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Message
Why can't S&WB get the pumps to run?
Posted on 6/18/26 at 4:10 pm
Posted on 6/18/26 at 4:10 pm
We have put men on the moon, why can't we get some pumps to run? It happens EVERY TIME. It wasn't one or two, it was SEVEN of them.
LINK
quote:
Brand new Sewerage & Water Board power equipment failed on Thursday morning, limiting capacity at seven drainage pump stations as strong thunderstorms from the remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur pounded the area.
Pumps at Stations 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 12 went offline around 5:45 a.m. and were restored within an hour, according to S&WB spokesperson Ceara Labat. Those pumps collectively serve most of the city, excluding Algiers, New Orleans East and neighborhoods that are downriver of the French Quarter.
"We are still investigating the cause of the incident using electrical data from the frequency changers. We anticipate having an understanding of the issue by the end of the day and will plan for any mitigation measures based on the outcome of the investigation," Labat said in an email.
LINK
8
Posted on 6/18/26 at 4:12 pm to jbgleason
Ask the frosty machines.
Posted on 6/18/26 at 4:13 pm to jbgleason
quote:
We have put men on the moon,
Posted on 6/18/26 at 4:14 pm to jbgleason
Griftin’ ain’t easy
Posted on 6/18/26 at 4:15 pm to jbgleason
Is there anything in New Orleans city government run on a first world level?
Posted on 6/18/26 at 4:17 pm to 4LSU2
quote:
We have put men on the moon,
I mentioned that specifically to draw out the moon landing deniers. How about this?
We have managed to gas light millions into believing we went to the moon... why can't we run some pumps? Better?
Posted on 6/18/26 at 4:19 pm to jbgleason
quote:you sound on par with new orleans
I mentioned that specifically to draw out the moon landing deniers. How about this?
We have managed to gas light millions into believing we went to the moon... why can't we run some pumps? Better?
Posted on 6/18/26 at 4:24 pm to jbgleason
This is interesting. Saying 3 inches of rain wasn't much and that it would have flooded even if the pumps worked. But that there wasn't much flooding and the pumps didn't work.
It would be far worse if we lost the pumps that we lost that in the end wasn't that bad.
quote:
That amount of rain probably would have caused flooding in New Orleans even if the system worked perfectly, but it could have been made far worse with drainage pumps everywhere between the French Quarter and Lakeview knocked out for an hour at the height of the storm.
As it happens, the failure resulted in only minor street flooding in Lakeview that quickly receded once the problem was fixed.
It would be far worse if we lost the pumps that we lost that in the end wasn't that bad.
This post was edited on 6/18/26 at 4:26 pm
Posted on 6/18/26 at 4:24 pm to jbgleason
The new power complex was built and run by Entergy
The converters are new and are run by the S&WB
So we have the worst private utility in the country working with the worst public utility in the country
What could go wrong??
The converters are new and are run by the S&WB
So we have the worst private utility in the country working with the worst public utility in the country
What could go wrong??
Posted on 6/18/26 at 4:24 pm to jbgleason
quote:Why do they have VFDs on these pumps?
frequency changers
Posted on 6/18/26 at 4:27 pm to White Bear
Not sure they are VFDs. They just convert from 60 to 25 for the older pumps.
Posted on 6/18/26 at 4:28 pm to jbgleason
Mitch
Destroya
Destroya
Posted on 6/18/26 at 4:29 pm to fightin tigers
quote:10-4 thx
Not sure they are VFDs. They just convert from 60 to 25 for the older pumps.
Posted on 6/18/26 at 4:30 pm to White Bear
On these size pumps you needs VFDs. If you don't you'd brown out the neighbors when motors are switched to line feed. The VFDs help the pumps start slowly reducing the inrush current.
Also they can vary the pump speeds as the rain rate varies. Say you have 1" of rain you can turn one pump on at 50% power. You get 2" you go up to 100% or start a 2nd pump at 50%.
Also they can vary the pump speeds as the rain rate varies. Say you have 1" of rain you can turn one pump on at 50% power. You get 2" you go up to 100% or start a 2nd pump at 50%.
Posted on 6/18/26 at 4:31 pm to mchias1
English MoFo's! Do you speak it?
Seriously though, the depth and breadth of knowledge on the OT is pretty impressive. Now tell me what y'all are talking about.
Seriously though, the depth and breadth of knowledge on the OT is pretty impressive. Now tell me what y'all are talking about.
Posted on 6/18/26 at 4:34 pm to jbgleason
A simple way to explain is a VFD is basically like your mixer at home. 1/2/3....it speeds up the pump the higher the frequency.
They can be used to meter flows or just save electricity. Also because lower speeds can ve less wear and tear. Easier to start usually as well.
In the case of the drainage pumps they are on 25hz as a holdover from 100 years ago. Likely wouldn't design them that way now but the biggest issue is getting 25hz power there. So they change the frequency of 2026 power (60hz) with frequency changers in order to supply the pump power.
They can be used to meter flows or just save electricity. Also because lower speeds can ve less wear and tear. Easier to start usually as well.
In the case of the drainage pumps they are on 25hz as a holdover from 100 years ago. Likely wouldn't design them that way now but the biggest issue is getting 25hz power there. So they change the frequency of 2026 power (60hz) with frequency changers in order to supply the pump power.
This post was edited on 6/18/26 at 4:36 pm
Posted on 6/18/26 at 4:36 pm to fightin tigers
quote:
It would be far worse if we lost the pumps that we lost that in the end wasn't that bad.
Including the paragraph immediately preceding those two would be important:
quote:
Fortunately for New Orleans, the city received less than three inches of rain, a fairly modest downpour compared to neighboring parishes that were inundated and saw widespread flooding – parts of Jefferson Parish saw as much as nine inches.
That amount of rain probably would have caused flooding in New Orleans even if the system worked perfectly, but it could have been made far worse with drainage pumps everywhere between the French Quarter and Lakeview knocked out for an hour at the height of the storm.
As it happens, the failure resulted in only minor street flooding in Lakeview that quickly receded once the problem was fixed.
Posted on 6/18/26 at 4:38 pm to Joshjrn
Ah, read the "that" as something different.
3 inches of rain is outside the design already.
3 inches of rain is outside the design already.
Posted on 6/18/26 at 4:39 pm to jbgleason
VFD = variable frequency drive. Basically you can change the hz output of a drive to a motor. AC motors are controlled by the frequency given them.
An AC motor runs at 120V 60hz normally. That is considered full speed. And VFD would let you decrease the hz to say 30hz which is 50% speed.
As far as the current draw, you ever been in a house when the AC kicks on and the lights dim? That's due to the inrush current being too much for the utility at the moment. It can't supply more current so the voltage drops causing your lights to dim. If you install a soft starter or VFD on your AC it decreases the inrush current keeping the voltage from dropping.
An AC motor runs at 120V 60hz normally. That is considered full speed. And VFD would let you decrease the hz to say 30hz which is 50% speed.
As far as the current draw, you ever been in a house when the AC kicks on and the lights dim? That's due to the inrush current being too much for the utility at the moment. It can't supply more current so the voltage drops causing your lights to dim. If you install a soft starter or VFD on your AC it decreases the inrush current keeping the voltage from dropping.
Posted on 6/18/26 at 4:39 pm to mchias1
quote:thanks. Makes sense on inrush startup, I figured on a multi-pump system they could stage them on/off full power as needed.
On these size pumps you needs VFDs. If you don't you'd brown out the neighbors when motors are switched to line feed. The VFDs help the pumps start slowly reducing the inrush current.
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