In preparation for another potentially active storm season this year, the City of Tampa is reinforcing its stormwater pumping stations and response strategy.
After last year's unprecedented flooding following back-to-back major hurricanes, the Stormwater Department has secured eight temporary backup generators to power pumping stations that currently do not have permanent generators.
These generators are being stored, tested, and maintained at Sunbelt Rentals in Tampa. Once a storm is approaching, they will be deployed to critical pumping stations across the city.
Additionally, stormwater crews will manually and proactively switch to backup power before the storm hits, ensuring the pumps will be running even if the power goes out. A new Pump Station Rapid Response Team is also being tasked with monitoring, refueling, and responding to any issues with the pumps.
Additionally, the department is working on installing permanent backup generators, a major $11 million investment that should be ready within the next two years.
The pump stations that will receive temporary backup generators include:
- 45th Street (5408 N. 45th Street)
- Closed Basin Station (1101 E. 113th Avenue)
- Eastridge Station (804 W. 109th Avenue)
- El Portal Station (8926 El Portal Drive)
- Lake Eckles (1315 Country Club Drive)
- Penalty Lake Station (11404 Elbow Drive)
- Poinsettia Pump Station (2806 Poinsettia Avenue)
- Robes Park Station (3105 N. Avon Avenue)