BBA’s BA75 pumps from Prime Pump are prompting a change in traditional de-watering thinking. At less than a ton, the highly efficient Netherlands designed and manufactured pumps are getting through a power of work on projects including Tauranga City’s vital Waiāri Water Supply Scheme. And they’re doing it using a whole lot less fuel.
The $115 million Waiāri scheme will supply much-needed additional freshwater capacity to Tauranga and the wider Western Bay of Plenty. The project, which began in March 2018 is scheduled for completion in 2022. When complete, 22 kilometres of underground pipelines will carry the freshwater to businesses and households at a rate of up to 30,000m3 per day.
The BA75 pumps have been available in New Zealand for a relatively short period of time. But one company quick to see their advantages, were forward thinking sub-contractors on the Waiāri project, GT Civil, who have described them as “little gems”.
Ricardo Holt from the Prime Pump team says his company thought that the new pumps would be a good match for GT Civil’s work almost from the time they were landed.
“Usually 6” pumps tend to be used for dewatering but their capability is very rarely needed. The 3” BA75's are still another 25% shy of full capacity and will run on a tank of fuel for a week.” (That’s compared with every couple of days for a 6” pump.)
“These are pumps that actually fit the job!”
Ricardo says the BA75s, which can be transported on the back of a ute, are especially easy to manoeuvre around a site or transfer to a new site.
The smaller pipe width required by 3” pumps is another time-saver, and health and safety benefit. Low maintenance provides quantifiable savings and at just 50 dB at 10 metres the pumps are exceptionally quiet to run, ideal when they are used close to residential areas removing an extra potential headache for contractors.
