Work is anticipated to begin on March 9 (moved up from March 15) to reline Oliver’s water reservoir main feed line, a move that follows the decision to reline rather than replace due to the more limited impact it will have on residents and businesses.
A staff report to council noted that if they decided to replace the main it would take approximately eight months to complete with major community disruptions to service including access to homes and businesses.
Relining the existing reservoir main feed line would allow service to return the same day, with a boil water advisory to customers. The work is expected to be completed March 30.
The main reservoir line is a key connection in the water system. The main is Asbestos Cement (AC) pipe. The pipe is in deteriorated condition and only has two years left in its anticipated useful lifespan. Engineering consultants determined that it was necessary to either replace or reline the line.
Town council agreed to award the contract to Canadian Induracoat Corporation, in the amount of $826,767.50 + GST to perform the task of relining the deteriorating line. The entire project has an approved budget of $950,000. The Town expects the costs including works to be carried out by Town staff to be approximately $930,000, with a $20,000 contingency.
The relining involves cleaning the pipe, an application of a 4 mm watermain liner of an aliphatic isocyanate-based polyurea liner, and a detailed report of the relined sections with closed circuit television (CCTV) being conducted after each stage.
Kelly Mercer, director of operations for the town noted that the company is the only one in the country that does this type of work. Since the company only does the relining, town staff will be conducting the excavation to access the water main.
Town staff will also be responsible for disinfection and chlorination of the relined sections, installation of valves, bends and reinstatement of sections cut out for the project, installation of two test stations, asphalt patching, dewatering activities and traffic control and road closures.
Town staff will also be responsible for dealing with Interior Health Authority permitting and Ministry of Transportation notification and approvals.
Mercer noted to council that the reason they are using town staff on the project is because the contracted company does not do that sort of work, and it would be a “very good learning curve for town staff to understand this.”
He indicated that more of this type of work will have to be undertaken again in the future.
