georgia Regulations for Water and Sewerage Works, latest edition
G.Georgia Manual for Erosion and Sediment Control, latest edition
H.Georgia Stormwater Management Manual Volumes 1 & 2, latest editions
I.Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, latest edition
J.Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
K.Recommended Standards for Sewage Works (Ten State Standards) latest edition
L.Applicable Federal, State and Local Requirements
490-10.02 In the event of conflicts among the various sources cited above, the most stringent

criteria shall take precedence.

§ 490-20

Approval for Pump Station

490-20.01 Approval of Pump Station Usage.
A.Approval for the installation of a new pump station will only be considered by the Paulding County Water System Director through consultation with Paulding County Community Development. Generally, pump stations will only be permitted when gravity sewer is unavailable to the property. Unavailable shall generally be interpreted to mean more than 5,000 feet down gradient, but this distance can be increased or decreased by Water System Director based upon actual field conditions and the size of the project involved.
B.Approval of the installation of a new pump station may be considered if the layout and placement are in accordance with the current Paulding County Master Plan as approved by the Paulding County Board of Commissioners.
C.Generally, a pump station will not be allowed to be installed downstream from an existing pump station. The Water System Director or designee may, at their discretion, require a gravity line be installed to carry flow from the existing pump station to the proposed pump station thus eliminating the existing pump station.

Paulding County Water System Director or designee may, at their discretion, and in conjunction with the Paulding County Operations Manager allow the developer to move some or all of the existing equipment and reuse it. If the reuse of equipment is allowed, the developer must coordinate with the Paulding County Pump Station Maintenance Team Leader and assume complete responsibility for handling of all flows during the transition period.

D.Approval for the installation of a new pump station for industrial or commercial use may be considered by the Paulding County Water System Director through consultation with the C-DART Committee for the proposed development.
E.Approval of the installation of a new pump station may be considered if the layout and placement are in conjunction with a Development Agreement benefitting the Water System is approved by the Board of Commissioners.
§ 490-30

General Requirements

490-30.01 The installer of the pump station and force main must be included on the current

Paulding County Water System Approved Utility Contractors List. The list is available on the County Website or by contacting the Paulding County Engineering Division Manager.

490-30.02 A “Land Disturbance Permit” must be obtained from Paulding County Community

Development Department and a pre-construction conference must be held with the Paulding County Water System Engineering & Construction Inspector, Developer/Owner, Design Engineer, and Contractor before any work may begin.

§ 490-40

Approval

490-40.01 The formal review and approval process for a pump station shall be concluded

prior to any zoning or submission of plans. At a minimum, the developer shall comply with the following requirements.

490-40.02 Pump stations, force mains, and all related appurtenances must be designed and

installed in a professional manner and in accordance with all Paulding County design standards, applicable building codes, construction standards, federal, state, and county regulations, etc.

490-40.03 The developer’s engineer (Professional Engineer registered in the State of

Georgia) shall design the system. The engineer shall have expertise in pump station and force main design and operation.

490-40.04 The designer shall consult with the Paulding County Engineering Division

Manager, or designee, during the design of the system.

490-40.05 Excess pump station capacity due to the difference in capacity between the

developer’s projected flows and the standard equipment sizes shall not be considered as belonging to the developer. Any such “extra” capacity beyond that reserved for the original developer becomes available for the Paulding County Water System to utilize at its discretion.

§ 490-50

Location

490-50.01 The designer shall locate the pump station to drain the largest possible sub-

basin(s) associated with the proposed development. The Paulding County Engineering Division Manager or designee shall have final approval of the location of the pump station. The parcel required for the pump station shall be deeded to the County prior to placing the pump station into service.

490-50.02 Force mains shall be located on easements deeded to the County prior to placing

the line in service. The use of roadway right of way for force main installation is considered an exception subject to approval by the Director of PDOT after review by the Utility Coordinator. PDOT or the Water System may require provisions for funding future relocation if the force main is located through intersections or along corridors anticipated to be improved under the County Comprehensive Transportation Plan or Statewide Transportation Plan.

§ 490-60

Betterment

490-60.01 The Paulding County Water System Director, or designee, will investigate the

service impact associated with future Paulding County needs within the sub-basin, and the potential installation of additional force mains required to serve the sub-basin which drains to the pump station. If in the Engineering Division Manager’s or designee’s opinion, a larger pump station or additional or larger force main is to be installed concurrently with the developer’s project, the designer shall design and the Paulding County Engineering Division Manager or designee shall review and approve the design of said betterment. Where practical, all of the force mains shall be installed in parallel and in the same trench.

490-60.02 The extra cost associated with increasing the size of the pump station or force

main may be paid by the County under a “Development Agreement”. The conditions relating to the method of payment will be negotiated by Paulding County Water System on a case-by-case basis during the development review process.

§ 490-70

Acceptance

490.70.01 The developer shall furnish, install, dedicate, and provide a one-year warranty,

from the date of acceptance, for the entire pump station / force main system to Paulding County Water System.

§ 490-80

Fees

490-80.01 A System Development Charge (SDC) and Operation and Maintenance (O&M)

Charge may apply to pump station installations. In addition, a force main relocation expense may be determined when force mains are potentially impacted by future roadway construction. This will be determined by the Paulding County Water System Director, or designee, and paid prior to approval to construct a pump station and force main.

490-80.02 Fees associated with the planning, design, installation, and operation of a new

development pump station and force main will be assessed based as the following sections.

A.If, for the purposes of development, a sewage pumping station must be installed, the developer shall pay sewage pumping station phase-out charges as set by resolution of the BOC. Such charges may recover some or all of the costs imposed on long-range capital improvements plan caused by the public acceptance of the sewage pumping station. Such payments shall be made as a prior condition of sewer plan approval.
B.If, for the purposes of development, a sewage pumping station must be installed, the developer may be required to pay a cost as set by resolution of the BOC to defray the future operation and maintenance or replacement cost of that sewage pumping station. This cost may recover some or all of the projected future costs to operate, maintain, and replace the sewage pumping station over a 20-year planning period. Such payment shall be made as a prior condition of sewer plan approval.
C.For development-installed sewage pumping stations, the sewage pumping phase-out charge shall be based on the following calculation:

D x C (1 + cci)20 (P/F)

D = Distance from the pumping station to the nearest down gradient interceptor sewer.

If no down gradient sewer exists at the time of plan approval, the distance used shall be to that of the centerline of the stream along which a future interceptor will be built.

The maximum distance shall be limited to 5,000 feet.

C = The cost per linear foot of constructing new 8-inch gravity sewer to the nearest down gradient interceptor sewer as estimated by the Water System using recent competitive bids on other projects.

cci = Average Construction Cost Index factor of the previous five years.

P/F = The factor to calculate the present worth of future expenses in twenty years at an interest rate equal to the effective rate of the most recent water and sewer revenue bond issue.

D.For development-installed sewage pumping stations, the charge for future operation and maintenance costs of sewage pumping station are shown in Table 490.1. So that existing water and sewer customers are not burdened by the cost of future operation and maintenance of developer-installed sewage pumping stations, developers shall pay for such future operation and maintenance of sewage pumping stations contributed to the Paulding County Water System.

Title 3: Chapter 490

Table 490.1
Pump Station Category (hp)Charge
0-99$220,000
100-249$249,000
250-350$415,000

charges. These charges are waived if there is no net increase in the number of pumping stations in the drainage basin as a result of the development. The Director of the Water System is authorized to waive one or both fees in instances as documented in writing where substantive benefit to the County is deemed to be derived by the installation of the pumping station in the following circumstances:

A.Where the pumping station serves all or part of an area determined by the Board of Commissioners to be an enterprise or revitalization zone.
Table 490.1. So that existing water and sewer customers are not burdened by
Pump Station Category (hp)Charge
0-99$220,000
100-249$249,000
250-350$415,000
Reading grid · rebuilt for display · verify at source (p. 536)
§ 490-90

Design Criteria

490-90.01 Design.

Pump station design shall be done by a registered professional engineer licensed in the State of Georgia. The depth of the wet well shall determine whether a submersible or mounted pump is used. Wet wells for mounted pumps shall not exceed 15 feet in depth, subject to the design conditions and approval of the PCWS.

490-90.02 General.

The following minimum requirements shall apply to wastewater pump stations:

A.Pump stations having less than 500 GPM capacity (per pump) shall utilize two pumps each having a capacity equal to the design flow.
B.Pump stations having a capacity of 500 GPM or more shall be reviewed on an individual basis and may have requirements differing from those outlined herein.
C.Grinder type centrifugal pumps will be used for pumps having a capacity of less than 100 GPM. Force mains shall be sized to provide a velocity of at least two feet per second.
D.The design shall allow for easy removal of any pump or equipment item without the need for shut-down of the entire pump station. A lift assembly shall be provided for pump or equipment removal.
E.The design engineer should consult the department after preliminary design data has been developed for information on approved pump manufacturers.

PCWS reserves the right to review each application on an individual basis and to reject the use of nonapproved manufacturers.

490-90.03 Submittals.

Submittal of construction plans shall include the following pump station information:

A.Capacity calculations. Use one GPM capacity per house on residential developments of less than 200 units, except that the minimum pump capacity shall be 30 GPM.
B.System head calculations, tabulated and plotted on the pump curve. Include a plot of force main velocity.
C.Construction drawings, details and specifications in sufficient detail to ascertain compliance with these regulations.
D.Cycle time. Calculations showing determination of wet well volume and cycle time at design conditions. Wet well volume should be sufficient to provide a cycle time of no less than five minutes from a pump "on" to next pump "on"

time.

E.Storage volume. Calculations showing volume of storage available in the event of a power outage. The storage zone shall be delineated on plan and profile drawings of the sanitary sewer system (see the subsection below on "standby power").
F.Buoyancy computations showing that structures are protected against flotation.
G.Manufacturer's catalog sheets, performance curves, installation drawings, specifications and list of options for the specific pump that is offered for approval. System head calculations, tabulated and plotted on the pump curve.

Include a plot of force main velocity.

H.Similar catalog data for controls, valves, hatches, yard hydrants, precast wet well and other manufactured items.
490-90.04 Post Installation.
A.After installation and before placing the system into full operation, the work must be inspected by the developer's engineer, who must then issue a certification to PCWS verifying that all work has been completed in accordance with approved plans. This certification shall include all construction of the pump station and force main. After acceptance of the work by the engineer, a factory representative shall inspect and start up the system certifying rotation, capacity, amperage draw, lack of vibration and other standard check points.

This certification shall state the beginning date of the warranty and include a copy of the warranty.

B.After installation and before placing the system into full operation, the work must be inspected by the developer's engineer, who must then issue a certification to the PCWS verifying that all work has been completed in accordance with approved plans. This certification shall include all construction of the pump station and force main. After acceptance of the work by the engineer, a factory representative shall inspect and start up the system certifying rotation, capacity, amperage draw, lack of vibration and other standard check points. This certification shall state the beginning date of the warranty and include a copy of the warranty.
C.After construction is complete, as-built drawings shall be furnished including one set of mylar sepias plus four sets of prints.
490-90.05 Spare Parts.

Pump stations shall be supplied with a spare complete pump, an extra impeller, set of bearings and a complete set of manufacturer's recommended spare parts.

490-90.06 Standby Power.
A.The minimum requirement for standby power for pump stations shall be that each station that does not have a permanent in-place generator shall have installed a manual transfer switch and receptacle for quick connection of a portable generator.
B.The need for providing a permanent in-place generator will be determined on the basis of storage time in the sanitary sewers leading to the pump station. If the storage time is less than 12 hours then a permanent generator must be installed. If storage time equals 12 hours or more only a transfer switch and provisions for connecting to a portable generator will be required. The following rules shall apply:
1.Storage volume available shall be taken as the volume between the low water level in the wet well and the elevation at which overflow would first occur (this might be the top of the wet well or that upstream manhole having the lowest top elevation). Volume of the wet well, manholes and sanitary sewer mains will be counted.
2.The rate of sewage inflow for these computations shall be taken as 150 gallons per day per residential unit. Systems serving other than residential customers will be considered individually.
3.Height of manholes shall not be extended above normal for the purpose of meeting this rule. The design shall ensure overflow before backing sewage into a dwelling or other building.
C.When required, emergency power will be supplied by an on-site emergency generator. The generator shall be diesel powered with an automatic transfer switch and provisions for an automatic exercise cycle. Specifications for the generator shall be submitted to the PCWS for approval.
490-90.07 Site Requirements.
A.Pump stations shall remain fully operational and accessible during the 25-year flood. All electrical controls shall be above the 100-year flood level. All motors and mechanical equipment shall be protected against physical damage from the 100-year flood.
B.Access roads shall be paved with a 12-foot wide surface of either concrete (six-inches thick with wire mesh) or asphalt (six-inches graded aggregate base plus two inches Type E asphalt). Maximum grade shall be 20 percent. Where access road lengths exceed 350 feet, six inches graded aggregate base may be used in lieu of a paved driveway. In cases where gravel driveways are utilized, the maximum grade shall be ten percent.
C.Both the pump station and the access road right-of-way shall have fee simple ownership dedicated to the county, and this shall be indicated on the subdivision plat. The dedicated space for the pump station shall include sufficient space for parking two trucks, plus turn-around, plus slope maintenance. The dedicated width on road right-of-way shall be 40 feet minimum.
D.Pump station sites shall be fenced with a minimum of six-foot high chain link fencing topped with three strands of barbed wire. Access gates shall be a minimum of 15 feet in width. The space inside the fencing shall be large enough to facilitate service vehicle access to the pumping station whenever the access road length exceeds 200 feet or when the road grade exceeds ten percent.
E.A metered water supply line (one-inch minimum size) shall be installed to the site, with the meter placed on the outside of the fencing. Inside the fence, in an insulated, vented, above ground enclosure, a pressure reducing valve shall be placed in the water main, followed by a reduced pressure zone back flow preventer with by-pass. Beyond the enclosure, a freeze-proof yard hydrant (Murdock BFHM-100 or approved equal) shall be installed near the wet well.

The hydrant shall be equipped with a suitable backflow preventer (Watts No.

NF8 or approved equal).

F.One pole-mounted, photo cell controlled, 150-watt security light shall be installed. It shall be equipped with a manual on/off switch (located in the main control panel) to override the photo cell control.
G.Where natural screening is not present to screen the site from view of residences, special plantings shall be installed to screen the site.
H.All unpaved ground areas inside the fence and extending four feet beyond the fence shall be treated with an herbicide and covered with a geotextile fabric, followed with a four-inch layer of no. 57 stone. The geotextile fabric shall be a nonwoven polypropylene weighing eight ounces per square yard with a minimum burst strength of 250 PSI such as Amoco Type 4553 or equal.
490-90.08 Design Features.
A.The wet well volume shall be sized to limit pump cycles to no more than six cycles per hour under worst conditions.
B.For wet wells, the minimum requirement shall be two-gravity vent pipes designed for natural ventilation. Vents shall be elevated to a minimum of two feet above the 100-year floodplain. Where conditions are conducive to formation of hazardous conditions (in the design engineer's opinion), then mechanical ventilation shall be provided. For dry wells, mechanical ventilation shall be required.
C.Submersible pump stations shall have a wet well structure and a separate valve pit. Both structures shall be precast concrete with a monolithic base. The valve pit shall be a minimum of four-foot by four-foot by five-foot deep with an aluminum ladder, and provided with a floor drain pipe, and a three foot by three-foot lockable aluminum access hatch. Wet wells may be either round or rectangular and shall have a diameter or width of at least five feet. Wet wells shall be sized to meet cycle time requirements with a drawdown (i.e., the distance between high water level and low water level) of not more than three feet. The wet well shall have a lockable aluminum hatch large enough for easy removal of pumps. Riser sections in precast units shall be sealed watertight using butyl rubber sealant or another approved sealant. Mastic shall not be used. Structures shall be adequately reinforced for all loading conditions normally encountered during shipping, construction and service. All openings (for pipes, hatch, conduits) shall be either cast in place or cored. Sanitary sewer pipe connections shall utilize rubber boot connectors, and be watertight. The wet well shall be equipped with an aluminum ladder.
D.All materials in the wet well and valve pit shall be corrosion resistant.

Mechanical equipment requiring ferrous metals shall have a coal tar epoxy coating. Guide rails for pumps shall be stainless steel. Miscellaneous metals including fasteners shall be aluminum or stainless steel; anchor bolts shall be stainless steel.

E.A pressure gauge shall be installed on the force main downstream of the gate valves, inside the valve pit and visible from ground level. A corporation stop shall be installed on the tap to allow removal of the gauge.
F.The discharge pipe of each pump shall have a slow-closing check valve followed by a gate valve before the two pipes join into a common force main.
G.Surge control valves. The pumping system shall be checked to determine if a surge control valve is required. If a valve is required, it shall be located within the valve pit on the common force main and a drain line installed to drain the wet well.
H.Pumps shall have the following features:
1.Non-clog, Vortex, or suitable substitution impeller made from cast iron unless extreme conditions require stainless steel.
2.Be capable of passing a three-inch sphere (except grinder and vortex pumps).
3.Be capable of dry operation without overheating.
4.Have mechanical seals with seal leak/overload sensor read by the controller.
5.Pump and motor casings shall be cast iron, and all fasteners shall be stainless steel.
6.Motor shall be selected to be non-overloading under all operating conditions.
7.Motor winding shall have a heat sensor with auto reset to prevent overheating; three-phase motors shall have two sensors.
8.Operating speed of the pump shall not exceed 3,600 rpm without special Title 3: Chapter 490 approval.
9.Pumps shall have a 5-year warranty.
10.The pump shall be automatically connected to the discharge connection elbow when lowered into place, and shall be easily removed for inspection or service. There shall be no need for personnel to enter pump well. Sealing of the pumping unit to the discharge connection elbow shall be accomplished by a simple linear downward motion of the pump. Each pump shall be equipped with a stainless-steel chain for easy removal.
11.Pumps shall be manufactured by Paulding County approved products listed in Appendix 4.0 or approved equal.
12.Motors shall be capable of ten starts per hour.
490-90.09. Force Main.
A.The force main shall be sized for a minimum velocity of two feet per second with one pump operating.
B.Force mains of four-inch diameter or larger shall be Class 350 or equivalent Pressure Class ductile iron pipe or L905, DR-14 PVC Pipe or approved equal.

Smaller force mains may be used only with grinder pumps and shall be PVC Pipe, SDR-21 with gasket joints. Buried PVC Pipe shall be marked continuously with metallized locator wire.

C.The force main profile shall slope continuously upward where practical. If high points occur where air could be trapped in the pipe, then a combination air release and vacuum relief valve (of the type made for sewage applications) will be installed at the high points.
D.The minimum depth of cover over force mains shall be four feet.
490-90.10 Electrical.
A.Pump station controls and electrical components shall be factory-wired in completely weather-proof stainless steel metal cabinets (NEMA 4X stainless steel). The cabinet shall be provided with condensate heaters, ventilation fans, air conditioning where required for VFD. Spare fuses of each type that is used in the electrical/control system shall be furnished. Panels shall be manufactured by Goforth Williamson Inc.
B.A main circuit breaker shall be installed to disconnect power to the entire station.
C.Three phase power will be provided for all motors exceeding five HP. Phase converters will not be allowed.
D.Protection against voltage surge and loss of a phase for control power and three phase service shall be provided.
E.The factory-wired panel shall be equipped with a ground bus and neutral bus.

Terminal shall be suitable for either aluminum or copper wire. All internal panel wiring shall be copper.

F.Motors shall be suitable for either 230 volt or 460 volt operations. Design engineer shall consult with the appropriate local electric utility provider to verify specifics pertaining to electrical power availability.
G.Wet well level shall be controlled by four sealed mercury tube float switches.

All floats shall be provided with 25 feet of Type SJO flexible cord and shall be attached to a bracket mounted at the top of the wet well. Float functions shall be as follows:

1.Float no. 1—Low level (pumps off)
2.Float no. 2—High level (lead pump on)
3.Float no. 3—Extra high level (lag pump on)
4.Float no. 4—Surcharge level (alarm activated)
H.The pump control system shall include the following features:
1.Lead pump/lag pump alternator.
2.From 20 HP to 49 HP shall have soft starts with a six-year drive protection warranty
3.From 50 HP and above shall have VFDs with a six-year drive protection warranty.
4.Pump failure indicating light.
5.Condensate heater.
6.Lead pump selector switch.
7.H-O-A switch and run light for each pump.
8.Control voltage shall be 120V.
9.Wiring shall be neatly tied and number coded to facilitate maintenance. A schematic diagram shall be furnished with the panel.
10.A 120V GFCI type electrical receptacle shall be located at the control panel.
11.Pump stations will be equipped with a cellular based telemetering circuitry connecting to the PCWS's SCADA system (Grundfos Utility Connect). the specific requirements are:
(a)Grundfos IO 351B Controller
(b)Grundfos CU 362 Controller Interface
(c)MP 204 Electronic Motor Protection Unit
(d)Vega C21 Radar Title 3: Chapter 490 TRANSPORTATION STANDARDS.