Pump removed at Cross Country Drain for maintenance

Published: 7 August 2023

We have removed one of our pumps from the Cross Country Drain. It’s just coming out temporarily so we can inspect it and give it some maintenance after six months of tough service!

Cross Country Drain on Te Awa Avenue comprises a total of four pumps, including three high-flow pumps and one low-flow pump. During routine checks, we recently discovered the electrical insulation readings of the low-flow pump had decreased. While the low-flow pump is undergoing repairs, the high-flow pumps will continue to ensure the drain height remains stable, although slightly higher than usual.

The three high-flow pumps have substantial capacity, each able to move up to an impressive 3,300 litres per second, utilising 425kW of power. The low-flow pump handles about 1,000 litres per second and operates at 38kW. During normal weather conditions, the low-flow pump runs once a day to maintain the working level of the waterway, with the duration of each run changing depending on the amount of rainfall. It is our main pump responsible for maintaining the drain level throughout the year.

In weather events when the waterway is above normal levels and the low-flow pump can’t keep up, a generator automatically activates, allowing one of the high-flow pumps to lower the water level.

Back to News Archive