Agenda Index City of Vancouver

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

RECOMMENDATION

POLICY

There is no applicable policy.

BACKGROUND

The Stanley Park water system was developed in the early 20th century and has been maintained over the years largely by Park Board staff with minimal budgets.

The age of the infrastructure, the flow regime and the limited Park Board funds available for the operation and maintenance of the water supply system created a vulnerable situation, which contributed to last years water emergency.

The situation illustrated the need for a better resourced management to be applied to drinking water in Stanley Park.

On August 1, 2000, fecal coliform contamination of the water supply at the Second Beach testing station was reported to the Park Board staff. A response team was quickly assembled and after a period of testing and flushing the water was once again declared safe for humanconsumption.

The response team activity was documented and sent to the Commissioners and Council in a joint report from the General Managers of Engineering and Board of Parks and Recreation.

The water crisis also highlighted that from the perspective of the Vancouver Richmond Health Board, the City is ultimately responsible for the health and safety of drinking water supplies in the City, including Stanley Park.

An information report to the Board dated August 29, 2000 contained a number of recommendations which were to be reported on within one year.

DISCUSSION

Status of Follow up Response to Water Quality Issues
This part of the report updates the status of recommendations (flushing, sampling, construction practises etc.) contained in the August 29, 2000 report. The recommendations are summarized on the attached chart (See Appendix II).

Progress has been made on most of the recommendations although some momentum was lost during the civic workers strike in the fall. While much work remains to be done, staff are confident that current construction and repair practices as well as water management and testing procedures ensure the quality of water in the park.

Engineering Services' Role
Last year's water issue confirmed that the Stanley Park water and sanitary sewer systems are reaching the end of their service lives. Much of the primary system requires replacement. To date Park Board maintenance funding has not been sufficient to maintain the system to a standard that is achieved elsewhere in the City. In the past Engineering Services has assisted the Board with infrastructure issues in the park. Last year's joint response represents the most intense cooperation to date.

In the short term there is a requirement for a more aggressive program of leak detection, sampling, valve and hydrant maintenance. It has been proposed that Engineering Services assume responsibility for this program. Engineering has the technical and supervisory resources to undertake the initial program as well as develop and implement a long term infrastructure renewal program for the water system in Stanley Park.

Discussions are ongoing about broadening Engineering's involvement in the sanitary sewage system as well. Some technical issues require resolution prior to seeking Board and Council approval.

Parks and Engineering staff have negotiated a Letter of Understanding (LOU) governing the roles of the respective parties in the proposed arrangement. Under this LOU , the City Engineering Services would assume full responsibility for the replacement, maintenance and operation of the primary water system, with the Park Board continuing to be responsible for the replacement, maintenance and operation of the services connected to the primary water system. These are referred to in the LOU as the secondary water system.

This division of responsibility parallels the division between Engineering Services and private property owners elsewhere in the city. The LOU provides for a comprehensive assessment of the location and condition of the various systems and a precise determination of the responsibility between the two parties.

The LOU provides for the Board and Council to approve a long term replacement program.

The LOU assures the primacy of Parks and Recreation objectives in the execution of the replacement program, i.e. no trees, landscapes, shrubs or buildings shall be removed to facilitate water and sewer construction without the Board `s prior approval. Similarly the Board undertakes not to connect secondary lines to the primary system without Engineering's approval.

The replacement plan will be based on the Board's known and anticipated requirements for water services. Any subsequent increases in the demand for service will require the Board to assume the additional capital cost of primary water system upgrading, not unlike a private developer following a re-zoning.

The current practice is that the Board is not subject to water fees, charges and assessments except for commercial ventures (restaurants etc.) within the park. In order to encourage water conservation, meters may be installed in various parts of the park. Any future charges for water would be subject to review by City Council for any adjustments to the Board's global budget.

Funding
Engineering Services estimates that ongoing funding of $40,000 will be required to undertake a reasonable maintenance program. For 2001, water rates have already been established, consequently it may be necessary to phase in a maintenance program over two years with only the most critical components being undertaken this year. Engineering expects that the initial 2001 program can be accommodated through efficiencies.

SUMMARY

Staff believe that the proposed arrangement will ensure good drinking water in Stanley Park by providing the best engineering services the City has to offer and ensure maintenance andoperations at a level consistent with other areas of the City. The Park interests continue to be protected in this arrangement.

In anticipation of this arrangement an application has been made to the Federal/Provincial/Municipal infrastructure program for a $7.5 million water system replacement program.

Comments from the Medical Health Officer.

"The Medical Health Officer concurs with and supports the recommendation of the General Manager - Parks and Recreation, noting that the drinking water safety concerns raised last fall are adequately addressed by the Letter of Understanding with the Engineering Department. The strategy proposed in the report addresses what was a potential weakness in the City's water supply system and is in keeping with the broader drinking water protection strategy being formulated between the GVWD, member municipalities and regional health
officials. Environmental Health staff will continue to work closely with Park Board and Engineering staff to ensure that the plan is fully implemented."

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APPENDIX I

PRINCIPLES OF LETTER OF UNDERSTANDING
STANLEY PARK WATER INFRASTRUCTURE

· Joint preparation of location/condition survey

· Preparation of long term replacement program to be approved by the Board and City Council.

· Engineering to fund and to be responsible for replacement and maintenance of primary system.

· Park to fund and to be responsible for replacement and maintenance of secondary system.

· Park Board to adhere to City water application process

· Park Board to be responsible for water upgrades resulting from additional development projects.

· No trees, park buildings, landscapes to be removed without Board's prior approval

· Capital costs to be funded from City Utility fund, Engineering Capital budget and senior government funding.

· No changes to Park Board water charges, without Board and Council approval.

APPENDIX II

RECOMMENDATION

STATUS

CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES

1. Application of AWWA Standards:

    COV Waterworks Standard 641 "Emergency Repairs; Disinfection Methods for Watermain Breaks" be adopted for construction and repair work in Stanley Park

2. Adoption of COV Waterworks Standard 305, Section 2:

    COV Waterworks Standard 305 be adopted for construction and repair work in Stanley Park.

3. Full Time Inspection:

    All contract work affecting the drinking water system be inspected full time by a Waterworks staff member.

4. Sampling:

    Water samples be taken after water main shutdowns that drain the water main.

5. Leak Detection:

    A regular leak detection program be devised and implemented.

6. Force Main Sewer Testing:

    Further investigation and testing of sewer force mains in the park be carried out.

7. Back Flow:

    a) Irrigation systems in Stanley Park be checked for operational back flow preventers where required.
    b) All connections to fire hydrants use back flow preventers.
    c) Hose bibs in washrooms and external connections be fitted with back flow preventers.
    d) All facilities within the Park boundaries be inspected for back flow preventers.

Is being included in all work/project documentation

Included in operational procedures

Current procedure

Current procedure

Park Board and City have agreed on program. Implementation scheduled following approval of LOU

Same as recommendation 5 above

95% Completed, Remaining to be completed by May 31, 2001

Standard practice

95% Completed, Remaining to be completed by May 31, 2001

95% Completed, balance by May 31, 2001

RECOMMENDATION

STATUS

WATER MANAGEMENT

1. Ensure Chlorine Levels:

    Work be done to ensure consistently high chlorine levels in the Stanley Park water system, with particular attention to the South West zone.

2. Regular Flushing:

    A regular flushing program be devised and implemented in Stanley Park.

3. System Flow Characteristics Modeling:

    A review of the Stanley Park water system flow characteristics be performed, including computer modeling of water residency periods.

4. Sampling Program:

    For the short term a sampling program was established on August 8, 2000 and will continue for 2 weeks provided negative results for fecal contamination continue. Samples are being taken in duplicate to the GVRD lab and the BCCDC lab.

Park Board staff continue to monitor 5 sites on a weekly basis.

Intermittent flushing being done at present and to be modified after modeling.

Modeling is being done by COV Waterworks staff and is nearing completion

Bi-weekly testing at 4 locations is being continued.

LONG TERM (CAPITAL) PROGRAM

1. Long Range Plan:

    A long range plan, similar to the COV Waterworks Long Range Plan be developed for replacement of the Stanley Park water system.

2. System Wide Survey & Documentation:

    The Stanley Park water system be surveyed for all elements that can be located through currently available technology.

3. Capital Plan Program:

    A capital Program be developed to implement changes identified by the above review.

To be undertaken jointly by Park Board and Engineering Services in 2001

A partial survey was in place at the time of the incident. This was further updated with info from the incident and has been continuing since.

To be formulated as part of (1) as implemented by City Engineering Services

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