Pump Station No. 2 Construction

Pump Station No. 2 was originally constructed in 1963 as a retrofit of an abandoned community septic tank on the same site. The facility is designed to pump stormwater from a 55 acre drainage area (see figure) over the levee and into Las Gallinas Creek.

• Pump Station No. 2 can presently handle only a small amount of stormwater (less than a 10 year storm) before it is overwhelmed and water begins to back up, resulting in flooding of roads and homes.
• Because the pump station is nearly 50 years old and it was a retrofit of an existing sanitary sewage facility, many of the components are not functioning optimally and reliability is a concern.
• Mechanical and electrical equipment lack full enclosures, which make them vulnerable to corrosion and compromises reliability. Additionally, exposed equipment can pose a safety threat to facility operators and is, therefore, difficult to repair in a timely manner if there is a problem during a storm event.

Since its construction, the District has performed routine operation and maintenance on Pump Station No. 2, replacing components as required and as available resources would allow. Nearing 50 years in operation, the pump station is less reliable and needs replacement. Several alternatives have been considered, ranging from a partial replacement of some components (i.e., a remodel) to a complete rebuild. A complete rebuild of the pump station would:

• Expand the facility’s current pumping capacity by 70% to handle the 100 yr storm, thereby significantly increasing flood protection.
• Replace aging components with up-to-date equipment that will meet current industry standards and offer more reliable and efficient operation.
• Provide proper enclosures for mechanical and electrical equipment, offering protection from corrosion, increasing the pump station’s life span, and making the facility safer for operators.

A complete rebuild of the pump station, rather than a remodel, is the preferred alternative for several reasons:

• Most of the mechanical and electrical components of the pump station are in the range of 30 to 45 years old and must be replaced.
• In order to significantly increase the capacity of the pump station, as is required to provide flood protection for a 100-year storm, a new wet well is needed due to the mechanical requirements of the new larger pumps.
• New building codes, safety standards and equipment require a different pump station design than was common practice in the 1960s.