Prime Pump’s Veneroni ATR50 mobile pump is providing a welcome extra level of protection to the flood-prone West Taieri Plains. The Italian designed and manufactured PTO-driven, centrifugal pump with hydraulic rotation
provides high flow at low power with significant energy savings over other solutions.
Farmers frustrated with the existing flood protection had described the existing pumping station pumps, as “lemons” and pushed the council to look for a more effective and more responsive back-up.
One local, Cameron Edgecombe, who has lived in the area for 20 years, recalled the frustration of locals at a meeting held to discuss the issues and suggest a solution. “There were 50 very vocal farmers there, so yes, I’d say the council was receptive.” He says, in a previous flood, water was still rising after six days because the two existing pumps couldn’t cope with the volume of water leading to very real concerns.
Cameron says the farmers proactively searched for an additional pump that would help do the job and along with council settled on the Veneroni because of its affordability and lower energy use. “It has twin impellor so it takes less h/p to do the same job. We’d like more!”
The pump has had a successful test run but fortunately hasn’t been needed to date. The Plains are usually subject to between two and three flood events a year. Glenn Powell, from Prime Pump, says the Veneroni is a; “serious volume water mover with excellent head capability which made it an attractive option.”
“The flow required for this project was up to 900 litres a second. It can do that, easily. This pumps is really, really efficient. People have been pretty impressed with it already.”
