• $7 million effort will improve water supply and flood control in areas northwest of the lake
WEST PALM BEACH, FL, Jan. 9, 2008 -- The Governing Board of the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) today approved two contracts totaling more than $7 million for refurbishing and upgrading four major pump stations along the northwestern border of Lake Okeechobee.
The projects will enhance the operational readiness of the pump stations -- known as S-127, S-129, S-131 and S-133 -- ensuring the integrity of the District's flood control and water supply systems, particularly in Glades and Okeechobee counties.
"As custodians of one of the largest water management systems in the world, we have a responsibility to quickly adopt the most current and environmentally sound water management technologies," said Eric Buermann, chairman of the SFWMD Governing Board. "Although they have been impeccably maintained, all four of these pump stations were placed in service 40 years ago. These upgrades will greatly modernize them and improve their operational efficiency."
The four pump stations will be reconditioned and their oil-lubed pump bearings upgraded to environmentally friendly, water-lubricated bearings. Water-lubricating systems needed for each of the five pumps at each station also will be installed. In addition, the manual hoist at each pump station will be replaced with a new electrically operated hoist system.
Under a $4,027,000 contract with Interlaken Inc., work at pump stations S-129 and S-131 also will consist of repowering the five pumps at each site by replacing diesel engine drivers with electronically controlled diesel engines and installing automated control systems.
Under a $3,221,000 contract with Douglas N. Higgins Inc., work at pump stations S-127 and S-133 also will include inspection of gear reducers and shafts and reinstallation with new seals and gaskets, as well as the addition of exhaust silencers on each diesel engine's exhaust system.
Work under both contracts is expected to be completed within the next two years.
The South Florida Water Management District is a regional, governmental agency that oversees the water resources in the southern half of the state -- 16 counties from Orlando to the Keys. It is the oldest and largest of the state's five water management districts.
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