After almost three years of construction, Metro Vancouver’s new Barnston/Maple Ridge water pumping station officially opened today, and will help supply drinking water to the region’s fastest-growing populations in the City of Maple Ridge, Township of Langley, City of Langley, and the City of Surrey. "As our region grows, Metro Vancouver ensures that we provide the vital services needed by residents and businesses, and today’s opening of the Barnston/Maple Ridge Pump Station is an excellent example of improving our drinking water infrastructure," said Greg Moore, Chair of the Metro Vancouver Board. "This is a significant addition to our water infrastructure, and we thank all who have worked on this project, and the residents of Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge who provided input and advice throughout the design process," he added. The Barnston/Maple Ridge Pump Station is one of the largest in British Columbia, and uses six 1000 horsepower pumps to move over 350 million litres of water per day. The facility is actually two pump stations in one with one set of pumps serving Maple Ridge, and another set serving Langley and Surrey. The design flexibility allows one set of pumps to back up the other, and the state-of-the-art facility can also accommodate two future turbines to capture excess energy from water entering the pump station during periods of low water demand. The project budget was $46.5 million. The impact of the budget is significant: using the provincial government’s model for calculating employment impacts, the construction of the Barnston/Maple Ridge Pump Station supported 188 person years of direct employment, and 140 person years of indirect employment for a total of 328 person years. Pump stations are vital elements of Metro Vancouver’s water infrastructure, and move water around the region, delivering drinking water to local governments that then distribute it to homes, businesses, and institutions like hospitals and schools.