WorldWide Drilling Resource

Relief for Puerto Rico’s Guajataca Dam Adapted from Information by Thompson Pump Puerto Rico is still reeling from the affects of last season’s Hurricane Maria. The storm’s sustained winds of more than 150 miles per hour combined with over 30 inches of rain, left the U.S. territory in ruins. Thompson Pump and its workers continue to help citizens recover from the aftermath of the worst storm in the country’s history. In addition to helping save an entire community from a potentially catastrophic flood, the company is providing safe drinking water to over 200,000 citizens. Thompson Pump was among the companies contacted to place bids on a relief contract from the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Once the company was granted permission to proceed from the Corps of Engineers, they immediately mobilized a team of workers who traveled to Puerto Rico. There, they were able to formulate a strategy to help save a large community of residents living downstream from the Guajataca Dam. When the dam’s spillway failed, the rushing water caused major erosion, leading to 70,000 homes being evacuated. Many feared the dam would be lost entirely. “We were going into a situation with a lot of unknowns. We hadn’t seen the jobsite yet, other than in photos from the [Corps] and satellite images. The area was remote, with no cell phone coverage and few supplies available. We planned to be 100% self-sufficient, to the point that we were prepared to camp at the site,” said Bobby Zitzka, national sales manager for Thompson Pump. “Because of the experience of the team, we were confident we’d be able to overcome any obstacles.” The Thompson Pump Team arrived in Puerto Rico within 24 hours. “The selflessness of our people has been remarkable,” said Chris Thompson, president of Thompson Pump. “The number of our employees who volunteered to put their own lives on hold to help the people of Puerto Rico is outstanding. I’m really proud of the way our team came together to accomplish this challenging project.” With roughly 25 truckloads of equipment and supplies, including fusion trailers, skid steers and service trucks, the process of staging this equipment and delivering it to the jobsite was extremely challenging. In the end, it was decided to fly two systems over to expedite the proj- ect, while the remaining systems would arrive by barge. Within days of the equipment’s arrival in Puerto Rico, the first two pumps quickly began rerouting water from the Guajataca lake reservoir to a canal where it is fed into three water treatment plants. While Thompson Pump worked diligently to lower the dam’s water level to reduce the possibility of additional flooding, the Corps of Engineers realized the company’s workers and equipment could also help with another crucial problem, providing drinking water for more than 200,000 people desperate for it. The remaining eight pumps were installed soon after arrival, providing clean water for the community’s citizens for the first time in weeks. Thompson Pump is still playing a vital role in the island’s recovery process while the pumps operate nonstop. Workers on the ground continue to provide ongoing maintenance and around-the-clock pump operation assistance. Thompson Pump is a family-owned company based in Port Orange, Florida. In addition to a full-service manufacturer and provider of high-quality dewatering pumps and pumping equipment, the company also offers engineering expert- ise for dewatering, bypass, and emer- gency pumping applications worldwide. Ten complete systems consisting of 18-inch pumps, suction and discharge lines, as well as elbows and fittings were used for the project. WTR 302-684-3197 FAX: 302-384-0643 142 Broadkill Rd. • Milton, DE 19968 www.atlantic-screen.com email: atlantic@ce.net Manufacturers of Slotted & Perforated Pipe ranging from ½” to 24” diameter Atlantic Screen & Mfg., Inc. • Well Rehab. Products • Manholes • Bentonite • Filter Sock • Inline Chemical Mixers • Sampling Bailers • Clear PVC Pipe • Locking Caps 26 JULY 2018 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® Kathy, Kudos the e-mail. The “Marketing Proposal” was impressive. I feel very confident that your efforts will be of great value to me and my company! . . . I like (actually love) the grass- roots appeal that you guys have going for yourselves and bring to the table! Sincerely, Luis A. Beltran, Sr. Owner/CEO Cable Direct Worldwide, LLC Millville, NJ