Tulare County staff warn of aging storm pumps, 28 lift stations needing inspection and upgrades

Tulare County staff told the Flood Control Commission that aging storm pumps and control systems across the county warrant immediate attention and prioritized inspection.

Randy, working as extra help with county flood control, showed photos of control boxes with exposed wiring, damaged meters, and vandalized equipment at pump stations in Tuleville, Orosi and Sultana. He described instances where staff had to work in wet conditions at night to troubleshoot and said fencing and updated control boxes would reduce safety risks. “Just this pipe alone is running, about $7,000 to get this 1,” he said when pointing to a damaged 24‑inch column pipe section; he also noted a quoted replacement bowl for a pump could cost about $20,000.

Staff said the county has 28 lift stations, several pumps are 20–40 years old, and a 2015 estimate for repairs of roughly $705,000 has likely increased — staff estimated replacement and repairs could approach $1.4 million depending on condition and part availability. Many parts have long lead times and some replacement components have incorrect threads or bearings, complicating repairs.

Denise described work to standardize control panels and engage local contractors (CJ Hammer) so crews can safely deploy generators and reduce the need to open live control boxes in rain. Staff said they will inventory pumps, develop updated cost estimates, and present an operating‑budget update at the commission's April meeting before advancing capital projects.