Articles
Case Study: Pumping Out The Waters And Pumping Up The Praise Down In The Heart Of Georgia's 'Low Country'
June 21, 2007
Click Here To Download:•Case Study: Pumping Out The Waters And Pumping Up The Praise Down In The Heart Of Georgia's 'Low Country'
By Bob Domkowski, ITT Flygt USA
Stefan Abelin, ITT Flygt USA
After decades of extensive property damage due to flooding that occurred during hurricanes and heavy rain storms, the city of Savannah and its environs, (pop. 330,000) located on the coast of Georgia in the heart of the 'low country', is now near-fully protected from such storm events. This area received the name the 'low country' as most areas are only a mere 7.5 feet (2.3 M) above mean sea level. Abnormally high tides associated with storm events and their accompanying heavy rains caused this area to flood frequently. Six very large stormwater pumping stations, each equipped with as many as eleven (11) large Flygt electric submersible propeller pumps provide protection for the people and property of the area, which is one of the leading commercial seaports of the southeastern United States. Storms as large as the type that would occur only as frequently as once in fifty years (called a fifty-year storm event) can be competently handled by the measures taken and civil works constructed under this comprehensive flood control program. The total pumping capacity of these six (6) stormwater pumping stations will be a staggering 2,803,900 gpm (176,900 l/s or 177 m3/s)!
Prior to the development and implementation of this flood control and abatement program, the citizens of this low lying area of Georgia literally held their breath as they were forced to evacuate their land and retreat to higher ground with the approach of a hurricane or due to an extended rain event. When returning, they hoped that the weather gods were kind and had spared their property and possessions. In 1987, the citizens of Savannah approved a temporary 1 percent addition to the local sales tax which was dedicated to fund this ambitious multi-million dollar storm water handling program.
In 1988, the first of the pumping stations was completed. The Fell Street P.S. was retro-fitted, it's pumping capacity increased, with the removal of the existing Cascade long-shaft propeller pumps and by the installation of five (5) new Flygt model PL-7080 / 214Hp propeller pumps. Each pump has the capacity of 27,000 gpm (1,703 l/s) which meant that the station now had a total pumping capacity of 135,000 gpm (8,515 l/s), an increase of 20%. Relief from flooding to the busy port area and to the adjacent oil/fuel depot and manufacturing businesses was immediate!
more... Click Here To Download:•Case Study: Pumping Out The Waters And Pumping Up The Praise Down In The Heart Of Georgia's 'Low Country'
