Water main break discussion

[YYCguy]

I’m annoyed that the city is just now turning off showers in city owned arenas and flooding ice rinks with non potable water. Those things should have been done from the start! And all recreation centres, not just city owned, should be doing the same thing.

 

[Mountain Man]

Sounds like the city is going to begin work to twin the feeder main this year. They are going to use a TBM to minimize disruption to residents, costs are pegged at about $1B so far. There are also upgrades planned to both the Bearspaw and Glenmore treatment plants.

 

[CalgaryTiger]

It has to be done, probably the city's most important infrastructure. We all knew what it was like last year to be on the brink of losing it. Still wild that big of a main failed...

 

[darwink]

Sounds like the city is going to begin work to twin the feeder main this year. They are going to use a TBM to minimize disruption to residents, costs are pegged at about $1B so far. There are also upgrades planned to both the Bearspaw and Glenmore treatment plants.

The twinning is part of a potential $1 billion borrowing authorization, not the twinning is $1 billion.
3 big mains projects, 1 new water treatment plant, 1 plant expansion, plus the twinning. More info here if you like .

 

[ByeByeBaby]

APEGA, the board overseeing professional engineering in Alberta, has concluded their review into this incident. The main conclusion is that the City of Calgary's engineering oversight and management was sound:

In relation to the city’s water-distribution network and the Bearspaw South water main, the practice review found the City of Calgary had sound engineering oversight and the appropriate risk-based management in place to meet the expectations required of an APEGA permit holder and was in compliance with its obligations under the EGP Act, the General Regulation, and APEGA’s bylaws and practice standards. No indications of unskilled practice or unprofessional conduct were found during the practice review.

The practice review included a high-level literature review to provide context on the magnitude and mechanisms of prestressed concrete cylinder pipe (PCCP) failures. At the time of installation, in 1974, the feeder main was reportedly expected to have a 100-year service life. However, PCCP-manufacturing standards were relaxed from the late 1960s to the early 1970s by the American Water Works Association, resulting in a high rate of premature failures, and standards have since been strengthened.