Flood Restoration equipment: what you need to get the job done

When it comes to weather disasters, flooding is one of the most common and severe hazards disrupting lives and livelihoods. Due to climate change, it’s expected to increase over the coming decades. A rapid response to flooding is critical to mitigate losses, so plan in advance for flood restoration of your jobsite, facility or business, especially if it’s located in a flood-prone area. That includes deciding how you’ll source pumps and other equipment to fight the effects of floods.

Partnering with a vendor such as United Rentals that offers a large inventory of dewatering, contain and filtration equipment and the expertise to design and set up a dewatering system is a smart way to prepare. United Rentals also offers power equipment and other equipment needed to facilitate flood damage restoration.

Choosing the right water pump for flooding

Whether you’re facing flooding caused by a natural disaster or a burst pipe, you’ll need an emergency water pump to remove the water. United Rentals can help you identify the right pump to get the job done fast.

High-volume pumps

If you need to transport water over a short distance without a significant change in elevation, a standard or industrial pump ranging from 4 to 8 inches may be a suitable choice. These pumps can be powered by diesel or electricity and are vacuum-assisted. For instance, a 4-inch pump can provide a flow rate of up to 300 m³/h, while the largest 8-inch pump can provide a flow rate of up to 910 m³/h. If you opt for an electric pump, we can offer generators ranging from 18 to 500 kVA to power the pump.

Medium or high-head pumps

If dewatering your site requires pumping over long distances or elevation changes,a medium or high-head pump, which produces more pressure and pushes water up higher, will get it done. As with high-volume pumps, the size of the suction and discharge openings will dictate the water removal rate. Our medium and high-head pump range are capable of providing transfer capacities ranging from 240 to 1060 m³/h.

Electric submersible pumps

For flooding problems in ditches, basements, or other areas with deep water, can help get you dried out fast. These units are designed to be completely submerged, pushing water up and away instead of pulling it in and then discharging it. Our pump models range from a 2-inch electric pump, which can move approximately 32 m³/h of relatively clean water, to larger models that are ideal for handling wastewater and fluids with large solids at capacities of up to approximately 150 m³/h.

Cutting pump and eccentric screw Pumps

If you need to remove only a small amount of water and it’s contaminated with stones, leaves, mud or other solids, you might be advised to rent a submerged pump with a cutting ring of an eccentric screw pump. These pumps can pass solids that would clog some other pumps.

Clustered Storage of Floodwater

During a flood, it is possible that directly draining or pumping out the large amount of water is not immediately feasible. To still make an area water-free, or to cluster the excess water, you can choose to use storage tanks. By means of a pump, the water can be suctioned and stored in the tanks. Once the water can be drained again or when a subsequent step, such as filtration, is needed, this can be achieved from the storage tank.

Polluted water? Filter the wastewater immediately

During a flood, pollution can also occur at times. The water to be pumped out can be filled with coarse pieces of waste or, in extreme cases, it may even be contaminated with substances such as oil. In this case, the water must be treated before it can be drained.

Determine the degree of pollution in the water

To determine the type of filtration needed, you must first establish the nature of the pollution. Are there solid substances that need to settle or floating waste materials?  Do solid substances need to be filtered out from the waste stream? But also, what is the volume of the wastewater to be filtered and at what rate should it be drained? The nature of the pollution ultimately determines which filtration solutions are the most suitable for the project.

Emergency power equipment

Flooding and power outages tend to coincide, so you may need generators to power flood restoration equipment and temporary lighting. Since rental diesel-generators tend to be scarce in the aftermath of a major storm, partnering with a vendor with a large inventory and superior customer service will help accelerate your recovery. United Rentals’ team of power experts is available 24/7 to provide disaster relief power and climate control solutions.