The Friday Flyer, January 23, 2009 - Article: Continental Lift Station is operational

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With Canyon Lake's new, state-of-the-art Continental Lift Station complete, EVMWD will begin the final stages of the project - the removal of the old facility and restoration of Indian Beach. From inside the park at Indian Beach, all that can be seen of the lift station is a high wall. The park stage and landscaping are currently being refurbished by EVMWD contractors.

Continental Lift Station is operational

     After four years of having one of the community’s favorite parks closed for construction, residents are finally getting the words they’ve been waiting to hear. Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District (EVMWD) officials announced last week that the new Continental Lift Station is now in operation, paving the way for the last steps to the long-awaited completion of the wastewater project as well as restoration of the park at Indian Beach.
     The water district began full operation of the new lift station in December after it passed a trial test requiring the facility to operate without any problems for 10 consecutive days on potable water, followed by 10 consecutive days on sewer flows. The lift station raises or “lifts” incoming wastewater to a level that allows it to feed by gravity into the sewer system and protects against potential sewer spills into Canyon Lake, creating a safer environment for residents.
     The district is currently working to remove the old lift station as well as revamping Indian Beach’s 2.25-acre park. After overcoming many scheduling challenges, EVMWD estimates the final steps to fully restore landscaping at Indian Beach will take several months to complete, but says it will be ready for the summer season.
     “Recognizing that this has been a long and trying process, I would like to thank the community for its patience and understanding,” says EVMWD Director Ben Wicke. “I am pleased the project is nearly complete and that the residents of Canyon Lake will not only have safer, more reliable sewer service but also a new and improved Indian Beach.”
     Although the entire park was closed during construction, only portions of the park were used for the construction of the lift station. However, EVMWD is renovating the entire park and will include new shrubs and grass, a new sewer line for the restroom facilities, new storm drains, repairs to the theatrical stage and freshly paved driveway and parking areas.
     As part of the restoration, EVMWD has filled in an unneeded lake inlet area, creating more overall park space. The inlet is no longer needed because of the district’s installation of new storm drainpipes that will improve drainage to minimize standing water and reduce flooding at the park.
     “We want to give the park a fresh new look,” Ben says. “It’s the least we could do after all of the inconveniences and limitations the community has had to endure during the construction of this project. It is unfortunate this project took so long to complete; however, this fall the theater group will be able to perform again and the community may even be able to bring back the Marine Corps Band.”
     For the safety of the community and the protection of the new landscape, the park will be closed during the final stages of the project. However, the District hopes to be able to reduce the length of the closure and re-open the park after the hydro-seeding and landscape is established.
     The water district already has rehabilitated Indian Beach by adding approximately four inches of new sand to the entire beach. Also, to ensure a nice appeal at the park, the District used an innovative architectural design to help disguise the lift station facility. The station is embedded in the side of a slope and blends with the scenery to maintain the aesthetics of the surrounding area. According to officials, walls are top-coated with a special anti-graffiti coating to make graffiti removal simple.
     The Continental Lift Station replaced a lift station that was more than 40 years old, increasing the sewage capacity from 375 to 2,100 gallons per minute. The former lift station was replaced because it was beyond its useful life and in poor shape, therefore threatening the safety of the facility and increasing the possibility of sewage spills.
     The Continental Lift Station is the last of the seven Canyon Lake sewer lift stations to be replaced in Canyon Lake over the last 12 years. The Lighthouse and Continental lift stations were part of the District’s $70 million capital improvement program, which is designed to enhance the water distribution, sewer collection and treatment systems that provide safe and reliable water and wastewater service to each of its customers.
     Because Canyon Lake sits at a lower elevation and acts as a drinking water reservoir, EVMWD General Manager Ron Young says it is extremely important that the community’s waterways are modernized and improved to protect the lake from sewage spills or contamination.
      “We are dedicated to ensuring the delivery of safe, reliable water and wastewater to our customers,” says Young. “We are constantly evaluating, planning, expanding and upgrading our facilities to make sure we can provide the most reliable and efficient service possible.”
     The district is planning a dedication in late spring after the landscaping has had time to mature.