An impeller (100, 200, 300) for a centrifugal pump comprising: - a disk-shaped shroud (102, 202, 302) having a central axis (112, 212, 312), a front surface (122, 222, 322), a rear surface (128, 228, 328), and a circular perimeter (110, 210, 310); - a hub (104, 204, 304) at the center of the shroud (102, 202, 302), the hub having an axial bore (108, 208, 308); - a first plurality of vanes (116, 118, 216, 316) on the front surface (122, 222, 322) of the shroud (102, 202, 302), the first plurality of vanes (116, 118, 216, 316) extending radially inward from the perimeter (110, 210, 310) towards the hub (104, 204, 304); - a second plurality of vanes (126, 226, 326) on the rear surface (128, 228, 328) of the shroud (102, 202, 302), the second plurality of vanes (126, 226, 326) extending radially inward from the perimeter (110, 210, 310) towards the hub (104, 204, 304); and - a plurality of openings (120, 220, 320) in the shroud (102, 202, 302), the plurality of openings (120, 220, 320) configured to allow a fluid to pass from one side of the shroud (102, 202, 302) to the other; characterized by - a balancing area (130, 230, 330) on the rear surface of the shroud (102, 202, 302) for developing a force in an axial direction, wherein the force counterbalances an opposing force from the plug load the balancing area (130, 230, 330) extending radially outward from the hub (104, 204, 304); wherein a diameter of the balancing area (130, 230, 330) is defined by the inward extension of the second plurality of vanes (126, 226, 326). - a disk-shaped shroud (102, 202, 302) having a central axis (112, 212, 312), a front surface (122, 222, 322), a rear surface (128, 228, 328), and a circular perimeter (110, 210, 310); - a hub (104, 204, 304) at the center of the shroud (102, 202, 302), the hub having an axial bore (108, 208, 308); - a first plurality of vanes (116, 118, 216, 316) on the front surface (122, 222, 322) of the shroud (102, 202, 302), the first plurality of vanes (116, 118, 216, 316) extending radially inward from the perimeter (110, 210, 310) towards the hub (104, 204, 304); - a second plurality of vanes (126, 226, 326) on the rear surface (128, 228, 328) of the shroud (102, 202, 302), the second plurality of vanes (126, 226, 326) extending radially inward from the perimeter (110, 210, 310) towards the hub (104, 204, 304); and - a plurality of openings (120, 220, 320) in the shroud (102, 202, 302), the plurality of openings (120, 220, 320) configured to allow a fluid to pass from one side of the shroud (102, 202, 302) to the other; characterized by - a balancing area (130, 230, 330) on the rear surface of the shroud (102, 202, 302) for developing a force in an axial direction, wherein the force counterbalances an opposing force from the plug load the balancing area (130, 230, 330) extending radially outward from the hub (104, 204, 304); wherein a diameter of the balancing area (130, 230, 330) is defined by the inward extension of the second plurality of vanes (126, 226, 326). - a plurality of openings (120, 220, 320) in the shroud (102, 202, 302), the plurality of openings (120, 220, 320) configured to allow a fluid to pass from one side of the shroud (102, 202, 302) to the other; characterized by - a balancing area (130, 230, 330) on the rear surface of the shroud (102, 202, 302) for developing a force in an axial direction, wherein the force counterbalances an opposing force from the plug load the balancing area (130, 230, 330) extending radially outward from the hub (104, 204, 304); wherein a diameter of the balancing area (130, 230, 330) is defined by the inward extension of the second plurality of vanes (126, 226, 326).