Usina Elevatória de Pedreira, Pumping station in São Paulo, Brazil
Usina Elevatoria de Pedreira is a pumping station in Sao Paulo that moves water from Pinheiros Canal to Billings Reservoir using eight turbine units. The facility raises water levels about 25 meters while generating electricity through its reversible Francis-type turbines.
The station opened in 1939 with the first commercial reversible pumping unit worldwide, capable of both pumping water and generating electricity. This innovation let the city solve two problems at once: flood protection and power generation.
The station shows how Sao Paulo solved its flooding problem through engineering, turning a crisis into a system that also generates power. It reflects the city's practical approach to managing water between different neighborhoods.
The best time to visit is during the early rainy season when the system is actively working and easier to understand. Keep in mind this is an active industrial facility without public access to the interior, so viewing is from the outside.
Seven of the eight turbines can work in both directions, flexibly switching between pumping and generating power depending on water needs. One unit operates only in one direction and serves purely for water pumping.
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