As the monsoon season opens its skies come mid-June, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is one step ahead, maintaining over 50 freeway pump stations across the Phoenix area to prevent potential flooding on the roads. According to a report from ADOT, these crucial infrastructures are subject to rigorous, year-round upkeep that includes both traditional hands-on inspections and a drone-assisted monitoring system for hard-to-reach areas within the pump stations.
The drone initiative, which stepped out of its pilot phase in February, lets inspectors take a closer, safer look at the structural integrity of the pump stations, including checking for any cracks, leaks, or worn parts. Leveraging this technology, technicians expect to double their efficiency, significantly increasing the number of inspections they can perform within a year. And during a typical inspection, the crew ensures that the engines are in tip-top shape, testing the pumps, even when the well is dry, made possible by using a drone now.
ADOT’s pump stations feature engines robust enough to move over 12,000 gallons of water per minute. To put things in perspective, these stations could theoretically clear a 35,000-gallon swimming pool in less than sixty seconds. Nevertheless, the drainage system faces its true test when monsoon downpours exceed 2 inches of rain per hour. Prepared for such eventualities, ADOT technicians stand by to tackle any arising maintenance issues immediately.
Still, the efficiency of these pump stations is not just a product of their mechanical prowess, but also reliant on drivers' cooperation. ADOT urges motor vehicle operators to prevent debris from littering the roadways as it can obstruct water flow and jam the drainage systems. The effort to streamline state infrastructure saw ADOT retire outdated pump stations last year along the I-17 between Dunlap Avenue and Greenway Road, replacing them with gravity-controlled systems that funnel the stormwater into designed basins and a flood channel, as stated by using a drone now during safety inspections.
