A major NHS hospital in the Midlands has significantly reduced maintenance costs and eliminated wastewater blockages following the installation of an intelligent pumping system.
The new system was developed by engineering specialist Dura Pump.
The system, named Velocity Sentinam, was designed to tackle persistent issues related to fats, oils, grease (FOG), and high solid content wastewater blockages, common problems in complex infrastructure environments such as hospitals, prisons, and large public facilities.
Prior to deployment, the hospital experienced frequent blockages and fat accumulation that necessitated regular tanker interventions.
The system, named Velocity Sentinam, was designed to tackle persistent issues related to fats, oils, grease (FOG), and high solid content wastewater blockages
Since commissioning Velocity Sentinam 12 months ago, the site has reported zero blockages, ensuring uninterrupted service and enhancing operational resilience in a clinically sensitive setting.
Over the past year, the technology has reportedly saved customers more than £2m.
Velocity Sentinam combines heavy-duty cutting pumps with adaptive control technology (SenIQ) and remote monitoring capabilities (SenSync), enabling real-time detection and response to changing wastewater conditions.
Since commissioning Velocity Sentinam 12 months ago, the site has reported zero blockages
The system also features automatic de-ragging, surface skimming, and full Building Management System (BMS) integration, minimising the need for manual intervention while providing facilities managers with detailed performance insights.
John Calder, Technical Director at Dura Pump, said: “Velocity Sentinam was born out of what we were seeing on the ground - site after site struggling with the same problems and site managers frustrated by persistent blockages, repeated engineering callouts and reactive maintenance cycles.
“We spent a long time talking to facilities teams, especially in healthcare and correctional facilities, where even a short period of downtime just isn’t an option. Elements of the solution were introduced at various customers' sites before we then brought this all together to introduce the new system to our NHS hospital customer. We knew we had to develop something that doesn’t just fix the problems, it prevents them from happening in the first place.
“What we’ve created is more than just a robust pump setup. It’s a system that thinks for itself, the need for tank cleaning is reduced significantly, and gives estate teams the insight and control they’ve never really had before.
“The early results speak for themselves. At the NHS hospital where we deployed it, there haven’t been any blockages since installation, 12 months ago - and that’s a tough environment with high loads and strict compliance demands.
“We’re now introducing the full solution out to other prisons, hospitals and educational sites, where the ability to handle things like wet wipes, towels, bedding and other foreign objects makes a real difference. The feedback from those managing multiple or remote sites has been especially positive, with the live data and performance tracking being a game changer for the industry.”
Top image: Dura Pump cutter blade