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New Storm Water Pumps Handle Miami Beach Seasonal Tides

MIAMI (CBSMiami) - The City of Miami Beach's investment in new storm water pumps is paying off.

Twice a year Miami Beach sees higher than normal tides, known as Spring Tides, which have flooded streets and parking lots in the past.

CBS4 Chief Meteorologist Craig Setzer said the fall's Spring Tides will peak October 8th and 9th and could be even higher than last year's.

"It could be up to half-a-foot higher based on astronomical conditions," Setzer said. "Basically what happens is the Earth, moon and sun line up kind of on the same plane and the additional gravitational pull causes the water to almost bulge."

The pumps got their first chance to shine Monday and Tuesday when higher tides combined with rainfall. Mayor Philip Levine said areas which would normally flood, like 5th Street and Alton Road, were kept relatively drive thanks to the new $15 million pump system which has been installed.

If there are flooding problems, the city wants to know where.

Miami Beach has an app residents can use to report flooding locations, but the city manager is hopeful the severe flooding won't happen again.

The city's in the midst of a 5-year $300 million project to install 60 pumps across the beach.

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