Improved Pump Capacity Aids Flood Defences

Parts of Leigh in Lancashire have taken a major step forward towards greater flood resilience thanks to a key piece of engineering being overseen by HBPW.

Bedford Pumping Station upgrade

Bedford Pumping Station, which is situated on Bedford Brook in Leigh, comprises seven pumps. However, in 2015, at the height of some of the heaviest downpours seen in the UK, the Environment Agency facility was unable to cope with the volume of water.

Local communities were devastated, prompting calls for action.

Partner, John Livesey takes up the story: “The station, along with its associated flood storage basin at Lilford Park, protected around 800 properties from flooding on Boxing Day 2015, however 14 homes were still affected, resulting in a subsequent flood investigation report under the terms of the 2010 Flood & Water Management Act.

“Many homes were also affected in the wider geographical area – as far afield as Rochdale – leading to various measures aimed at preventing future repetition.”

Jon said that whilst the pumping station’s origins originally lay in the need to effectively pump water uphill following the historic collapse of the brook bed, they also played their part in flood alleviation.

“The Environment Agency eventually decided to upgrade the station pumps but subsequently found that they were unable to generate the desired flow rates. Consequently, various hydrological modelling work was carried out by a third party from which it was determined that additional baffles, a form of metal plating, needed installing to the station’s sumps in order to improve capacity.”

A 3d Solution

HBPW was asked by AMCO to produce a series of 3d ‘baffle ‘models, along with detailed fabrication drawings which are now being used to manufacture the necessary engineering components.

“Flow rates at Bedford Pumping Station will improve, hopefully by the end of this year, once the baffles are in place. This was a complicated exercise in 3d modelling, however, it has been instrumental in delivering a workable solution for both AMCO and the Environment Agency.”

Aiding flood alleviation