Praised by juror Julie Eizenberg for “solving an invisible kind of problem, yet allowing for much more potential for doing things responsibly,” the Sanicubic Classic lifting station is a grinder system that reduces solids in the wastewater stream. Manufactured by Saniflo, the product is capable of handling 25 gallons of effluent per minute from multiple fixtures in a house or commercial structure. Each lifting station has two one-horsepower motors, each of which operates a fast-rotating cutting blade. By grinding the solid waste from toilets, dishwashers, sinks, and other plumbing fixtures, the product reduces the strain on septic and sewer systems. Each unit can handle effluent pumped from 36 feet vertically or 328 feet horizontally.
The jury praised the versatility of the product’s uses ranging from public restrooms in airports to residential plumbing, and the reduction of material being forced back into already overtaxed public-utility systems. “It’s a great idea,” juror William Massie says.
