T-T Pumps was enlisted to design, supply and install the equipment to meet the demands of the Lowestoft flood risk management project. The consultants and contractors behind the new pumping station at Velda Close were able to draw on decades of technical and site expertise, and the firm was an essential partner in the project.
Coastal flooding can be devastating. Tidal flooding in 1953 and 2013 saw 160 properties damaged by extreme rain, prompting Lowestoft to reinforce its flood defences.
A range of options have been considered to alleviate the risk, and to manage the flood risk from Kirkley Stream (pictured, above). Following consultation with residents, a new pumping station and flood wall were deemed the most practical options.
“We will be constructing a sheet piled wall for approximately 300m along the stream to reduce the risk of flooding from the stream,” explained The Lowestoft flood risk management project. “We will also be building a new pumping station on land adjacent to the car park that will manage surface water from the existing drainage system during significant rainfall events. This will reduce the risk of flooding caused by the system becoming overloaded.”
As the pumping station is an essential component of the long-term flood defence strategy, it was vital to call upon suppliers with experience in water management, and who could supply the requisite pumps. T-T Pumps has an existing relationship with the contractors, built on trust and long-term supply reliability.
“Surface water from a local housing development runs the risk of overwhelming the surface water sewer network in place,” explained Jon Whittingham of T-T Pumps. The firm was called upon to assist with the design, supply and installation of the pumping station. The solution has to take flows from the housing development and discharge water into a local river and then out to sea. This helps protect the existing surface water drainage infrastructure.
Clearly understanding the specification of the pumping station is important. T-T Pumps’ Senior Project Engineer John Plant, said this involved pipework, pumps, a kiosk and a control panel. Then there was the design of the power supply, and connecting it to the pumping station.
The design also requires a connection to an emergency generator. Plant said the project called upon M&E performance, something specified by Anglian Water. “T-T Pumps had the expertise to not only create the design for the pumping station, but also, supply the station’s essential components. No other supplier has this breadth of knowledge, technical expertise, and direct supply capabilities.”
The specification comprised a four-pump layout with each one capable of pumping up to 27.5% of the maximum discharge at the maximum design head. “In addition, the pumping arrangement must also be capable of pumping a stepless range of flows from about 40l/s to max discharge of 320l/s.”
T-T Pumps’ Jon Whittingham explained: “The pumping station contained four pumps and a unique control system on site, as the flows that enter the pumping station vary.” The station may only require one pump to operate, but up to all four might be required if the inflow dictates it. “The task was to select pumps that would handle a combination of the minimum flow rate and the maximum flow rate, plus all flows in-between.”
The pump chosen for the Velda Close project was the Zenit UNIQA model ZUG OC200B 7.5/6AD. It was a choice determined by the quality of the product, and its reliability and efficiency. This pump model contains an IE3 6-pole motor, meeting the highest efficiency expectations for this application.
Uninterrupted, reliable operation is vital for this pumping station, and towards that end, a TT SEER telemetry unit has been installed to monitor and record performance. Seer is the most advanced monitoring system on the market and allows T-T to monitor pumping stations and plant 24/7 with live status and alarm-based updates, but most importantly, to observe the entire system and to able to view its history, allowing potential issues to be identified early, rather than the reactive approach more common with traditional telemetry systems.
MD Bob Nash said his firm are “the only provider who could deliver such a project”, and “a one-stop solution for pumping station provision.” He said: “We design, manufacture, install, commission and service. No element of the works is sub-contracted, therefore we deliver on quality, service, reliability and at the right price. Our ‘can do’ attitude and our willingness to think outside of the box constantly delivers solutions to our clients that just work.”
