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What is the deal with that pump beside the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼×ÊÁÏ River dike?

Hint: It is related to the Queensway Lift Station repair work.
pumpsquamishdike
The District of ÀÏ°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼×ÊÁÏ tells The ÀÏ°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼×ÊÁÏ that the pump is in place to assist with conveying stormwater and dewatering (groundwater) flows from the Queensway Lift Station repair work into the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼×ÊÁÏ River. 

If you have walked the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼×ÊÁÏ River Dike behind the Railway Museum of British Columbia, you have likely seen the sizable orange pump and its connected hose that crosses the dike to the river and wondered what was up with that.  

The District of ÀÏ°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼×ÊÁÏ tells The ÀÏ°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼×ÊÁÏ that the pump is in place to assist with conveying stormwater and dewatering (groundwater) flows from the Queensway Lift Station repair work into the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼×ÊÁÏ River. 

The lift station failed on Jan. 14 after a king tide, resulting in about 1,587 cubic metres — 1.59 million litres — of sewage and greywater being diverted into the Bridge Pond of the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼×ÊÁÏ Estuary to prevent homes and businesses from being flooded. 

"To be clear, this is groundwater and not sewage flows," said District spokesperson Rachel Boguski in an email to The ÀÏ°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼×ÊÁÏ regarding the pump in the photo. 

"High river levels require the flap gate to be closed to avoid localized flooding from the river side of the dike," she added. 

"The pump is therefore required to pump the water to the river, ensuring nearby properties are not flooded by water from the land side of the dike."


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