Behind the scenes in Sacramento’s storm drains

Sacramento doesn’t have gravity on its side in a flood. 

“We are in a bowl. Everything that we move, we have to lift and set downstream,” said Mike Wasina, who oversees drainage at several sites across the city like this one – Pumping Station 2 – which moves rain and wastewater out of central Sacramento neighborhoods. 

The city had already gotten a half inch of rain by Thursday afternoon. The heaviest day in this series of storms was over an inch and a half. Still, not even the biggest pump was running.

Supervising Plant Operator Philip Meyer has worked with these pumps for 17 years.  

“The total height of the pump and the motor itself I'd say is probably close to 35 to 40 ft tall,” he said, standing next to a 4-foot-wide blue pump that spanned several floors of the building. “So it's a very large piece of equipment and it's one of the smaller pumps at this facility.”

When Meyer walked past the pumps, he held his hand on them for a few seconds. 

Supervising Plant Operator Philip Meyer has worked with these pumps for 17 years.Megan Myscofski/CapRadio

“Well, the vibrations are perfect. So, you don’t want to feel very much,” he said. “Up above on the motor when I felt it, it’s warm. You just don’t want it to be hot. Everything looks good.”

The station also has a row of four giant backup generators in a building on elevated ground, so they won’t flood. 

“Watching the weather, it’s like a religion for us,” said Meyer.

So when you see water rushing down the drain on your corner, know they’re probably watching for it here.