The La Caldera pumping station has a capacity of 40 m3/s.

KSB drains metropolis to protect millions of inhabitants: Mexico City flood control project

Stormwater and flooding – Mexico City is repeatedly threatened by large volumes of water. The La Caldera pumping station equipped with 20 KSB submersible motor pumps protects the inhabitants of the metropolis against floods.

The project: Flood control for Mexico City

Mexico City is repeatedly threatened by flooding and stormwater. Heavy rainfall creates a mixture of rainwater and waste water which floods large parts of the city. In a city district particularly affected, 1.5 million inhabitants suffered from flooding on a regular basis.

Why is that? Situated on a plateau at an altitude of about 2,200 m above sea level, Mexico City is located in a basin surrounded by mountains. The ground on which the 20-million strong metropolis stands has sunk considerably over the course of many years. As a result, it is difficult for the rainwater to drain off, which means the city is repeatedly at risk.

In order to protect the inhabitants in the long term from the threat of floods, CONAGUA, the National Water Commission, initiated the country’s largest and most significant infrastructure construction: the La Caldera pumping station with its combined sewer system for flood control. The construction was designed to ensure the draining and removing of rainwater and waste water from this part of Mexico City and the surrounding areas.

The customer: CONAGUA, responsible for flood control in Mexico

The Mexican National Water Commission CONAGUA (La Comisión Nacional del Agua) is responsible for infrastructure works all over the country – including the planning (for example of flood control projects), engineering and management in this field.

Founded in 1988, the Commission employs some 17,000 staff at its headquarters in Mexico City and maintains 25 branches in the different federal states and districts.

La Caldera pumping station with combined sewer system

The La Caldera pumping station with its combined sewer system

The challenge: Reliable protection from flooding

What was unique about this task was the sheer scale of the flood control project: a pumping capacity of 40 m3/s at a head of almost 30 metres was required – all with the highest levels of efficiency and to be completed by the tight deadline. The inhabitants needed to be protected from flooding as quickly as possible.

In addition, the customer expected special technical support, since with major projects of this kind all requirements need to be fulfilled without exception. KSB had to precisely monitor every work step and be available to provide the project managers with advice and support on site.

La Caldera pumping station with a head of around 30 metres

The pumping station bridges a head of almost 30 metres

The solution: Tailored pumps for the La Caldera pumping station

The design of both the pumps and sumps, which had to match the hydraulic parameters, was specially tailored for the La Caldera pumping station in close cooperation with the project management. CFD calculations and tests with physical models revealed that the very small sump diameter was still sufficient for this huge pumping station.

In October 2010, the La Caldera pumping station started operation equipped with a total of 24 Amarex KRT K submersible motor pumps. In close cooperation with KSB Mexico and KSB Halle, it was possible to deliver all required pumps and accessories while still keeping within the budget. All pumps supplied met the technical specifications 100 percent. From piping calculations with regard to torsional stresses and natural frequencies, model tests, installation and commissioning through to on-site test runs, KSB delivered excellent work and services to the full satisfaction of the customer.

KSB was also able to meet the tight delivery deadline. In order to deliver and commission the first 10 pumps within a mere 5 months and the remaining pumps in 8 months, KSB even chartered an aircraft. This allowed KSB to supply, install and put into service the submersible waste water pumps on time to safely ensure protection against flooding.

Data I Facts I Figures

  • Location: La Caldera, Mexico City
  • Customer: 
    Company: CONAGUA (La Comisión Nacional del Agua)
    Founded: 1988
    Employees: Around 17,000
    Industry: Public authority
  • Application: Flood control
  • Project: 
    KSB products used:
    16 x Amarex KRT K submersible waste water pumps
    700-900/H 680 10 UNG-S
    Q = 2000 l/s, H = 26.55 m, P = 912 HP, V = 4160 Volt

    8 x Amarex KRT K submersible motor pumps 
    400-630/H 340 8 UNG-S
    Q = 1,000 l/s, H = 28.83 m, P = 500 HP, V = 4,160 Volt

    24 control and monitoring units with the respective distribution boxes to NEMA

    Capacity 40 m3/s at a head of around 30 metres

    Fluid handled: 
    Rainwater

    Commissioned: 
    2010
  • Project year: 2010

KSB on üks maailma juhtivamaid tööstuslike ventiilide ja pumpade tootjaid

KSB asutati aastal 1871 Frankenthalis (Saksamaa) ja on olnud juba üle 100 aasta üks juhtivaid pumpade ja tööstuslike ventiilide tootja. Maailmas enam kui 15 500 töötajaga oma müügi-, tootmis- ja hoolduskeskustes arendab valmistab KSB eritellimusel ja standardpumpasid erinevate valdkondade jaoks.

Ettevõttel on pikaajaline kogemus pumpade tootmisel ning selle tooteportfell hõlmab tooteid ehitusvaldkonnale, tööstustele, elektrijaamadele, katlamajadele, veevarustusele ja reoveele. Tänu uuenduslikule teadus- ja arendustööle suudab KSB täita oma klientide kõige erinevamaid nõudmisi. Tunnustatud pumbatootjana on KSB-l olemas kauaaegne kogemus ja tehniline oskusteave.

Pumbatootja KSB – parem lahendus teie süsteemile
KSB tööstuspumbad ja -ventiilid sobivad paljudele erinevatele rakendustele ning on väga energiasäästlikud. Meie tooted avaldavad muljet nii oma tipptasemel tehnoloogia ja kui ka paljude aastate jooksul katsetatud süsteemidega. Hea näide sellest on Etanorm veepump. Seda on müüdud enam kui 1,5 miljoni, mis teeb Etanormist  kogu maailmas enimmüüdud standardse veepumba. Vaata ka KSB hooldusteenuseid ja varuosad varuosasid.

Hüdraulika, materjalitehnoloogia ja automatiseerimine on KSB tehnoloogilised tugevad küljed ning just selles peitub ka tema suure võimsusega pumpade edu valem.

Kompetentne teenindus algusest peale
Tänu arvukatele esindustele on KSB klientidele lähedal ja suudab pakkuda tipptasemel teenust. Ulatusliku kogemustepagasiga sertifitseeritud spetsialistid tagavad suurepärase kvaliteedi. KSB hooldusteenuse spetsialistid hoolitsevad teie pumpade, ventiilide ja terviklike süsteemide kasutuselevõtmise, ülevaatuse, hoolduse ja remondi eest kohapeal. Samuti tarnib KSB teile varuosad kiirelt. Nii saate kasutada parimat teenust otse pumbatootjalt.