Precision pumping ensures smooth operation at Bristol Zoo’s Crocodile House
When Bristol Zoo launched its new Crocodile House in spring 2025, the project marked a striking step forward in the zoo’s transformation programme. Designed to recreate the Central African Forest of Monte Alén National Park in Equatorial Guinea, the exhibit immerses visitors in the sights and sounds of West Africa. At its heart lies a pool housing critically endangered slender-snouted crocodiles and rare freshwater fish from Cameroon, surrounded by native plants and carefully controlled environmental conditions.
Creating such a habitat presented a significant engineering challenge. The system had to manage water from the crocodile pool and backwash from its filtration process safely and efficiently, without compromising the zoo’s sustainability goals. The solution required a pumping station capable of handling fibrous and solid-laden wastewater while maintaining reliability under continuous operation.
T-T supplied a Jupiter package pumping station, purpose-built for the site’s unique demands. The installation features a single-moulded chamber 4.5m deep with 50mm ABS pipework and a 15.5m3 capacity. Submersible DGO50 vortex impeller pumps, constructed in cast iron with silicon carbide mechanical seals, provide robust performance suited to heavy-duty applications.
The system was fully preassembled and factory tested before delivery, with all internal pipework, non-return valves, and control systems installed for rapid commissioning. Automated control and monitoring were supplied by T-T Controls, ensuring operational reliability through application-specific features and alarms. Smooth internal walls and integral benching within the chamber prevent waste accumulation, minimising the risk of system failure.
Custom-engineered for Bristol Zoo, the Jupiter installation now maintains stable water and waste conditions for the Crocodile House. The design’s precision and durability are underpinned by T-T’s British Board of Agrément (BBA) accreditation – one of the few of its kind in this sector – ensuring long-term performance and low maintenance.
Part of the company’s wider Planet range, the Jupiter package pumping station has been BBA-accredited since 2006. With more than 10,000 units installed worldwide and no structural failures reported, the system has established a strong record for reliability and compliance. Its proven design allows consultants and contractors to specify it with confidence across a range of applications, from waste and surface water management to bespoke installations in sensitive environments.
For Bristol Zoo, the result is a dependable and efficient system that supports both animal welfare and operational sustainability—an essential foundation for a project designed to bring a corner of Central Africa to life in the heart of southwest England.
