New water Treatment Plant Nears Completion

What began with a Water Definition Study in 2015 by the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) is fast becoming a reality in 2021. Despite a few challenges along the way, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the new $126-million Comox Valley Water Treatment Project remains on schedule for completion in summer 2021.

“We are well advanced in construction now,” says Charlie Gore, manager of capital projects, water and wastewater, CVRD. “We are about 75 per cent completed, and we are going to start commissioning activities in early 2021.”

Safe and secure

The water treatment project will be a game changer for the Comox Valley region. It will eliminate the need for turbidity-related boil-water notices, remove the risk of viruses and bacteria in the drinking water, and provide a secure supply of reliable, high-quality drinking water for decades to come.

“Initial plant capacity is sized for approximately 15 to 20 years of community growth,” says Gore. “But is has been designed with expansion in mind, for approximately 80 years of growth.”

Central to the undertaking is the CVRD’s milestone partnership with the K’omoks First Nation. “The partnership with the K’omoks First Nation is a cornerstone of the project,” says Gore, who adds that they have been instrumental in the effort to obtain permits and grant funding throughout the project.

Design-build the method of choice

CVRD is working with Aecon Group Inc. on the design-build of the treatment plant project. As such, the contractor’s scope of work includes both the design (subcontracted to Stantec) and construction of the project, including the marine pipeline and intake, raw water pump station and transmission main, water treatment plant, and the treated water transmission main.

“One of the more interesting aspects about this project is the number of stakeholders involved,” says Jamie Abernethy, project director, water infrastructure, Aecon. “The project itself spans over 10 kilometres.

It involves different property lines and different contracts, which translates into having to manage a number of relationships.”

To date, Abernethy and his team have overseen the following construction achievements:

• 8,000 m3 of concrete poured

• 1,300,000 kg of rebar installed

• 3.8 km of 42” diameter carbon steel

• 26,000 diameter inches welded

• 125 m of 60” diameter carbon steel micro tunnelled (marine pipeline)

• 60,000 m3 of material excavated

Other milestone achievements that occurred in 2020 include micro-tunnelling for the marine intake, completion of the raw water transmission main, completion of cell 1 (Clearwell), completion of the process area structural, completion of Island Highway Crossing, and completion of Marsden Fibre Conduit Install (2.5 km).

“The biggest milestone moment will be the 30-day performance test at the end of the project,” says Abernethy. “That’s the real moment of success.”

Hazelwood Construction Services Inc., one of the subtrades involved in the water treatment project, is responsible for the installation of the carbon steel pipe that runs from the water treatment plant all the way to the Comox Valley distribution header. “It’s approximately five kilometres of steel pipeline in total,” says Paul Noel, general manager, Hazelwood Construction Services Inc. “We started in April 2020 and expect to finish in January 2021.”

Noel also notes that the project has its own set of challenges. “There is a lot of work involved on BC Hydro’s right of way,” he explains. “There is also the proximity to BC Hydro’s penstock, which requires extra care, as it is partially above ground.”

The environment also plays a significant role in the work, with Hazelwood Construction Services focused on mitigating environmental impacts.

Ketza Pacific Contracting Ltd., another local subtrade that is involved in the project, is charged with the architectural build outs (except for mechanical/electrical, and cladding/roofing) in the public lobby and administration building of the pre-engineered metal building.

“We’re doing all of the interior work, such as the steel studs, painting, carpentry, drywall, doors and windows, ceilings, Glulam, structural steel, and millwork,” says Tyler Schofield, president, Ketza Pacific. “We started in October and expect to be done in summer of 2021.”

Although Ketza Pacific isn’t used to being a subcontractor – the company usually assumes the role of general contractor – it is adjusting well to the new situation.

“Aecon wanted someone local who had access to the local trades,” says Schofield.

Near completion

Although the pandemic did have some productivity impacts due to self-isolation and physical distancing, the new Comox Valley Water Treatment Project remains on time and on budget. This, in large part, is due to the workforce being approximately 99 per cent local, a statistic that Abernethy and his crew worked hard to achieve. “Thankfully, the pandemic did not impact the level of interest in this project,” he says. “We have had no shortage of interest from local subtrades and have been able to get some excellent contractors on board with us.”

Workers on the project have also strived to give back to the community through a number of other initiatives, such as volunteering for watershed work, donating time to the foodbank, supporting local families, and helping maintain the region’s famous bike trails.

In the end, the Comox Valley Water Treatment Project will stand as a shining example of success in both community cooperation and local involvement.