A project to rehabilitate aging watermains by way of relining them is about to get underway in the Wallaceburg neighbourhood of Chatham-Kent.
Purported to be a faster, easier and less expensive method, the work is being carried out though a $1.25 million contract with Henry Heyink Construction (HHC) of Chatham, which was recently approved by the Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission (CKPUC).
According to the CKPUC, the streets on Bethel Road, Winners Circle, Paddock Road and Bridle Path Road were identified as priority pipelines in need of rehabilitation or replacement due to the risk of failing.
The project will be done using trenchless rehabilitation via cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) structural relining.
The process can be described as making a new pipe inside an existing pipe and the length being worked on is 715 metres of a 150-millimetre-diameter ductile iron watermain.
The existing water valves and fire hydrants within the project limits will be replaced, while the existing water services will be reinstated post relining.
Municipal officials say reasons for the project include pipe material, pipe age and the number of breaks.
In addition, both the storm and sanitary sewers were found to be in good condition, making these locations ideal candidates for trenchless rehabilitation.
HHC was awarded the project at the beginning of August after the CKPUC considered 10 potential contractors for the watermain relining program.
The project was deemed necessary in order to support a more proactive management approach to identify and prioritize underground infrastructure replacement projects.
Montreal-based CANN Forecast, who provides sustainable water management solutions, was retained in 2021 to complete a review of the water distribution network.
They identified the watermain pipes at the greatest risk of failing and as a result of their data, the ability to prioritize future projects and properly allocate lifecycle funds where they are needed will improve.
“This is our first year implementing this program,” said Marissa Mascaro, Chatham-Kent director of engineering. “This supports a more proactive asset management approach and allows us to complete more rehabilitation work each year on our sewer and watermain infrastructure.”
According to municipal officials, CIPP structural relining can provide in excess of 50 years of additional lifespan.
Additional benefits of this method are:
- Relining watermains enables the rehabilitation of aging pipes, while minimizing service interruptions and disturbance to residents.
- It is an environmentally friendly option that produces less greenhouse gases.
- It eliminates the need for complete street excavation.
- It is significantly faster than full replacement.
- It allows for upgrading entire subdivisions that wouldn’t be possible using open-cut (full replacement) methods.
According to HHC general manager Joe Calabrese, most of the work is located in the boulevards and near curblines in residential streets and traffic will be able to drive through the work area as the lanes will remain open.
Chatham-Kent officials say relining the watermains uses “low dig,” minimally invasive methods. The contractor does not have to dig up the watermains along all the road and boulevard areas. Instead, a few pits will be excavated at some locations to access the watermains to complete the lining work.
To accommodate residents, temporary water service will be constructed at the start of the project to provide water to homeowners during the relining work.
Calabrese said construction is slated to start soon and is expected to take eight to 10 weeks to complete.
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