Bicycle path along Eems canal near Garmerwolde will be inaccessible for the next two weeks due to renovation of De Drie Delfzijlen pumping station

Starting next Monday, the bike path near the Bronssluis/Slimsluizen in Garmerwolde will be closed for two weeks while the existing emergency drainage pipes are reconnected. The emergency drainage system was installed in June to pump the persistent rainwater from the Damsterdiep to the Eemskanaal. This was necessary because pumping station Drie Delfzijlen pumping station is undergoing renovation and electrification and was therefore operating at half capacity. 
Capacity will also be reduced over the next two weeks. During this period, any excess water from light rainfall will be pumped out by the emergency pumps so that the work can be finalised as quickly as possible. In the event of heavy rainfall, the Brons diesel engine, which is still operational, can be deployed.

Renovation of pumping station Drie Delfzijlen pumping station led to the installation of two pumps at Slimsluizen

During the conversion to electric power, only one pump is available at a time to drain the excess water. In June—normally a dry period—it became apparent that this pump could not drain the excess water quickly enough due to persistent heavy rainfall. For this reason, emergency drainage was deployed at the Slimsluizen in Garmerwolde. Recently, conditions have been drier, and the use of the pumps has not been necessary. The pipes were therefore temporarily disconnected so that local residents could once again use the bike path.

Capacity at De Drie Delfzijlen will remain limited in the coming period as well

On Monday, August 26, pumping station will begin at the pumping station one of the two new electric motors. This means that the pumping station ’s capacity will be pumping station in the event of heavy rainfall. When favourable , water can be discharged from De Drie Delfzijlen using natural flow.  In addition, we have decided to activate the emergency pumps even during light rainfall in order to drain excess water more quickly.

In the event of extreme rainfall, a Brons diesel engine is deployed

In extreme cases, the remaining Brons diesel engine (which will be dismantled after electrification) can still be used. However, because many people will be working at the pumping station in the coming period due to the renovation, it pumping station not advisable to use this engine. The diesel engine will only be brought online in the event of extreme rainfall.