When Mother Nature Needs Backup Pumping

"Utilities, therefore, are turning to lift station assurance plans to meet unforeseen system demands."

When Mother Nature goes on a rampage the lift station assurance plans are of little value, if any.

The lift stations are still running but the waste disposal plant is flooded or some other failure has occurred. What then. There is a limit as to how far plans can go and how much can be done.

See also the thread "Protecting New Orleans"

On the table at the Corps of Engineers in New Orleans is a plan for prime power pumping with diesel engines, drafted by yours truly 2 years ago 2 months after Katrina. Can be 250 ton diesels at 16,000-18,000 HP with monster right angle gear and mixed flow 20 foot diameter impeller pump, 15,000 USG per second (second!) each, 11-12 units needed. Or 2000 HP high speed diesels with normal size gears and pumps. Many more needed of course. I don't care what the weather is doing (short of a direct hit by a tornado). We can do a 250 MPH wind proof pump house with primary fuel supply by pipeline from a refinery and an on board fuel supply for 7 days inside the pump station. Open the building hatch and through me a sandwich each 7 days and I keep 'er pumping. Of course, one must have a place to pump it. So you keep the levees strong and storm surge gates closed and I'll get rid of the rain water on this side.

PetroPower: OK, you keep the pumps running. I'll be running to high ground! SS