Richmond to upgrade and rebuild it's flood mitigation infrastructure

Richmond is currently preparing to rebuild 4 pump stations as the equipment has reached the end of its useful lifespan, and about 1,750 metres of river fronting dykes will be raised and strengthened.

Richmond is only about 1 metre above sea level, makeing it vulnerable to the risk of flooding by storm surge and freshet - the overflow of the Fraser River from heavy rainfall and snowmelt.  It is also severly susceptible to the effects of climate change, with the expectation that sea levels will rise by about 1 metre over the coming century.

Richmond's population is expected to grow from 195,000 today to about 275,000 in 2041.

Currently, Richmond is protected by 49 kilometres of dykes, 112 pumps and 39 pump stations, 320 kilometres of ditches and canals and 600 kilometres of box culverts and storm sewers.

To date there has never been a recorded breach of the dyke, but there have been minor floors in the low-lying areas caused by heavy rainfalls.

According to Natural Resources Canada, Richmond is not at significant risk of a tsunami as Vancouver Island acts as a barrier from Pacific-generated tsunamis, which would lose most of its energy along the way and hit Richmond's western shore with a wave of less the 1/2 a metre high.

How does our confidence in our dyking system affect Richmond Real Estate pricing?

Image: Government of B.C.

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