Project Description

Metro Vancouver Water Services operates and maintains approximately three thousand chambers and maintenance hatches. Asset condition information for a number of these indicates that many chambers are facing severe deterioration, including structural defects and corrosion of water piping and valves. Inspection is required to determine the condition of the chambers, and prioritize repair work as required. To address these issues, a large-scale inspection initiative is being implemented. The project consists of:

• Systematic inspections: comprehensive inspections are planned across the network to evaluate the current conditions of the chambers and hatches. These inspections will focus on key indicators of asset health, including structural integrity and the presence of contaminants such as chlorine, hydrocarbons, oil, grease, and iron;
• Maintenance and repairs: following the inspections, a prioritized maintenance and repair schedule will be established to address the most urgent issues, ensuring the continued reliability and safety of the water services.
• Project management: this encompasses effective coordination with various stakeholders, development of safety and traffic management plans, and supervision of the inspection activities to ensure the project is conducted efficiently and in compliance with safety standards.

Our Role

RAM served as a prime contractor for the ongoing project, performing the following general duties:

• Attending preconstruction meetings and other project meetings as necessary;
• Coordinating with the Corporation’s field operations and Project Manager;
• Preparing and implementing traffic management plans where required;
• Obtaining all necessary permits for the work;
• Measuring water depth, and field testing for chlorine prior to dewatering any flooded chambers;
• Utilizing pole-camera equipment from the exterior of the chambers to obtain clear, high-resolution photos, as well as obtaining video recordings of all visually-accessible chamber equipment and components;
• For each chamber inspected, the checklist was completed following the Inspection Component Scoring Criteria;
• Submitting safety documents for the Corporation’s review and approval;
• Liaising with the municipal engineering office and the Corporation’s consultants as necessary.