Due to their higher starting costs and complex maintenance, reciprocating pumps are less common than centrifugal pumps. Reciprocating pumps are used in specialised cases when a larger-than-normal quantity of sewage needs to be pumped.

If you are dealing with a small amount of sewage that doesn't justify the need to construct a pumping station, you can use air pressure pumps or pneumatic ejectors. Unlike other pumps with spinning impellers or pistons, these pumps use compressed air to move sewage. These small-capacity pumps are quieter, have fewer moving parts, and develop blockages less frequently. However, they are the least efficient among the pumping options available.