Banks Pumping Plant

The Harvey O. Banks Pumping Plant is located 2.5 miles (4 km) southwest of the Clifton Court Forebay and 11.5 miles (19 km) northeast of Livermore, CA. The plant is the first pumping plant for the California Aqueduct and the South Bay Aqueduct. It provides the necessary fluid head (potential energy) for the California Aqueduct to flow for approximately 80 miles (130 km) south past the O'Neill Forebay and the San Luis Reservoir to the Dos Amigos Pumping Plant. The Banks Pumping Plant initially flows into the Bethany Reservoir. It is from the Bethany Reservoir that the South Bay Aqueduct begins.

The John E. Skinner Delta Fish Protective Facility is located 2 miles upstream from the facility and prevents fishes from reaching the pumping plant.

Characteristics

• Number of units: 11
• Normal static head: 236 to 252 ft (72 to 77 m)
• Total flow at design head: 10,920 ft³/s (302 m³/s)
• Total motor rating: 333,000 hp (248 MW)