The Hidden Hero of Safe Water Infrastructure: Reliable Backup Power

When we turn on the tap to wash dishes or flush the toilet, we rarely think about the complex systems behind the scenes that keep clean water flowing, let alone how our wastewater is managed. The truth is that these essential systems are an afterthought until they fail and we begin to see the consequences.

That’s why reliable backup power systems are crucial, as they help avoid outcomes that threaten public health and, in turn, erode the public’s trust in local infrastructure. 

Together, Steven Elder and Mariano Rojas bring 55 years of combined experience at Cummins to the water and wastewater sector. Working across the Southern region, they partner with municipalities, contractors and consulting engineers to deliver reliable power solutions that keep critical infrastructure running – backed by Cummins’ best-in-class Gen-Size software, which allows them to provide these solutions with confidence.

“Within a day and a half to two days, depending on the population of the area, if you don’t have power, you don’t have water,” said Elder. 

Some wastewater systems are even less forgiving when it comes to power loss. One essential and often overlooked component of this infrastructure is the lift station. These facilities pump sewage from lower elevations to higher ground, ensuring waste continues to move through the treatment process. Typically tucked away in low-lying areas near creeks or streams, lift stations can be especially vulnerable during power outages.

“If a lift station gets flooded, then we have all this wastewater in the streets and nobody wants that,” said Rojas. “By nature, most of those facilities are kind of hidden, but they’re there. And if they fail, the consequences move quickly into the environment and even into freshwater supplies.”

Your local water and wastewater facility likely relies on pumps, just like lift stations, to move water and sewage through the system. These pumps depend on electricity to keep everything flowing. If the power grid fails, backup generators and emergency power systems have to kick in quickly to prevent outages, overflows or other disruptions that could affect homes, businesses and the environment.

“Within 10 seconds, we’re required to re-energize those loads, at least the ones the facility considers critical,” said Rojas. “Our generators are designed to have excellent capabilities to start motors. That’s why customers and engineers prefer Cummins.”

While the power and reliability of the generators are essential, Elder emphasizes that the true advantage comes from the service and support that Cummins provides.

“We’re not just a ‘me too’ vendor,” said Elder. “Yes, our generators produce kilowatts, but the real value is in the support. We can draw on resources from anywhere in the event of a crisis. That’s the strength we bring.”

Having access to clean, safe water simply isn’t possible without reliable power. As infrastructure grows and communities demand more resilience, Cummins continues to power the systems that protect public health — with trusted equipment, proven expertise and an unwavering commitment to reliability. 

Learn more about Cummins’ decades of expertise that keep water flowing under any circumstance at https://www.cummins.com/generators/water-treatment