In From the Storm

Aug. 19, 2019
Historic El Paso, Texas, district addresses flooding problems with efficient pump station

The city of El Paso, Texas, stands on the tip of the Chihuahuan desert, and it is not uncommon for a year’s worth of rain to occur in a matter of days during the summer. These rain events have caused serious damage throughout the city for years, and the flooding has always been particularly bad in the Chihuahuita historic district. In 2006, after a 100-year flood, Chihuahuita formed a storm water utility to address the flooding issues and hired an engineering firm, CEA Group, to conduct a drainage study with the goal to reduce the impact of these storm events.

Scope

CEA Group determined that the flooding in El Paso was directly linked to high water levels in the Rio Grande River during heavy rains. Storm sewer inlets that were added in the past in an attempt to drain the area were connected to a system that drained a watershed at a higher elevation, causing the runoff from upstream storms to create a backup in the drainage system, flooding the Chihuahuita neighborhood.

A new pump station was determined to be the best solution to control the river water level and subsequently prevent the flooding. However, the solution would be difficult because the neighborhood did not have the footprint or the funding for a conventional storm water pumping station.

The storm water utility required the pump station to function both while the river is low (or at normal level) and while the river is at the flood stage.

The design would need to be able to meet these requirements by utilizing a siphon when the river is low and the full pump horsepower while the river is at its normal level.

In 2012, a representative from Flygt distributor James, Cooke and Hobson Inc. (JCH) contacted Flygt for assistance. With input from CEA Group, JCH and Flygt engineers, a pump station design was developed that could function properly when the space requirements were smaller than the recommended Hydraulic Institute Standards for high-volume pump stations.

Solution

The project required the design of a pump station that would be able to efficiently transport the storm water and utilize the smallest footprint possible. The Flygt axial flow propeller pumps PL7061 were selected due to their high efficiency and low power consumption. The design also utilized Flygt Formed Suction Intake (FSI) devices to ensure optimal pump inlet hydraulic conditions. In addition, this configuration allowed a more constant pumping condition regardless of the river level.

The Flygt FSI is an inlet device that provides optimal inflow to the axial flow propeller pump by gradually accelerating and redirecting the flow toward the pump inlet. Its primary function is to condition the incoming flow into a uniform profile and redirect it. By providing a reliable pump intake in limited space, the Flygt FSI is able to achieve a more economical pump station solution with a smaller footprint and better hydraulic performance than with standard inlet devices.

With a pumping capacity of 27,000 gpm, the station can handle 100-year storm events. By utilizing siphoning methods, the city was able to accommodate the large swing in river elevations, allowing the station to operate at both high and low river levels.

The pump station project included storm drain improvements and the relocation of numerous existing water and sewer lines serving the downtown area.

Result

In 2012, torrential rains hit the Chihuahuita historic district of El Paso, and this time the results were different. With the new pump station in place and functioning well, flooding was not an issue, providing much-needed relief to this historic area.

Sponsored Recommendations

Energy Efficient System Design for WWTPs

Feb. 7, 2024
System splitting with adaptive control reduces electrical, maintenance, and initial investment costs.

Blower Isentropic Efficiency Explained

Feb. 7, 2024
Learn more about isentropic efficiency and specific performance as they relate to blowers.

How to Build a Better Blower Station

Feb. 7, 2024
Designing a blower aeration system for a wastewater treatment plant has many moving pieces. Each contributes to the overall health and efficiency of the system and the impact ...

Understanding Current Blower Technology & Isentropic Efficiency in Blowers

Feb. 7, 2024
Blowers are a critical resource for wastewater treatment plants, which makes choosing the best blower vital for plant operational success. No plant is stagnant, so a one size ...