The City of Tampa is taking steps to strengthen its stormwater management system in anticipation of an active storm season. The city’s Stormwater Department has acquired eight temporary backup generators to ensure that pumping stations without permanent generators can continue operating during power outages.
These generators are stored, tested, and maintained at Sunbelt Rentals in Tampa. They will be deployed to critical pumping stations when a storm approaches. In addition, stormwater crews will manually switch to backup power before a storm hits, ensuring uninterrupted operation. A newly formed Pump Station Rapid Response Team will oversee monitoring, refueling, and addressing any issues with the pumps.
The department is also planning to install permanent backup generators as part of an $11 million investment expected to be completed within two years.
Temporary backup generators will be allocated to several pump stations across the city: 45th Street (5408 N. 45th Street), Closed Basin Station (1101 E. 113th Avenue), Eastridge Station (804 W. 109th Avenue), El Portal Station (8926 El Portal Drive), Lake Eckles (1315 Country Club Drive), Penalty Lake Station (11404 Elbow Drive), Poinsettia Pump Station (2806 Poinsettia Avenue), and Robes Park Station (3105 N. Avon Avenue).
