Prague Pumping

Work on the Blanka city ring road in Prague, the Czech Republic, which commenced in 2006 was abruptly halted last year when, after torrential rain, a 20 m wide by 10 m deep crater appeared in Stromovka Park.

Following disastrous flooding in Prague in 2002, a fleet of 16 SPP Q1200 and XF250 autoprime pump sets were bought by the Prague Magistrature to be kept on standby for flooding situations.

With the appearance of the crater two of these SPP autoprime Q1200 pump units were pressed into action in the park.

"Draining the crater, which filled with water very quickly, was a major undertaking," said a spokesman from Metrostav, the main contractor on the Blanka city ring project.

"The water had to be pumped some 250 m from the site to the nearest drainage canal and the solids handling capabilities of the Q series proved invaluable in dealing with the slurry created as the water was drained."

Thanks to the effectiveness of the response, Metrostav has announced that the landslide had little influence on the project and the 2011 opening of the ring road remains on schedule.