As a rule, pumping stations in municipal wastewater collection systems receive little notice during design, construction and after startup…..until they fail. By then, it is usually too late to remedy the root causes that have led to failures, lack of reliability and excessive costs of operation and maintenance. With the increased scrutiny by EPA and other regulatory agencies on prevention of sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs), it is appropriate to review the elements that make up a station design. This process, while principally devoted to improving system reliability, has also been shown to lower the cost of ownership. As we enter the new millennium, the true cost of ownership and the burden on the ratepayer will become a more important consideration.