With the ability to pump 146,000 gallons of water per minute, Grundfos KPL pumps will move water from Lake Okeechobee into the 6,500-acre EAA Stormwater Treatment Area and Reservoir for storage and cleaning. The clean water will then move south to nourish the Everglades and replenish Florida’s aquifers and the Florida Bay.
The Grundfos pumps are installed at two pump stations within the stormwater treatment area. One pump station is now operational, and the other is completing the testing and analysis phase while power is connected to the station.
“The EAA Reservoir and Stormwater Treatment Area is a triumph in sustainable design that will positively impact Florida’s residents, the local economy and the native wildlife for generations,” said Jack Canfield, Market Development Manager of Water Utilities at Grundfos. “Grundfos’ role in this project exemplifies the company’s belief that everyone deserves access to clean, safe water, including the local ecosystem of birds, fish and plants. We are proud to work with the South Florida Water Management District, the engineers at Brown and Caldwell, and the construction team at Phillips & Jordan to ensure the success of a hydrological restoration project of this scale and complexity.”
For decades, toxic runoff from agricultural land use entered Florida’s canal system and made its way into natural waterways, lakes and coastal communities. In 2019, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis enacted an Everglades restoration project that includes the EAA Reservoir and Stormwater Treatment Area, which will use the natural filtration systems of the Everglades to reduce harmful discharges like green algae and other bacteria and restore the natural flow of clean water to South Florida.
“The entire Grundfos team feels immense pride as we see this critical phase of the Everglades restoration project come to fruition,” said HP Nanda, EVP & Divisional CEO of Water Utility at Grundfos. “As stewards of our environment and a global leader in water solutions, we recognize the critical role water plays in sustaining life and ecosystems. The installation of these Grundfos solutions marks a significant step forward in our commitment respect, protect and advance the flow of water.”
