Work required to implement the revised bypass pumping plan, gate repair, and delay costs were not part of the CRPS's original project scope, which is why it's not covered by their contingency allowance. (Google Maps)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

unforeseen repairs

Almost half a million additional dollars needed for Chase River Pump Station upgrade

Sep 29, 2022 | 6:08 AM

NANAIMO — The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) has approved a budget increase of $489,000 to repair an unexpected issue with the Chase River Pump Station (CRPS) upgrade.

While undergoing work involving the isolation of the CRPS to allow workers access to its wet-well for the planned upgrade, it was discovered the isolation gate was unable to handle flow once pressure builds up.

This resulted in a far more complex bypass pumping system for a project which is vital in ensuring the reliability and storm resiliency of the pump station.

The CRPS project is well underway and involves removing and replacing all existing pipes, access platforms and pump supports. In order to carry out this work, the flow to the pump station must be isolated and bypass-pumped around the pump station.

During their Sep. 27 Regular Board Meeting, the RDN unanimously voted in favour of this increase from the southern communities’ wastewater reserve fund, which will be revised in their 2022-2026 financial plan.

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This brings the new total revised project budget to $2,584,000.

Manager of engineering services for the RDN Duncan Taylor said these are not insignificant costs.

“Ensuring the safety of personnel working on the upgrade project in the depth of the pump station and ensuring that no wastewater is released to the environment takes a substantial amount of planning and equipment to be successful.”

It was discovered during construction upgrades the existing flow isolation gate in the pump station located on the incoming trunk sewer line cannot seal off the flow entirely, thus making it impossible to isolate the flow from the incoming sewer.

While this isolation gate is tested monthly, it’s unable to be fully pressurized without a bypass pumping system, therefore making its failure untraceable until now.

This project is time sensitive as it works to complete repairs ahead of winter, and even with this delay the upgrade work and now isolation gate repair is expected to be substantially complete by the end of this month.

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