Chopper pump with double-edged cutting bars

An impeller assembly for a chopper pump comprising:

• an impeller having a back shroud and cutting blades sharpened on a first edge, the cutting blades extending from and fixed on a first surface of the back shroud;
• a cutter bar plate positioned adjacent to and upstream of the impeller, the cutter bar plate comprising at least one shearing finger having first and second contact surfaces and extending inward from a periphery, the first contact surface of the at least one shearing finger having a first sharpened edge and the second contact surface having a second sharpened edge, such that the first sharpened edge creates a shearing operation in combination with the sharpened edge of the cutting blades of the impeller during use;
• and
• an external tool positioned adjacent to and upstream of the cutter bar plate, the external tool comprising at least one cutting wing having a shearing surface that creates a shearing operation in combination with the second sharpened edge along the second contact surface of the shearing finger during use;
• wherein the first and second sharpened edges comprise machined v-notches.