Have a basement that you want to turn into more than a hold-all stockroom, but don’t know how you can put in a bathroom or sink? Easy! You just need to install a sewage ejector pump. For people with basements, the idea of turning the basement into a full-pledged bedroom or a full-time laundry area seems out of the question. Where do you let the water and waste pass when the drains, sewer and septic lines are on ground level?

That’s what a submersible sewage ejection system is for. It is used to bring water and solid waste up to the sewage or septic line where the source of waste and water is below it, as in a basement. Normally, water flows to the lines through the action of gravity, but this does not work with basements, so you need to pump the waste and water up to the sewer line using sewage ejector pumps, also referred to as sewage pumps, or solid waste pumps.

Why sewage ejector pump is preferred?

Sewage Ejector Pump

Ejector pumps are powerful enough to pump solids from a sump (or a pit or cistern to collect waste) or a tank up to the sewer. Normally, there is a tank or sump buried in the ground, which is made up of non-corrosive material to hold the waste and a watertight lid, which is usually on the same level as the basement floor.

The waste is received on a side inlet and there is usually a waste level sensor that activates the pump once the waste and liquids reach a certain level. The ejector pump and the motor is usually inside the tank itself and is run by electricity. There is a discharge pipe that connects to the public sewer line and usually there is a check valve that prevents the backup of waste coming from the main sewer line.

Although you would need a professional to do it, some pumps are easier to install and maintain than others. One such sewage pump is the Zoeller Qwik Jon system. It has a tank made of polyethylene pedestal that can be placed either on top of the floor space or recessed to the level of floor space.

Zoeller Qwik Jon system

That means very little digging if at all will be made n your basement. The toilet seat can be mounted on top of the pedestal and it can handle additional lavatory sink, bathtub or even laundry sink and washing machine’s dirty water.

The pump is located inside the tank and it also has a check valve. It is one of the simplest yet functional installation you can find in the market today. With a sewage ejector pump installed in your basement, nothing is stopping you from turning your old stuffy basement into a new bedroom, guestroom or family room with its own toilet and lavatory sink. Or you can make it your “housewife” heaven — a big space for those washing machines and dryers, complete with space to hang the clothes when the weather is bad, and to iron those business shirts.