All pumped up to stop 25,000 homes flooding
FLOODING fears are ebbing for residents of 25,000 homes as St Germans' massive new pumping station nears completion.
The 38 million project, which was topped out on Monday, is a vaunted example of civil engineering housed in an architect-designed building.
Designed to protect land and property worth more than 3.6 billion, it is due for completion in summer next year.
Special guests at the topping-out ceremony included the Shadow Minister for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Lord Taylor of Holbeach, who performed the ribbon-cutting marking the occasion.
The chief engineer of the Middle Level Commissioners, Mr David Thomas said: "When operational, the new six-pump installation will be able to pump 100 cubic metres of water per second – enough to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool every 30 seconds. The old four-pump system pumps 70 cubic metres per second."
The sight is so impressive that a glazed front has been incorporated into the design of the station to show off the six enormous pumps, the second largest in Europe.
The existing works, built in 1934, were pushed to the limit in 1998 when the pumps were required to operate at full capacity for more than 50 hours.
Had there been a mechanical failure of one pump, the consequences could have been dire.
The predicted effects of global warming and rising sea levels also needed to be taken into account and by 2004 engineers recognised the station was coming to the end of its working life.
Now its days are numbered and it is due to be demolished.
Owned and operated by the Middle Level Commissioners, the old and new stations both work by pumping water from the fenland drainage system into the River Great Ouse.
The protected area is home to thousands of homes and businesses and hundreds of miles of high-grade farmland. Much of the land is also at or below sea level and dependent on the efficient working of the station.
Throughout the construction and installation phases of the new works, existing flood defences are being maintained.
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Weather for King's Lynn
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Light sleet showers
Temperature: -0 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 6 C
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