Andrews Sykes : Pump hire safeguards lagoon at disused quarry

Once depleted of their desired resources, quarries are generally abandoned and left to be reclaimed by nature. This was the intended outcome of a Plymouth quarry that ceased operation several years ago, but a number of precautions had to be taken to ensure the site was safe ahead of its official closure.

The presence of a large lake within the grounds was identified as a particular cause for concern, with health and safety representatives insisting that water levels would need to be kept low.

With Sykes Pumps' experience of quarries and mines well-known in the South West, we were contacted by an excavation specialist and tasked with addressing the lake's depth.[Link]

Due to the remote location of the quarry, it was evident that any water removed would need to be transported a long way from site. This requirement prompted us to recommend the use of our HP100 super silenced pump, with its high head capability rendering it the perfect fit for a long push application.

The pump was set up on level control for automatic start/stop and left to run 24 hours a day thanks to its silenced functionality.

To ensure the pump could operate continuously for extended periods of time, we also supplied a 1,000-litre fuel tank which negated the need for it to be refuelled frequently.

Thanks to the technical knowledge of our regional engineer and the fact that we have a depot located nearby in Bovey Tracey, the pump hire package was delivered and installed a short time after the enquiry surfaced.