Wastewater & Sewage
Wet wells, lift stations, and submerged sluice and isolation valves.
IP68 · Submersible · Continuous Immersion
IP68 worm gear operators are dust-tight and rated for continuous immersion at a declared depth, per IEC 60529. They operate valves that stay underwater — wet wells, sewage lift stations, sumps, and tank-bottom valves — where an IP67 unit rated only for temporary immersion would eventually flood. Sealing keeps the self-locking worm set protected for long submerged service.
Application Foundation
An IP68 worm gear operator carries an ingress protection rating of 6 for dust and 8 for water under IEC 60529 — fully dust-tight and rated for continuous immersion in water at a manufacturer-declared depth and duration. This is the rating required for valves that remain submerged, such as those in wet wells, sewage lift stations, pumping sumps, and at tank bottoms.
IP68 operators use enhanced sealing — double O-rings, sealed stem glands, and protective coatings — validated against a project immersion test. They retain the self-locking worm action and ISO 5211 mounting of the standard range. Because the depth and duration are application-specific, declare immersion depth, media chemistry, and temperature so the correct seals and housing are assigned; per-model figures are confirmed per order.
Engineering Data
| IP Code | Dust Protection (1st digit) | Water Protection (2nd digit) | Typical Valve Operator Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| IP65 | 6 — dust-tight | 5 — water jets from any direction | Washdown areas, sheltered outdoor |
| IP67 | 6 — dust-tight | 7 — temporary immersion to 1 m, 30 min | Outdoor pits, loading racks, exposed pipe bridges |
| IP68 | 6 — dust-tight | 8 — continuous immersion at stated depth/pressure | Wet wells, sewage lift stations, submerged tank-bottom valves |
Definitions per IEC 60529 (the international standard for IP enclosure ratings). The depth and duration for IP68 are manufacturer-declared against the project test protocol — declare immersion depth, media, and temperature when requesting a quote. No product-specific torque figures are implied by this table.
| ISO 5211 Flange | Typical Valve Size Band* | Common Valve Families | Matson Models Offering This Flange |
|---|---|---|---|
| F05 | Small bore | Ball, plug, small butterfly | M07 |
| F07 | Small–medium bore | Butterfly (wafer), ball, plug | M07, M10 |
| F10 | Medium bore | Butterfly, ball, plug | M07, M10, M12 |
| F12 | Medium bore | Butterfly (lug), ball, gate top-work | M12, M14 |
| F14 | Medium–large bore | Butterfly, trunnion ball, gate | M12, M14, M14A, M15 |
| F16 | Large bore | Butterfly (double flange / AWWA), ball, gate | M14, M14A, M15, M16 |
| F25 | Heavy / large bore | Large AWWA butterfly, high-pressure ball, large gate | M16 |
*Valve size band is indicative only — actual flange depends on the valve manufacturer's top-work, stem, and torque rating. Flange and Matson single-stage model data are from the Matson worm gearbox catalog (M07–M16, 200–4,400 N·m). Two-stage and electric-actuator series extend up to 160,000 N·m. Confirm the exact flange against your valve datasheet.
Per-model specifications (dimensions, weights, drive-bushing details, material grades): available on request — request a datasheet. Send your valve tag, bore, pressure class, environment class, and required output torque and our engineers return a model recommendation with the matching ISO 5211 / ISO 5210 interface.
Operation
IP68 is the highest common water rating in IEC 60529. The first digit, 6, confirms a dust-tight enclosure. The second digit, 8, means the operator withstands continuous immersion in water under conditions specified by the manufacturer — typically a stated depth in metres and an indefinite duration. For valve operators this enables permanent underwater service.
Unlike IP67, which covers only temporary immersion to 1 metre for 30 minutes, IP68 is defined per the manufacturer's declared test depth, so the figure must be stated for each application. Sewage and wastewater duty also requires media-compatible seals and coatings against the chemistry of the wet well. Provide depth, media, and temperature to confirm the correct build.
Engineering
By Industry
Wet wells, lift stations, and submerged sluice and isolation valves.
Tank-bottom, sump, and submerged process valves.
Splash-zone and submerged seawater valves.
Submerged intake, draft-tube, and bypass valves.
Common Questions
IP68 means the operator is dust-tight and rated for continuous immersion in water at a depth and duration declared by the manufacturer, per IEC 60529. It is the highest standard water rating, but "fully waterproof" depends on the declared test depth — an IP68 unit tested to 3 metres should not be assumed safe at 10 metres. State your immersion depth so the correct build is supplied.
No. IP67 is rated only for temporary immersion to 1 metre for 30 minutes, while IP68 is rated for continuous immersion at a declared depth. Using an IP67 operator in a permanently flooded wet well will eventually allow ingress. For valves that stay submerged, specify an IP68 operator designed and tested for continuous immersion.
IP68 worm gear operators are used on valves that remain underwater — wet wells, sewage lift stations, pumping sumps, tank-bottom valves, and submerged intakes. The continuous-immersion sealing protects the worm set and lubrication for long submerged service. Declare the immersion depth and media so the correct seals and coatings are selected.
Both are dust-tight (first digit 6). IP67 withstands temporary immersion to 1 metre for 30 minutes; IP68 withstands continuous immersion at a manufacturer-declared depth. IP67 suits outdoor and occasionally flooded installations; IP68 is required where the valve operates permanently submerged, such as in wet wells and tank bottoms.
Yes. The continuous-immersion sealing of an IP68 operator protects the worm-and-wheel set but does not change the mechanism, so the operator remains self-locking and holds the valve at any position without a separate brake. Torque multiplication and ISO 5211 mounting are unchanged from the standard range.
Send your immersion depth, media chemistry, valve torque, and mounting flange. We confirm IP68 sealing, coatings, and a model recommendation, with per-model specifications on request.