The O’Neill Pumping Plant located about 12 miles west of Los Banos lifts water from the Delta-Mendota Canal into the O’Neill Forebay. This plant is essential for supplying water to O’Neill Forebay/San Luis/San Felipe Units of the Central Valley Project.

O’NEILL PUMPING PLANT AND INTAKE CHANNEL
O’NEILL PUMPING PLANT AND INTAKE CHANNEL

Completed in 1968, this facility consists of an intake channel leading off the Delta-Mendota Canal and six pumping-generating units.  Normally these units operate as pumps to lift water from 45 to 53 feet into the O’Neill Forebay.  When water is released from the Forebay to the Delta-Mendota Canal, these units will operate as generators.

When operating as pumps and motors, each unit can discharge about 650 cubic feet per second and has a rating of 6,000 horsepower.

When operating as turbines and generators, each unit has a generating capacity of about 4,000 kilowatts.

MOTORS/GENERATORS INSIDE O’NEILL PUMPING PLANT
MOTORS/GENERATORS INSIDE O’NEILL PUMPING PLANT