The City of Richmond has received almost $2.3 million to upgrade pump stations and do flood mapping.
The money will be used for analysis and risk assessment of potential future flooding, explained city spokesperson Clay Adams, by “trying to better forecast specific impacts and modeling of flood patterns.”
The money comes from the provincial Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF).
Six existing pump stations will be upgraded, and some of the money will be used to work on dyking plans in the event of an emergency.
The city has 39 pump stations and 49 kilometres of dyking that protect the city from flooding.
The $2.285 million is earmarked for flood risk hydrodynamic modelling, flood protection system emergency reconstruction strategy and drainage pump station climate adaptation and resilience upgrade.
Last year, wide-spread flooding in the Fraser Valley caused extensive damage in the Sumas Prairie and other parts of the province after one of the heaviest rainfalls in the province’s history. It highlighted the patchwork system of flood protection in the province.
In total, the province is disbursing $23.9 million in CEPF funding around B.C. to better prepare for, mitigate and respond to climate-related emergencies such floods and extreme temperatures.
