ABB energy efficient pumping solutions help Auckland tackle its worst-ever drought
Taking water from the Waikato river offers a more resilient approach to tackling the region’s drought than relying on existing reservoirs
ABB drives and motors provide energy-efficient solutions for the extension to the water treatment plant at Tuakau and new pumping station at Papakura
The Waikato 50 project is helping Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, recover from its 2020 drought, the worst on record. In a recent press release, ABB shared how its drives and motors play a vital role in the project.
The $103 million USD project, comprising an extension to the Tuakau water treatment plant and a new pumping station at Papakura, can produce up to an extra 13 million gallons daily (MGD) from the Waikato River. This meets around one eighth of the city’s daily water demand.
The Waikato 50 project was developed by Watercare Services, the water and wastewater utility for the Auckland Region. The Waikato River was selected as a drought-resilient source due to its large catchment spanning more than 14,000 square kilometers. Approximately two percent of the 18 billion liters of water that flows past the plant every day will be drawn and treated. The new pump station enables the Waikato pipeline, around 60 km in length, to deliver the increased amount of treated water to Auckland.
Together with partners Beca, Fletcher Construction, and Fulton Hogan, ABB collaborated with Watercare to provide motor and drive solutions for energy-efficient pumping of water at the Tuakau and Papakura sites.
The company’s variable speed drives (VSDs) enabled the speed of the pumps to be controlled precisely to match demand, with projected energy savings of around 25 percent. The ABB equipment is also supported by digital solutions, providing insights into the performance of the motors and drives to help Watercare improve the performance, reliability and efficiency of its pumping systems.
For the Waikato 50 pumping systems, ABB has supplied two ACS2000i medium voltage drives with integrated transformer, seven ACS880 ultra low harmonic cabinet-built VSDs, 29 ACQ580 water dedicated VSDs, two NMI 6.6 kilovolt (kV) induction motors and three NMI 690 volt (V) induction motors. For reliable power distribution, ABB also delivered compact medium-voltage switchgear SafePlus, equipped with Relion® 615 series relays for feeder protection and control.
