The Nanaimo area has seen a spike in gas line breaks through January 2021, due to people being unaware what's behind the ground. (submitted/Fortis BC)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

JUST 1 CALL

Calls for preventable natural gas line breaks spike throughout Nanaimo

Feb 18, 2021 | 5:26 AM

NANAIMO — Damage to underground infrastructure and natural gas lines is occurring at a pace not seen in several years.

Fortis BC said they’ve responded to eight cases through January of their lines being damaged by people digging in the ground. Just six cases were recorded in January for the combined three years prior.

Ian Turnbull, Fortis BC damage prevention and emergency services manager, told NanaimoNewsNOW the scope of what is causing damage is vast.

“It can be everything from a large scale construction project, a new sewer or water line so they’ve got a few blocks of the city street opened up. It can be somebody building a house or it’s somebody replacing their fence posts after a windstorm.”

Turnbull said a natural gas line break can quickly become a major safety hazard.

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“Many of these instances require the local fire department to attend, if that happens in the middle of the street that can do everything from close that street down for a number of hours…but if the gas is in proximity to schools or care homes, that could cause evacuations.”

Fortis BC subscribes to the BC 1 Call service, along with other utility providers such as BC Hydro and Telus. The free service provides maps of underground pipes and cables to be avoided during digging.

The City of Parksville, Town of Ladysmith and Town of Qualicum are listed as members of BC 1 Call. The City of Nanaimo and RDN are not subscribed, however provide information to people on request.

Nanaimo typically experiences between 50 and 60 natural gas line breaks every year.

“The majority of people, usually about 70 per cent of people who damage our lines, haven’t contacted BC 1 Call to get the information on what they’re going to be finding in the earth.,” Turnbull said.

Information from BC 1 Call can be requested on their website, or by calling 1-800-474-6886.

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