It may not look like it, but that’s environmental protection equipment in the photo to the left. What is it? It’s the electrical and alarm panel for a new sewer ejector pump at the City’s Outdoor Center adjacent to Staring Lake.
After many years of discussion and planning the ejector pump is now operating at the Outdoor Center. This means this facility is finally connected to the city sanitary sewer system. Prior to the installation of the ejector pump, restrooms at the Outdoor Center drained into a tank that had to be constantly monitored and pumped. The tank was subject to occasional problems, especially if lake levels rose to high.
The new ejector pump is inside a holding tank. When waste inside the holding tank rises to a certain level it triggers a float switch which activates the pump to propel the sewage through an 800 feet pipe to the trunk sanitary sewer line adjacent to Staring Lake Parkway. This means that the holding tank level doesn’t need constant monitoring and we will not need monthly pumping unless the pump system has a malfunction.
Why is this important? Connecting the Outdoor Center to the City’s sanitary sewer system is an important step forward because it raises the level of environmental protection of Staring Lake – one of the City’s most valuable natural resources. I know it looks like just a piece of plywood with a couple of electrical boxes tacked on to it, but it’s much more important than that. It’s the visible side of the City’s continued emphasis on protecting our local environment.
Enjoy!
