We recently wrote about how sump pumps work and how to install them, which you can read here: What is a Sump Pump and How Do You Install One?
Below we share a real example where a Packaged Pump Station formed part of the wider flood risk solution.
Packaged Pump Stations are pre-formed sump chambers supplied complete with the pump and internal pipework ready to install.
A property close to a river in Cornwall had asked FPS Environmental, a specialist flood risk engineering consultancy, to carry out a Flood Risk Assessment for Planning to support a small extension which needed planning permission due to the site’s location in Flood Zone 3. The owners had unfortunately experienced internal flooding twice in recent winters, and were looking to use the extension to improve the flood resilience of their ho,e.
The river to the rear of the property can rise quickly during heavy rainfall, and even when flood barriers and repointing were in place, some water still found its way through the walls and up through parts of the floor.
The assessment concluded detailed, while the proposed extension could be built to a high flood‑resilient standard, the original building would still see some water ingress in severe conditions. We wrote about this in more detail in our article on why flood barriers still need water pumps.
Because of this, FPS Environmental recommended incorporating a Packaged Pump Station within the design of the extension.
The idea was simple: even if water did enter the older part of the house during extreme events, the new chamber would collect it and remove it automatically. The chamber could be connected to a cavity drain or drainage channel. This meant the extension could remain dry and the pump was also benefit the rest of the property by acting as an area to collect and disperse water from.
Unlike a portable Puddle Pump, a packaged pump station operates automatically and doesn’t rely on someone being present to switch it on. For households that want a passive, long‑term solution, or those looking to “build back better” after a flood, this approach can be a significant improvement.
As part of the planning work, FPS Environmental also considered floor levels, resistance measures, and the wider drainage strategy.
If you are preparing a Flood Risk Assessment for a planning application, you can find more information here: Flood Risk Assessments.
You can also explore our range of Packaged Pump Stations below.
What is a packaged pump station and when are they used? This article explains how pump systems can form part of a wider flood resilience strategy, using a real Flood Risk Assessment example from a property in Flood Zone 3.
What started as a routine pump enquiry became a bespoke engineering review. This real project shows the difference between buying a pump and designing a pumping system – and why that distinction protects performance, reliability and long-term cost.
A sump pump is an automatic water pump installed in a chamber at the lowest point of a property to collect and remove water when levels rise. Used for flood control, basements, garages and pumped drainage where gravity outfall is not possible, a correctly sized and installed system becomes a reliable, low-intervention water management solution.
