As wipes overwhelm wastewater networks, one solution keeps cutting through the load – cycle after cycle.
Across Australia and New Zealand, pump operators are facing a stubborn challenge that only seems to intensify: persistent clogging from wipes, sanitary products, and non-dispersible solids. These are no longer occasional outliers in municipal and industrial wastewater systems – they are everyday threats to performance, reliability, and budget. With traditional impellers struggling under the load, utilities and contractors are searching for pump technology to match modern waste streams head-on.
Chopper pumps are increasingly seen as a front-line solution, especially in facilities where blockage-related downtime poses both significant risk and costs. Among these, the Vaughan Chopper Pump, available exclusively through Pump Systems in Australia and New Zealand, has recently demonstrated its capabilities in one of the most rigorous solids-handling tests.
Putting performance to the test
Conducted in 2023 by the Department of Fluid Dynamics and Technical Acoustics at Technische Universität Berlin, a two-part study subjected wastewater pumps to simulated real-world conditions using a controlled blend of water and dry wipes. The test was designed to measure immediate and long-term performance under escalating contamination levels, using over 60 impellers across the study to generate comparative benchmarks.
The Vaughan model HE6W8CS-118 (300mm Impeller)was tested in both categories. It processed artificial wastewater across three contamination levels – low, medium and high – under a variety of flow conditions. The functional performance test measured retained waste after each contamination cycle, while the long-term performance test circulated solids-laden water through the system for 60 minutes per stage.
The Vaughan pump maintained high clearing rates and low residual blockage in both cases. Even under high contamination loads, the system cleared over 95 per cent of solids during short-term tests and over 85 per cent during long-term circulation, with efficiency scores exceeding the 0.70 benchmark for “very good” performance. At one stage, the pump processed 300 wipes without significant clogging, achieving a score of 0.98—among the highest results recorded in the test.
Why it matters to Australasian networks
The testing outcomes are not just impressive – they are highly applicable to regional conditions. Across water utilities, food processors, and industrial sites in Australia and New Zealand, pump failure due to blockages continues to drive unplanned maintenance, increase energy usage, and shorten equipment lifespans. Standard centrifugal pumps, particularly those not purpose-built for high-solids environments, are often unequipped to handle current waste profiles.
Pump Systems, the exclusive distributor of Vaughan Chopper Pumps in Australia and New Zealand, has seen a strong uptake in municipal and trade waste applications, where reliability and solids reduction are critical. The pump’s performance in Berlin’s independent trial reinforces its suitability for installations dealing with sludge, screenings, effluent, and other fluids with high solids content.
Chopper pump technology combines powerful impellers with hardened blades that macerate solids before they obstruct the flow path. This not only minimises clogging but also protects downstream infrastructure from damage. In systems where unflushables are a daily reality, this approach ensures continuity of service without relying on costly pre-screening.
Looking ahead
As regulatory pressure increases and inflow quality declines, wastewater professionals across Australia and New Zealand reevaluate their solids-handling strategies. With the Vaughan Chopper Pump not only proven through decades of service but also now under international testing standards and available locally through Pump Systems, operators have a tool purpose-built for the problem at hand and the resilience to meet tomorrow’s demands.
