Water and Wastewater Terms Beginning A

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

air lift pump

A special type of pump consisting of a vertical riser pipe submerged in the wastewater or sludge to be pumped. Compressed air is injected into a tail piece at the bottom of the pipe. Fine air bubbles mix with the wastewater or sludge to form a mixture lighter than the surrounding water, which causes the mixture to rise in the discharge pipe to the outlet.