Castle Point MP Rebecca Harris has welcomed investment for new cooling systems in all of the thirteen pumping stations operated by the Environment Agency on Canvey Island to decrease the chances of them overheating in prolonged periods of heavy rainfall.
Each of the island’s main pumping stations has either three or four main pumps that can pump up to 600 litres a minute. During the extensive flooding suffered by the island on 20th July, a number of individual pumps at the different pumping stations tripped out due to their control panels overheating and had to be manually restarted by Environment Agency engineers.
The investments include new temperature operated fan and ventilation systems and new ventilation panels in the pumps. They also include the installation of a new backup generator at the Thorny Bay Pumping Station.
Commenting on the investment, Castle Point MP Rebecca Harris said:
“Every measure that can be put in place to help prevent a repeat of the flooding should be put in place.
“It is right that the Environment Agency are looking at ways to improve the pumping system as it is a key part of the drainage network that isn’t just used in severe weather but every time there is rainfall on the island.
“These new cooling systems are a sensible investment that, when the various works of the other flooding agencies are complete, should combine to increase the resilience of the island against flooding in the future.
“I am encouraged to see the recommendations of the Chief Scientific Advisor’s report are being implemented so quickly and that all the flooding agencies are now working together more closely.”
Dr Charles Beardall, the Eastern Region Area Manager for the Environment Agency said:
“Since the extreme rainfall that fell on Canvey on the 20 July we’ve looked hard at how we can improve the resilience of our pumping stations and we’ve now installed cooling ventilation to all our stations.
“We are working closely with other agencies to make other improvements to the drainage system on Canvey Island.”