He invented it in 1913 while he was an engineer for the New Orleans Water and Sewerage Board. It came to be used worldwide.

Apparently the NOSWB is still operating pumps based on the original design with minimal automation.



More background

The Wood Screw Pump:
A Study of the Drainage Development of New Orleans

by Jennifer Haydel

There are a couple of problems that make these pumps difficult to automate. If the suction basin runs dry the pump must be turned off (seems like a level switch would do the job eh?) and if debris clogs the intake at the suction basin the pump will overheat (so add a temperature cutoff and an automated intake filter sweeper). A final problem arises when the water level in the discharge basin rises above the level of the pump. If you just shut the pump off, water will be able to run backward through the facility, so you need a valve to prevent this reverse flow. Finally you need a backup generator in case the power goes out as it will in a major storm.