SSPMA

What SSPMA does

The Sump and Sewage Pump Manufacturers Association (SSPMA) is a North American nonprofit trade association founded in 1956 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. It represents a majority of manufacturers of sump, effluent, and sewage pumps across the U.S. and Canada, together with component and accessory suppliers serving those manufacturers. SSPMA's core deliverables are not physical products but rather a third-party certification program (the SSPMA-Certified Pump seal, operating for 30+ years), industry standards documents, an extensive educational content library (technical guides, sizing calculators, training videos, brochures, and PowerPoint presentations), confidential quarterly shipment statistics, and professional training delivered at venues such as the WWETT Show.

SSPMA serves four distinct constituencies: (1) Regular Members, which are pump manufacturers paying tiered annual dues from $1,300 (for up to $999,999 in annual pump sales) up to $7,500 (for $20M+ in sales); (2) Associate Members, which are component and accessory manufacturers paying flat $975 annual dues; (3) contractors, installers, engineers, and specifiers who consume SSPMA's sizing tools, training videos (e.g., the $45 Effluent Pump Training Video), and CEU-accredited courses; and (4) homeowners, who access free educational brochures, troubleshooting guides, and the public-facing website content for pump selection and basement-flooding prevention. The association is governed by an elected Board of Directors drawn from member companies and managed by a small staff led by Managing Director Blake R. Jeffery, CAE.

Revenue is generated primarily through recurring membership dues, certification-related fees (manufacturers sign affidavits committing to SSPMA Industry Standards), training material sales, and event-related income. Distribution occurs through the SSPMA website (sspma.org), a YouTube channel, a LinkedIn group, semi-annual member meetings, and recurring education tracks at the WWETT Show in Indianapolis. Strategic partnerships extend SSPMA's reach, including collaborations with WasteWater Education 501(c)3 for online CEU courses, NOWRA for onsite wastewater training, and the Illinois PHCC for licensed plumber continuing education.

Name

SSPMA

Legal name

Sump and Sewage Pumps Manufacturers Association

Website

https://sspma.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SSPMA is a 1956-founded North American nonprofit trade association representing the majority of sump, effluent, and sewage pump manufacturers and their component suppliers. It generates revenue through tiered membership dues, a 30-year-old pump certification program, and educational content sales, serving manufacturers, contractors, engineers, and homeowners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Regular Membership Dues: Annual dues paid by pump manufacturers based on their annual sales volume of sump, effluent, and sewage pumps over the prior 12-month period. Dues range from $1,300 (up to $999,999 sales) to $7,500 (over $20 million in sales).
2. Associate Membership Dues: Flat annual dues of $975 for accessory/component manufacturers.
3. Pump Certification Program: Revenue generated through SSPMA's pump certification program for member manufacturers. Member manufacturing company representatives sign affidavits committing to SSPMA Industry Standards for certified pumps.
4. Training and Educational Materials Sales: SSPMA sells training videos and educational materials to contractors and professionals. For example, the Effluent Pump Training Video is priced at $45 per copy with discounts for quantities of two or more. A pocket-size sewage pump sizing calculator is available by contacting SSPMA directly for bulk orders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

SSPMA is a North American nonprofit trade association founded in 1956 that represents the majority of manufacturers of sump, effluent, and sewage pumps, together with component and accessory suppliers. It operates the SSPMA-Certified Pump Program, publishes industry standards, develops educational materials and training programs, collects shipment statistics, and runs scholarship and member services for its dues-paying members.

Product overview

The Sump and Sewage Pump Manufacturers Association (SSPMA) is a North American trade organization formed in 1956 representing manufacturers of sump, effluent, and sewage pumps along with component and accessory suppliers. SSPMA does not manufacture or sell products itself; rather, it provides a portfolio of industry programs including the SSPMA-Certified Pump Program (a third-party certification where member manufacturers test pumps to SSPMA Industry Standards), an online Sewage Pump Sizing Calculator, and a comprehensive library of educational materials including technical standards documents (Recommended Standards for Sump, Effluent and Sewage Pumps), downloadable brochures (Grinder Pump Pamphlet, Homeowner's Guide, Installation and Maintenance Guides), training videos (Introduction to Sump Pumps, Effluent Pump Training Video), sizing guidelines, and training webinars. The association also operates a Scholarship Program for students pursuing wastewater management education. The portfolio is distributed through the SSPMA website, YouTube channel, and live training events at industry venues like the WWETT show.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SSPMA-Certified Pump Program A third-party certification program where member manufacturers test and rate their sump, effluent, and sewage pumps in accordance with SSPMA Industry Standards, bearing the SSPMA-Certified seal to verify performance as stated by the manufacturer.
• Sewage Pump Sizing Calculator An interactive web-based calculator that assists installers in determining required sewage pump capacity (GPM), total dynamic head (TDH), and recommends nominal pipe size based on fixtures, pipe materials, fittings, and static head.
• Recommended Standards for Sump, Effluent and Sewage Pumps SSPMA's revised technical document designed to supply purchasers and users of sump, effluent, and sewage pumping equipment with accurate performance data and assist in determination of proper application and selection of equipment.
• Effluent Pump Training Video A 28-minute presentation with accompanying worksheets for sizing and selecting effluent pumps, showing representative installations for enhanced flow septic tank pumping and low-pressure pipe distribution.
• Introduction to Sump Pumps Video A 17-minute educational video covering what sump pumps are used for, why they are important, and how they are installed and maintained, directed at dealers, contractors, and others needing basic product knowledge.
• Sizing Guidelines for New or Replacement Sewage Pumps A downloadable PowerPoint presentation and worksheets providing step-by-step guidance on sizing sewage pumps, covering pump capacity, total dynamic head, solids-handling requirements, basin selection, and simplex versus duplex systems.
• SSPMA Training Webinars Direct event training for contractors, homeowners, and industry professionals covering topics such as pump basics, battery backup systems, installation practices, electrical theory, troubleshooting, and sizing, presented at venues including the WWETT show, NOWRA conferences, and member company sponsored sessions.
• SSPMA Scholarship Program A scholarship program offering up to two scholarships of $2,500 each to students enrolled in accredited programs working toward degrees or certifications associated with wastewater management.

Quantifiable outcome

• Engineers, specifiers, contractors and end users can rely on SSPMA-certified pumps to perform as stated by the manufacturer, verified through testing against SSPMA Industry Standards.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WasteWater Education 501(c)3coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSSPMA partners with WasteWater Education 501(c)3 to provide a 6-hour online distance learning course specifically for septic service providers, offering CEU credits. Dendra J. Best, Executive Director of WasteWater Education 501(c)3, is the contact for this program. SSPMA's technical expertise is combined with WasteWater Education's online learning platform to deliver training to septic service professionals.
• Water and Wastewater Equipment, Treatment and Transport (WWETT) ShowcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSSPMA presents multi-session education tracks at the WWETT show in Indianapolis, including technical presentations on pump sizing, backup systems, troubleshooting, and best installation practices. The WWETT show provides a platform for SSPMA to reach contractors, installers, and industry professionals with its training content. SSPMA was also featured at the 2015 WWETT show with three-track educational sessions.
• National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association (NOWRA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSSPMA provides training and educational content for contractors and homeowners through NOWRA, a key organization for onsite wastewater professionals. The SSPMA Certification Program was spotlighted in the OOWA (Ontario Onsite Wastewater Association) July 2021 Newsletter.
• Illinois PHCC (Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSSPMA has been approved as a continuing education sponsor by the Illinois Department of Public Health for licensed plumbers. The SSPMA's 'Sizing Guidelines for New or Replacement Sewage Pumps' program was first offered at the Illinois PHCC Expo & Education Day in March 2013, providing CEU credits for plumbing professionals.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• NSF International: NSF International provides third-party certification and standards development across water, food, and consumer products. Comparable to SSPMA's certification arm but at much larger scale and broader scope, including certification of pumps and water system components.
• Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM): AEM is a broad North American trade association for equipment manufacturers including some pump-related categories. Comparable as a manufacturer trade association model, though SSPMA is far more specialized in residential sump/effluent/sewage pumps.
• IAPMO (International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials): IAPMO develops plumbing and mechanical codes and offers product certification, comparable to SSPMA's standards/certification role but at significantly larger scale and broader product scope across residential and commercial plumbing.
• American Water Works Association (AWWA): AWWA is the largest North American water utility-focused association, with standards development and member-driven governance similar to SSPMA, but operates at much broader scope across drinking water treatment and distribution rather than residential pumps.

Emerging players

• American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE): ASPE is an association for plumbing engineers and designers, comparable in education-and-standards mission to SSPMA but focused on engineering design professionals rather than pump OEMs, with overlapping end audiences.

Direct peers

• Hydraulic Institute: Hydraulic Institute is the North American trade association for pump manufacturers, serving a near-identical role to SSPMA but covering the broader pump industry (industrial, commercial, process pumps) rather than just sump/effluent/sewage pumps. It is the most direct peer in mission, structure, and membership model.
• National Ground Water Association (NGWA): NGWA is a nonprofit trade association for the groundwater industry, including groundwater pumping and well equipment. Comparable in membership-based structure, certification programs, and education offerings for water-related equipment.
• Plumbing Manufacturers International: PMI is a trade association of plumbing manufacturers that develops standards, advocates for code adoption, and educates the market — directly comparable in mission to SSPMA but focused on plumbing fixtures and fittings rather than sump/sewage pumps.
• Water Quality Association: WQA is a U.S. trade association representing manufacturers of water treatment equipment, with a similar dues-based membership model, ANSI-accredited standards development, and product certification programs. Comparable because it serves residential/commercial water equipment OEMs in an adjacent niche.
• National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association (NOWRA): NOWRA is a trade association for the onsite wastewater industry, an existing SSPMA training partner. Comparable because it represents professionals and suppliers in the same onsite wastewater application space where SSPMA-certified grinder and effluent pumps operate.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCQye8QG4Docsst1wt2pZlvw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/groups/Sump-Sewage-Pump-Manufacturers-Association-4877018
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SSPMA