Fish-friendly pumping stations

Monnickendam pumping station will soon have a capacity of 1,200 m³ per minute thanks to a trio of horizontally mounted fish-friendly pumping stations from Pentair Fairbanks Nijhuis. Fish permeability is an important issue, as the pumping station also provides a separate fish passage, for which Pentair supplies two fish-locating pumps. These pumps are equipped with the new X-Centric impeller, which was basically developed as a low clogging sewage pump. Naturally, we want to know more about that.

"After pumping station C. Mantel at Schardam, the order for Monnickendam pumping station is the second fish-friendly pumping station of the Hoogheemraadschap Hollands Noorderkwartier for which we have been asked to supply this type of large horizontal pump," begins John Beukelaar, project manager at Pentair. "The design of both pumping stations is identical, although the pumping station in Monnickendam will be slightly smaller. We are supplying three fish-friendly pumping stations - one less than in Schardam - and two fish-friendly XRW1 fish bait pumps with a submersible motor." 

Interchangeable

The three fish-friendly pumping stations are hefty specimens with a diameter of 1,600 mm. "The pumps each have a capacity of 400 m³ per minute," Beukelaar explained. "Also for this pumping station, the pumps must be interchangeable and reversible. Reversible means that in times of drought they can be reversed to pump the water into the polder. So they can also be taken out relatively easily for maintenance without having to dry out the grinding chamber with bulkheads." 

X-Centric range

For the fourth channel, the fish passage, Pentair is supplying two fish bait pumps. "These will be equipped with our new X-Centric impeller. The fish-locating pumps generate a current, which lures the fish towards the canal so that they can safely pass the pumping station when the other three pumping stations are not in use. For Schardam pumping station, these pumps were supplied by another supplier, because at the time we did not have this size of fish-friendly pumps with submersible motors. With the new X-Centric impeller, which was basically developed as a low clogging sewage pump, we can now also offer a fish-friendly alternative for this."

Archaeological find

Pentair has already produced the large pumping stations. Not knowing that construction of the pumping station would be delayed due to an archaeological find. "Initially we planned to test the pumps for performance on site in the first months of 2022, but that schedule has now been suspended until further notice. The pumping stations are currently in storage at our service facility in Beverwijk. We are waiting for the green light from the contractor combination to install them. Then we will also take the two XRW1 fish lock pumps into production. We are ready and on standby."