Pumping station

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Pumping station Van Sasse in Grave, the Netherlands

Pumping stations are facilities including pumps and equipment for pumping fluids from one place to another. They are used for a variety of infrastructure systems that many people take for granted, such as removal of sewage. They also remove water that has found its way into low-lying areas as a result of leakage or flooding (in New Orleans, for example).

In countries with canal systems, pumping stations are also frequent. Because of the way the system of canal locks work, water is lost from the upper part of a canal each time a vessel passes through. Also, most lock gates are not watertight, so some water leaks from the higher levels of the canal to those lower down.

Obviously, the water has to be replaced or eventually the upper levels of the canal would not hold enough water to be navigable. Canals are usually fed by diverting water from streams and rivers into the upper parts of the canal, but if no suitable source is available, a pumping station can be used to maintain the water level. An excellent example of a canal pumping station is the Claverton Pumping Station on the Kennet and Avon Canal in southern England. This pumps water from the nearby River Avon to the canal using pumps driven by the power of the river itself.

[edit] Sewerage systems

In the case of sewage collection systems, pumping stations are used to move wastewater to higher elevations; for example, to pass over a hilly area en-route to the treatment plant. In the event of a failure of the pumping station, a sanitary sewer overflow can occur, involving discharge of raw sewage to the environment.

Metairie Pumping Station, also known as Pumping Station 6, building, constructed in 1899, near Metairie Road and the head of the 17th Street Canal. Now housing 15 Wood Screw Pumps, it can move over 6 billion gallons of water a day.