A failing sewage lift station at the foot of Wakefield Road in West Sechelt is finally getting its due.
The federal and provincial governments as well as District of Sechelt announced a joint investment of $914,288 for the replacement of Sechelt's Wakefield effluent lift station on Dec. 16. "Once completed, the project will protect the nearby Strait of Georgia from accidental discharges," said the release.
The station has overflowed into the ocean "about six or under 10 times" since it was built in 1994, according to the District of Sechelt. In recent years, heavy rains and equipment failure in November 2018 were blamed for "raw sewage bypass” of between 600 and 900 litres. In March 2020, the station spilled up to 5,300 litres of effluent into the ocean, equipment failure the Sechelt-stated cause.
The station's replacement has been included in District budget plans since at least 2019 but had been delayed awaiting grant announcements and amid cost escalations.
The federal government is providing $365,715 through the Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The provincial government is providing $304,732 from the Environmental Quality Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. District of Sechelt is on the hook for $243,841 and any additional costs.
As construction gets under way, the existing station and kiosks will be removed and a temporary bypass lift station built, said the release. To adhere to climate-resilient construction best practices, the new lift station will be raised and will have a retaining wall. Also new will be electronic flow meters and a standby generator.
The district said the project process has started with the hope that works will be completed in fall or winter of 2023.
– With files from Sean Eckford, Sophie Woodrooffe and Connie Jordison
