The Next Generation of Intelligent Wastewater Pumping: A Smarter Submersible Pump Platform

9.18.2026

How Advanced Connectivity, Energy Efficiency, and System Intelligence Are Redefining Municipal Lift Station Performance

Municipal wastewater utilities face increasing challenges from aging infrastructure, labor shortages, rising energy costs, heavier solids loading, and growing expectations for digital asset management.

These demands affect sewage pumping across collection networks, from a sewage pump station or municipal lift station to the treatment plant.

To address these challenges, the industry has moved beyond conventional submersible pumps toward intelligent pumping systems capable of adapting to changing operating conditions, preventing clogging, and providing real-time operational visibility. Competitor options include the Flygt Concertor or the KSB Amarex PRO.

Among intelligent wastewater pumping technologies currently available, the Wilo-Rexa SOLID represents one of the most comprehensive approaches available to municipalities and consulting engineers. By combining self-cleaning hydraulics, IE4 and IE5 permanent magnet motor technology, advanced digital connectivity, condition monitoring, and station-level optimization, the Wilo-Rexa SOLID delivers a level of intelligence that extends beyond the pump itself.

The Challenge Facing Today's Wastewater Utilities

Wastewater collection systems are becoming increasingly difficult to operate efficiently.

Utilities commonly report:

• Increased ragging and clogging caused by wipes and fibrous materials
• Rising energy consumption
• Limited maintenance resources
• Difficulty recruiting skilled operators
• Greater demand for remote visibility and predictive maintenance

Traditional pumps were never designed to address these challenges.

Modern wastewater systems require intelligent equipment that not only moves water but actively contributes to operational reliability and asset management.

During peak flow periods and wet weather events, sewer systems and the connected pipe system can place additional demand on pump stations and downstream treatment processes.

Pump stations are designed as integrated systems in which pumps, controls, electrical instrumentation, and operating data work together to support reliable wastewater transport.

Beyond the Intelligent Pump

Several manufacturers like Flygt or KSB have introduced intelligent wastewater pumping solutions focused on adaptive operation and anti-clogging performance.

While these systems represent a major advancement compared to conventional pumps, many remain focused primarily on pump-level functionality.

The Wilo-Rexa SOLID was developed with a broader objective:

Delivering intelligence at the pump, station, and system level.

This approach allows municipalities to improve:

• Reliability
• Energy efficiency
• Digital integration
• Maintenance planning
• Lifecycle cost

Designed to Reduce Clogging

Clogging remains one of the most expensive and disruptive problems for wastewater operators.

Wilo-Rexa SOLID combines:

• Self-cleaning hydraulic geometry
• Large free-passage hydraulic design
• Intelligent clog detection
• Automatic cleaning routines
• Adaptive operating strategies

The hydraulic platform was specifically developed to handle untreated sewage with high solids and fibrous content while reducing maintenance interventions.

For operators evaluating a submersible pump for wastewater service, this combination addresses both solids handling and day-to-day station reliability.

Optimized for Energy Efficiency

Energy frequently represents the largest operating expense of a lift station.

Wilo-Rexa SOLID addresses this challenge through a combination of:

High-Efficiency Hydraulics

Designed to maximize hydraulic performance while maintaining clog resistance.

Permanent Magnet Motor Technology

Available with:

• IE4 Super Premium Efficiency
• IE5 Ultra Premium Efficiency

The platform supports some of the highest motor efficiency levels currently available in municipal wastewater pumping.

Intelligent Energy Optimization

Nexos Intelligence continuously evaluates operating conditions and supports energy-efficient pump operation across varying flow conditions.

This adaptive approach can support performance across variable flow periods and wet weather conditions without requiring the article to assume a single fixed operating profile.

Built for the Connected Utility

Many pumping systems focus on hydraulic performance.

Wilo-Rexa SOLID combines hydraulics with digital infrastructure.

Standard digital capabilities include:

• Integrated Ethernet communication
• Integrated web server
• Digital nameplate
• Data logging
• Integrated vibration monitoring
• Open communication architecture

These capabilities enable direct integration into modern SCADA and asset management environments while providing operators with greater visibility into system performance.

Supporting Predictive Maintenance

Reactive maintenance is costly.

Wilo-Rexa SOLID helps utilities move toward condition-based maintenance through integrated monitoring technologies.

Available capabilities include:

• Vibration monitoring
• Leakage detection
• Bearing condition monitoring
• Data logging
• Historical performance analysis

These tools enable operators to identify emerging issues before they become failures and reduce unplanned service events.

That visibility can help teams assess pump station performance alongside related controls and electrical instrumentation.

From Pump Intelligence to Station Intelligence

Perhaps the most significant difference in the Wilo approach is its scalability.

Wilo's Nexos Intelligence architecture supports multiple levels of functionality:

• Digital monitoring
• Pump optimization
• Multi-pump coordination
• Station-level optimization

This allows utilities to begin with a single intelligent pump and expand toward a fully connected pumping station strategy as operational requirements evolve.

Where operating requirements call for additional pumps, multi-pump coordination extends the strategy beyond one unit and toward broader station-level control.

Conclusion

As wastewater operators face increasing pressure to improve reliability, reduce energy consumption, and modernize infrastructure, intelligent pumping technologies are becoming the new standard.

Wilo-Rexa SOLID combines:

• Proven wastewater hydraulic technology
• Advanced anti-clogging performance
• IE4 and IE5 motor efficiency
• Comprehensive condition monitoring
• Built-in connectivity
• Scalable station intelligence

The result is more than an intelligent pump.

It is a platform designed to help utilities operate smarter, reduce lifecycle costs, and prepare wastewater infrastructure for the future.

For municipalities planning upgrades across lift stations, sewer systems, or treatment plant inlet applications, the Wilo-Rexa SOLID provides a connected framework for sewage pumping and station optimization.