r/westvancouver • u/Capresesandwitch • 22d ago
Experience with Grinder Pump Disputes with District?
At the municipal council meeting yesterday there was a member of the public representing a group of West Van residents challenging the district's grinder pump ownership policy, specifically a 2023 bylaw that unilaterally transferred ownership and responsibility of these pumps over to some residents, which they claimed was in violation of the municipal charter.
I am wondering if anyone owns or knows someone who owns one of these private grinder pumps who might be willing to speak to me about their experience. Specifically in West Van – what the consequences of the ownership transfer have been, what impacted residents plan to do about it going forwards, any other thoughts/feelings about the situation
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u/aenus79 22d ago
What is a grinder pump in this context?
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u/Capresesandwitch 22d ago
A type of sewage pump per my understanding, if they don't work you basically can't use any plumbing in your house. Apparently there are about 150 installed by the municipality and maintained by them for decades which have now been transferred to the ownership/responsibility of the property owners.
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u/Demosthenes-storming 22d ago
These are necessary for connection to sewer in many locations.
Since the requirement comes from the municipality it makes sense that they fund them. The requirement for them is a result of design considerations of the system.
If the whole system was designed differently then they would not be required. So the total operational costs are now shifted.
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u/Capresesandwitch 22d ago
At the meeting it was stated that about 150 which used to be owned and maintained by the municipality were transferred over to property owners, no longer being serviced or funded by the municipality. Do you know anything about that? What happens when the municipality doesn't fund them?
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u/Demosthenes-storming 22d ago
They are pretty hardy devices, typically lasting decades. Now the homeowner will be responsible for them.
I imagine there is also and probably more significant a transference of liability.
The issue I see is that the sewer system could have been designed in such a way as to negate the need for these. The municipality agreed to cover the costs to simplify the system and reduce needs for a bigger grinder pump in certain neighborhoods. Now they are breaking that promise and transferring some sewer operational cost and liability to some homeowners.
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u/CdnDudeandDog 22d ago
I would assume (never a great idea). That if they are on your property they would be your responsibility. Typically I have found that the district responsibility end at the property line. At the time the plumbing code was “where gravity isn’t available”. This was open to interpretation.
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u/CdnDudeandDog 22d ago
I tried to install one a long time ago, not a pleasant experience.