Amarillo staff outline permanent pump station, force main to reduce Playa 7 flood risk

City staff detailed a plan to build a permanent pump station and force main to reduce flooding at Playa 7, telling the Amarillo City Council the project is in design and expected to enter construction after bidding in late 2026.

The project, presented by Alan Harder, drainage utility project manager, would place a pump station on the south side of Greenways Park near the existing temporary pump and route a new force main to the South Sanse storm sewer near 40th and Fifth, ultimately discharging to the John Ward area, Harder said. The recommended configuration includes two submersible pumps for redundancy and excavation of a channel to connect a nearby pond to the main playa to increase dewatering capacity.

The plan responds to recurrent flooding at Playa 7, which the city temporarily mitigates with a portable pump purchased after the 2023 event. Harder told council that the city purchased a portable pump because acquisition cost was cheaper than…