Water levels warning issued as refurbished pumps are calibrated

Machinery at East Hull pumping station – which is vitally important to prevent flooding in Hull – is being tested as an 800,000 programme of refurbishment work draws to an end.

Water levels are set to go up in the Holderness Drain by about 1m as the four pumps in the station on Hedon Road are recalibrated.

Environment Agency technical specialist Duncan Fyfe said based on current conditions the rise would be quite slow.

Sensors upstream of the pumping station had been set much lower than usual to give operators early warning if there is a sudden influx of water into the system.

As well as the Holderness Drain, water levels may alter in Bransholme Great Culvert and Monk Dyke.

The pumps' electrics, motors and moving parts have been overhauled since January.

The four, which operated in the floods of 2007, can pump the equivalent of seven and a half tonnes of water per second from the Holderness Drain, when high tides prevent it from discharging into the Humber.

Yorkshire Water's pumps, which usually pump sewage, can be called upon in an emergency.