Guardian Pump for New Bridge Project

In this interview, John Bourke, Bowen Road Works Supervisor, discusses the use of the PumpEng Guardian pump for dewatering management in a bridge project.

Project Overview

Q: Can you describe the project you are currently working on?

A: We are currently working on a bridge duplication project for Main Roads. It’s been a challenging year with significant flooding – our bridge site was flooded three times, causing long delays. However, we’re making back time and progressing well with the right equipment in place.

Water Management Challenges

Q: Can you describe the dewatering challenges and the type of water you need to manage for bridge works?

A: As the piling contractor, we have to manage any water coming out of the piles, which includes groundwater. This year, we’ve had to deal with large amounts of flooding, so there’s been a lot of floodwater to manage in addition to the regular groundwater from our deep excavations.

Why PumpEng and the 8kW Guardian Pump

Q: How long have you been working with the PumpEng team, and what has that experience been like?

A: The experience has been very good. We were looking for a large pump to do what we needed, and we decided to go with PumpEng. They’re local – just down the road from us – and while we looked at a few different companies, being local was a major factor in our decision.

Q: You’re currently using an 8kW Guardian pump. What specific requirements led you to choose this pump?

A: Because we’re doing quite deep piles – anywhere from 30 to 40 metres – I needed a pump that could handle quite a large head. We need the pump to be able to keep up with the flow rate required to dewater the piles effectively.

Operational Efficiency

Q: What differences have you observed in operational efficiency since switching to the 8kW Guardian pump?

A: We’ve definitely seen increased efficiency in pumping – we know we can get the flow of water out in the required time. Previously, we’d always hired pumps because we hadn’t used them as extensively, but on this job, we’ve used pumps quite a bit. Having the right pump on site, ready to go, has obviously increased efficiency.

Key Advantages for Bridge Works

Q: For bridge works supervisors evaluating pump options, what key advantages does the 8kW Guardian pump provide?

A: The main advantage is that it suits our current range of generators that we hold on site. We didn’t have to purposely go out and purchase a new generator – it was designed to suit the power sources we commonly use on site, which is a significant cost and logistical benefit.

Installation and Integration

Q: How easy was the process of installing and integrating the 8kW Guardian pump into your existing setup?

A: Very easy. The compatibility with our existing equipment made the integration seamless.

Performance in a Fast-Paced Environment

Q: What has been the most notable benefit of incorporating the 8kW Guardian pump into your daily operations?

A: It’s basically doing exactly what we need it to do. We operate in a very fast-paced environment here, so we need to make sure our equipment keeps up with the quantity of water we need to pump. If equipment doesn’t keep up with our needs, we look for another option. In this case, the Guardian pump has done everything it needed to do.

Service and Support

Q: What has your experience been with PumpEng’s service and support?

A: We had a site repair that needed doing, and they sorted that out. They also recommended an upgrade that we chose to go with for our requirements. Being local makes it a very easy process – we don’t have to send equipment away to Sydney or Melbourne.

Crew Feedback

Q: What feedback have you received from your on-site crew regarding the pump’s performance?

A: When everything’s working properly, you don’t normally get any complaints. No news is good news in our business, and that’s exactly what we’ve experienced with this pump.

Recommendation

Q: What recommendations would you offer to other bridge works supervisors considering the 8kW Guardian pump?

A: Obviously, it depends on what’s required and what sort of dewatering you need. We chose this pump because it’s got quite a large head and can pump quite deep, which suited our requirements perfectly. I’ve been speaking with PumpEng about another pump for general use as well. If another operator asked me about pumps, I would definitely recommend the Guardian pump we’ve got.

Learn more about the Guardian® pump.