It is all part of a £35 million investment to upgrade the
80-year-old pumping station which will bring both flood-risk
and environmental benefits to the Isle of Axholme area which
takes in some 500km of North Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire
and North Nottinghamshire.
The two pumps were tested in Holland before they were shipped
to England. Together, they have the combined power to fill an
olympic swimming pool in about 5 minutes.
They have now arrived at Keadby as work on the project
continues with contractors and staff from the Environment
Agency following recent Public Health England safe working
advice.
A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said:
The first 2 pumps will be installed over the next 2 months;
the remaining 4 pumps will be delivered and installed
before the end of the year.
After the pumps are installed we will be able to finish
refurbishing the pumping station and re-constructing the
outfall to the River Trent.
Throughout the work we will continue to operate the pumping
station to manage flood risk and water levels. The work is
on schedule and the new pumps will be operational in early
2021, with the rest of the refurbishment complete by the
end of 2021.
This project is part of the Environment Agency’s £140
million asset repair programme for 2020. Work on the
projects continue where it is safe for our teams and
delivery partners to do so.
We are following the latest guidance from Public Health
England to ensure the safety of our staff, partners and the
communities we work in is a priority.
Project background
The current station has reached the end of its working life
because the pumps and the equipment are unreliable, costly to
maintain and are increasingly at risk of breaking down.
However, they will be maintained and will be fully
operational until the station update is complete.
The scheme also includes the construction of new electrical
equipment buildings within the existing site and rebuilding
of the outfall headwall.
The contract was awarded to GBV, a joint venture between
Galliford Try and Black & Veatch.
The pumps and motors are the first 2 of 6 to be installed.
Each weighs around 10 tonnes. They have been delivered as
part of GBV’s scope of supply. They are Pentair Fairbanks
Nijhuis pumps (from Holland). The new pumps are also
‘fish-friendly’ and will allow safe navigation for fish and
eels on their natural migration. The measure is recognised as
vital to protecting wildlife and improving the health of
rivers.
