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West Memphis utility says pumps moved nearly 4 billion gallons in 13-inch storm; staff outline ditch-maintenance plan
Summary
Utility staff described sustained 24/7 emergency operations after a 12–13 inch rain event, reporting roughly 3.83 billion gallons moved over the levy, temporary pump repairs and a plan to prioritize ditch clearing funded by an existing sales tax to improve future storm response.
The West Memphis Utility Commission heard a detailed after-action briefing on April 10 about a recent 12–13 inch rain event that flooded parts of the city and required around-the-clock utility operations.
Bob, the utility director, told commissioners the utility kept pumps running 24/7, replaced a failed motor at the Waverly pumping station with help from a partner in Mississippi and ran multiple stations in rotation. “We were able to get the motor changed and get this pump back operational,” he said, and credited line crews and mutual-aid partners for the rapid repair.
The utility reported the flood-pond pumps can move about 22,800,000 gallons per hour and that, running for extended stretches during the event, that amount equated to roughly 3,830,400,000 gallons of water moved over the levy. The director framed the event as a "generational" storm and said the system held up because of pre-storm preparations and staff response.
Lauren Hoskins, the utility’s director of communications, said social-media channels helped correct inaccurate online reports—she specifically addressed and countered rumors that the city was placed under a boil-water alert. "There was some misinformation out there that the city was under a boil alert; we were not," Hoskins said, and described posting field photos and timely updates to reduce confusion.
Staff identified clogged and overgrown ditches—rather than insufficient pump capacity—as the main bottleneck to moving stormwater. The commission was told the community’s sales tax for ditch maintenance has been approved but work has not begun; staff said RFPs will be posted and crews will begin clearing vegetation and dredging ditches, with work starting on the city's south side to restore conveyance.
On wastewater operations, staff said auxiliary pumps were deployed at vulnerable lift stations (including lift station 9, which serves an industrial customer, Coca‑Cola) and that the wastewater plant avoided a full bypass until late Thursday evening. The utility reported that stormwater intrusion into the sanitary system elevated head pressures and caused equipment and separator issues at industrial connections; staff described planned pipeline and lift-station changes to reduce future storm-water infiltration.
Commissioners asked about pump inventories and repair schedules. Staff said the flood pond has multiple large motors (including thousand-horsepower units), one of which will be pulled this summer for refurbishment; long lead times mean repairs require advance planning. Staff also said crews will add heavier-duty intake screening at flood-pond inlets and pursue additional pumps and ditch-clearing work identified in the after-action review.
The utility emphasized cross-department cooperation—electric, water, wastewater, meter and public works staff all supported the response—and noted mutual-aid relationships helped with equipment and rescues in neighborhoods with deeper flooding.
The commission did not take formal action on the after-action items at this meeting; staff said they will return with RFP schedules and specific project proposals for ditch maintenance and pump repairs.
