BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK:
Crews Will Remove and Repair Aging
Raw-Water Pump
Key Part of Modernizing Water Department Infrastructure
The Tampa Water Department is providing a unique, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to maintain the equipment that provides safe, clean water for thousands of Tampa households.
On Wednesday morning, crews will begin removing an extremely large raw-water pump as part of the ongoing renovations to modernize the David L. Tippin Water Treatment Plant in Tampa. The pump is now 60 years old, and this is a preventative measure to prolong the life of the pump.
Due to the sheer size of the raw-water pump, crews will remove it with a special crane and then transport the pump to Southeast Pump in Tampa, where the pump will be rebuilt. The motor will be rebuilt at Tampa Armitage Works.
This raw-water pump is currently one of nine pumps that pulls up to 80M gallons of water per day out of the Hillsborough River and into our water treatment plant. This specific pump pulls up an average of 25M of water per day. While part of the pump is above ground, the below-ground components extend 30 feet below ground.
Each of the nine pumps currently in operation at the David L. Tippin Water Treatment Plant pumps will eventually be replaced with five larger pumps of the same style. This will simplify maintenance and help modernize the plant.
The raw-water pump being removed Wednesday will likely be away for two months for repairs. The approximate cost of the rebuild is $50,000. However, exact costs will not be known for a couple of weeks, until the contractors have a chance to inspect the pump and motor.
Creating and supporting a strong infrastructure leads to a sustainable future for Tampa and is a key part of Mayor Jane Castor’s Transforming Tampa’s Tomorrow plan.
The Tampa Water Department delivers 82M gallons of water to about 717,000 people every day. Every year, the Tampa Water Department takes more than 9,000 water samples throughout our service area and conducts more than 40,000 water analyses to ensure that we remain in compliance with federal and state drinking water regulations.
Our water treatment process is a 24/7 operation with work crews operating around the clock to ensure that Tampa residents always have access to safe, clean drinking water.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Sonia M. Quiñones
Supervisor - Communications and Conservation,
Tampa Water Department
City of Tampa / 7125 N. 30th Street / Tampa, FL 33602
phone: (813) 274-8345 / cell: (813) 447-0338 /
email: sonia.quinones@tampa.gov