Sparta Purchasing Replacement Muffin Monster For Sewage Pump Station

The Sparta Board of Aldermen approved the emergency purchase of new machinery for the sewer department Thursday night.

Public Works Director Dillard Quick said the machinery is called a Muffin Monster, a specialized grinder placed before sewage pump stations to break down debris. Quick said the equipment at the South Carter Street pump station broke down two weeks ago and needs to be replaced as soon as possible.

“What that does is it grinds up everything that comes through that’s not supposed to be in the sewer system,” Quick said, “Like sheets, or towels, rocks. It chews up rocks. I mean, so it’s just, it’s stuff that keeps it out of the pump to keep the pump from stopping up and burning the pump up.”

The board approved the use of $35,000 to purchase the machinery while accounting for additional control panel repairs that Quick said may come up during the replacement process. Quick said the sewer department has a vacuum truck that can be used to clean out the pump until the new Muffin Monster arrives.

“This is something that’s necessary to save our pumps,” Quick said. “And it’s something that we’ve got – we’ve got to have it.”

Quick said it should take four to five weeks to get the new machinery delivered and installed. Quick said the machinery broke down due to standard wear and tear after years of use.

“We rebuilt it about five years ago, and this time it’s not rebuild-able,” Quick said. “And so that’s why we’re having to replace it.”

The same equipment will eventually need to be replaced at the Mayberry Street and Turntable Road pump stations as well, Quick said.