Lawrence Lake pump repair project to begin Monday, city of Amarillo says

From Staff Reports
·2 min read

After crews recently noticed flow problems, a repair project to pump stations at Lawrence Lake will soon be underway, the city of Amarillo said Wednesday.

The city's Drainage Utility Department will be working on standpipe screens at Lawrence Lake beginning Monday, April 22. According to a news release, an issue was discovered April 10 during routine maintenance and pump start-up testing.

"During the operation, Drainage Utility Department staff noticed indications of vacuum problems, signaling potential clogging of pump screens," the release states. "Pumps were promptly shut down to prevent possible damage. The pumps were later removed so that screens could be cleaned of debris."

Lawrence Lake flooded over its banks into the streets, leading to closures during flash flooding in Amarillo last spring, as seen in this file photo. Intake structures at the playa lake sustained damage, likely due to aging and the heavy flood waters, the city said.
Lawrence Lake flooded over its banks into the streets, leading to closures during flash flooding in Amarillo last spring, as seen in this file photo. Intake structures at the playa lake sustained damage, likely due to aging and the heavy flood waters, the city said.

Intake structures, situated on riser pipes at the end of the lake’s intake piping, are equipped with screens to stop debris from entering into the wet well where pumps are located, the city noted. A dive team was called in to inspect the submerged structures and determined that each sustained damage, likely due to aging and heavy flood waters last spring.

The Drainage Utility Department then initiated an emergency requisition through the city's Purchasing Department to expedite repairs to intake screens.

Repair work, which will include an underwater construction team, is scheduled at Lawrence Lake beginning Monday for each intake structure.

"Pumping operations at Lawrence Lake will resume following completion of the repair projects," the release said. "Thanks to the quick reaction by Drainage Utility maintenance crews, the pumps were not damaged by debris."

The city of Amarillo is providing a detailed rundown of the repair project at the city's Drainage Utility Department website. In addition, residents can monitor levels of the five local playa lakes on the city's website, including Lawrence Lake. Levels are updated at 9 a.m. each Monday.

For more information, contact City of Amarillo Media Relations Manager David Henry at (806) 378-5219 or by email at David.Henry@amarillo.gov.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: City crews to repair Lawrence Lake pump screens Monday