Thursday (Nov. 12) is the last day this year for public tours of the world’s largest drainage pump station. The sessions are at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. at the West Closure Complex, 500 East Bayou Road, Belle Chasse.

The $1.1 billion complex is built at the junction of the Harvey and Algiers canals and is designed to keep most of the West Bank dry in a major storm. Not only does the complex contain the world’s largest drainage pump station, it has the largest sector gates in North America.

The Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-West is offering the tours as part of its campaign to educate residents about the West Bank hurricane protection system. On Nov. 21, the authority is asking West Jefferson residents for a $5.5 million tax increase and Algiers residents to renew a 6.35-mill tax that brings in $1.2 million.

Authority representatives also will discuss the tax proposals at a public meeting Saturday (Nov. 14) at the West Bank Regional Library on Manhattan Boulevard in Harvey. That meeting begins at 9 a.m.