LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
The jiggle of a toilet handle or squeak of a closed, sink faucet are often overlooked in day-to-day affairs.
That is, until plungers and snakes are involved. Then all of those forgettable moments come back with a vengeance.
Luckily, at Langley Air Force Base, Va., there are trained professionals keeping stress levels from hitting the fan in the office. Bill Goode, 633rd Civil Engineer Squadron pump station specialist, and his team are dedicated to braving the conditions in order to keep Langley operational.
"It's my job to ensure the pump station is in proper working condition," said Goode. "A lot of people don't really think much about it, but there is a process."
Ensuring sewage is pumped all the way to a treatment facility is no easy task. Pump stations direct the flow of sewage to one location near the west gate, affectionately called the "stink house."
The stink house contains three pumps that move Langley's waste off base to a treatment facility in the Hampton Roads community. Many a runner have been hit by the smell of the hydrogen-sulfur gas during morning physical training radiating from the pump station. Fortunately, Goode said that might soon stop.
"All the construction going on by the stink house is for a brand-new pump station," said Goode. "In theory, the larger station should mask the smell better."
This larger pump station will accommodate faster pumps, increasing the power of the pumps from 65 horsepower to 85. Additionally, the larger station can pump more sewage, preventing flood waters from filling the tank, which in turn causes flooding of the pump station.
Flooding might also occur if one of the pumps clogs. Discarded rags or other debris can get caught in the pump's machinery. There is a lengthy permit process before Goode and his team can unblock the clogged pipe, and Virginian rains are often unpredictable.
Luckily, Goode hasn't encountered flood rains while working on a clogged line.
Though it may seem the smell dictates the amount of waste flowing beneath Langley, the numbers might be surprising.
On an average day at Langley, roughly half a million gallons of sewage pass through the base. Each individual pump can push 1,000 gallons per minute. That means only one pump is in use during the average day. Having the capability to switch pumps ensures that workers have the opportunity to operate on a clogged pump.
With everything up and running, Goode focuses on operating the pump station.
All the work required to pump the sewage is done at the "house" aspect of the stink house. The control room houses three separate devices that activate each pump, a computer to manually control the pumps and a computer that presents data for Goode and his team. In order to run the stink house's primary duties, neither Goode nor his staff members need to actually be physically present at the house.
Even without the necessity of always being at the stink house, working with sewage tends to get mucky. Goode shared how he deals with such a dirty job.
"After you've worked for as long as me, the scent becomes the smell of success," said Goode. "At the end of the day, it is gratifying knowing I can handle everyone else's business"