“100.000 liters per second”. That´s the pumping capacity Jorge Macri mentioned. We are standing in front of Estación de Bombeo 1. This is not just any building. This is a crucial point for the city’s flood control.
Estación de Bombeo 1 stands guard against the unpredictable nature of the Riachuelo. This pumping station helps keep the city dry. It protects La Boca and Barracas from floods.
How does Estación de Bombeo 1 achieve this feat? It has two key functions. Firstly, it speeds up the drainage of rainwater into the Riachuelo. Secondly, it prevents problems when the Riachuelo rises. This rise can be due to “sudestadas” or high tides.
Imagine a heavy downpour. The city’s drains quickly fill. Without Estación de Bombeo 1, the water would back up. Streets would flood. But the station’s powerful pumps kick in. They channel the rainwater into the river.
Now picture a “sudestada”. The Riachuelo swells. Its waters threaten to spill over into the city. Estación de Bombeo 1 acts as a barrier. Its gates close. The pumps then push excess water away from the city.
Estación de Bombeo 1 boasts eight powerful pumps. They can extract up to 35.000 liters of water per second. That is a lot of water. This massive pumping capacity safeguards 315 city blocks. The area stretches from the Riachuelo to Constitución.
But the work of Estación de Bombeo 1 doesn’t end with pumping water. The station also plays a vital role in waste management. It features a “limpiarrejillas” system. This system stops waste from reaching the river.
Each month, Estación de Bombeo 1 recovers over 600 kilos of plastic. Metals and glass get captured too. This material is sent to recycling centers. Here it is sorted and reused.
The waste includes wood and plastic bags. Discarded furniture gets caught as well. Construction debris is common. All this trash would end up in the Riachuelo. Estación de Bombeo 1 intercepts it.
The station’s team cleans the Riachuelo daily. They focus on a 35-meter-wide strip. This equals 738.000 square meters. Since 2010, this effort has stopped over 5.000 tons of waste from polluting the river.
The authorities constantly maintain Estación de Bombeo 1. They check its condition. They remove accumulated material. This work ensures the station operates efficiently.
The station exemplifies how Buenos Aires adapts. It shows how the city protects itself from the elements. Next time you are in La Boca or Barracas remember Estación de Bombeo 1. It works tirelessly. It keeps the city safe and dry. It protects the environment.