ECS installs one of the UK’s first adjustable stop logs at Peakirk Pumping Station
Water control and fabrication expert ECS Engineering Services has recently completed the installation of one of the country’s first adjustable stop logs at Peakirk Pumping Station. Located on the River Welland, ECS installed the stop log as part of an overhaul of the existing pumping station on behalf of the Environment Agency and Anglian Water. The new stop log will aid work in the area by offering a barrier to water flow while maintenance is carried out on certain facilities.
The new coated steel stop log, weighing 5,000 kg, is designed to seal off a water channel to allow maintenance work to be carried out on a number of water control structures in the area. The innovative design allows the overall width to be adjusted between 6,800 mm and 8,000 mm, which ensures an excellent fit in a number of structures across the local sites. By specifying a single stop log for use in multiple applications, the Environment Agency has been supplied with a cost-effective and versatile solution.
ECS designed this particular solution in conjunction with H.C. Waterbeheersing. A coated steel stop log was selected by ECS for the facility due to its durability and resistance to corrosion – providing maximum service life with minimal maintenance.
ECS typically designs, manufactures and installs stop logs that are designed specifically for a client’s application, enabling a perfectly suited solution to control flow in specific areas. These particular type of stop logs are available in a range of modern lightweight materials and various grades of steel for greater customisation options.
Further work carried out by ECS during the project included the addition of a second fixed coated steel stop log system weighing in at 1,200 kg, which is located upstream in the centre channel sluice of the station. Furthermore, refurbishment of the pointing doors was completed including a new mechanical operating system, which was designed and installed by ECS.
Updated PLC controlled weedscreen cleaners have also been installed at Peakirk, replacing a previous system that had reached the end of the service life. The new cleaners will clear debris more efficiently from the screens, ensuring the risks of blockages and eventual flooding are significantly reduced, improving the flood safety of the surrounding area. As the entire system is automated, the costs and associated risks with regards to manually maintaining and unblocking the screens will be minimised.
New lighting and uprated lifting equipment were also installed within the pump house itself. ECS carried out a full inspection and refurbishment of the diesel and electric pumps located on-site, with the aim to eventually replacing the existing equipment.
Jamie Wesley, Contracts Manager at ECS, comments: “We are continuing our long standing support for the Environment Agency and are now the appointed framework contractors for a number of Water Utilities across the UK. We are naturally delighted to be working alongside these clients to provide solutions in asset management, refurbishment and upgrade.”
To learn more about fully adjustable stop logs from ECS Engineering Services, please visit the ECS website.