The main pipeline that carries Prince Rupert’s water supply was damaged as a result of the last batch of nasty weather the region suffered. The wind and rainstorm of mid October resulted in two minor landslides along the Woodworth main water supply pipeline, resulting in the need for repairs to be made once safety issues can be addressed along the site.
As luck would have it, at the time the city was using its alternate source of water as they were in the process of making welding repairs to the main pipeline when the landslides arrived.
An outline of the situation and the minor impact that it may have on city residents was provided in Thursday’s Daily News
Landslide takes out city’s main water supply pipe
No impact for locals as alternate supply in use at the time
By George T. Baker
The Daily News
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Page three
The principal source of Prince Rupert's water supply was damaged late last week when heavy winds and rain caused two minor landslides to come crashing down on the water main.
As luck would have it, at the time the city was using its alternate source of water as they were in the process of making welding repairs to the main pipeline when the landslides arrived.
An outline of the situation and the minor impact that it may have on city residents was provided in Thursday’s Daily News
Landslide takes out city’s main water supply pipe
No impact for locals as alternate supply in use at the time
By George T. Baker
The Daily News
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Page three
The principal source of Prince Rupert's water supply was damaged late last week when heavy winds and rain caused two minor landslides to come crashing down on the water main.
While no one was hurt and no one had their homes damaged, the wicked weather was enough to cause some infrastructural damage to the city, according to City Public Works general manager Bob Thompson.
"Both landslides reached the Woodworth raw water supply main the principle source of Prince Rupert's water supply and the only link between Woodworth Lake and the city. One slide went over the line with little or no damage. The other pushed two 18-foot lengths of steel pipe out of their concrete cradles and snapped the additional wire cable restraints," said Thompson.
Most residents in Prince Rupert would not have noticed the damage to the water supply because the city had already switched from its main source to its back-up source due to welding work ongoing on the pipeline.
Had the pipeline been full of water the outcome could have been worse given the amount of pressure that is built up to transfer the water to the city.
“Fortunately, the line was empty at the time to allow welding repairs in another location,” said Thompson. “Otherwise, the damage would have been far more extensive.”
“A ruptured 45 inch diameter pipeline at 110 psi pressure would certainly have caused considerable damage, particularly in this remote location.”
According to Thompson, two pipe lengths have been forced out of alignment by several metres, dented on the top and broken at the ends. They are presently covered by fallen trees and other natural debris. The two adjacent lengths of pipe are also slightly out of alignment and in need of repairs.
The city is currently pumping raw water from Shawatlans Lake and the incident has had no effect on actual service delivery to Prince Rupert.
Geotechnical Engineers will be onsite Wednesday to assess the slide areas and determine the remedial work required to protect workers from further debris flow events.
Once the safety issue has been properly addressed, work will begin on repairing the damage and removing all fallen timber from the 2.3 km utility corridor.
“We won’t know when the water source will be up and running until we get the geotechnical assessment and everyone has a look at it,” said Thompson.
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