Windermere Water Upgrade

Windermere’s connection to the East Side Lake Windermere water system

New water entering the Windermere water system since early June has been coming from the East Side Lake Windermere water system. RDEK Operators have been flushing the system to ensure that the fully compliant water is throughout the system. They are working with Interior Health to achieve targets that will allow the removal of the Water Quality Advisory, so we hope to share that news with you in the coming weeks.

Flushing of water system does require significant water. Usually the work is completed when system water use is lower, so timing for this flushing program is not ideal. We ask all users on the East Side Lake Windermere water system to conserve water as much as possible so that more water is available for the flushing program. Also a reminder, while flushing is happening, Windermere Water System users may notice temporary water discolouration or some sediment for a short time. If there is discolouration of the water, please run your cold water taps until the water is clear.

For billing purposes, starting July 1, the Windermere water will transition to the East Side Lake Windermere Water System and will begin to be charged those rates. The bill Windermere users receive in July will reflect only the consumption used in April, May and June at Windermere rates, since the base rate for those months was charged on your previous bill. The bill that will be sent in October will include both base rate and consumption for July, August and September at East Side rates.

Windermere Construction
Construction continues to progress well in Windermere. The second round of watermain drilling was completed last week, and now the Contractor is focused on installing services, hydrants and preparing tie-ins. A portion of Sinclair, between Government and Fairmont is now being tested.

There has been one lane that will no longer be completed this year. Due to a known Archaeological Site around the Windermere beach, we had an archaeologist on site for some preliminary digging where a lane reaches Columbia Drive. Some fire broken rocks were discovered, so no further excavation is permitted pending a more formal process with BC’s Archaeological Branch. The watermain that would have been installed in the lane between Selkirk and Fairmont Streets that reaches the Beach will not occur in 2020 (affected homes: 4654 to 4664 Selkirk and 4649 to 4663 Fairmont). This area will still receive treated water, as will the rest of the community.

The Contractor will be taking a long weekend this weekend, leaving Friday mid-day and returning Tuesday. They will be working on July 1.

Timber Ridge & Swansea Construction
Clean up continues for these construction areas. Last week, the drilling subcontractor installed the watermain across the Highway at Merlo Road. The Contractor is now working to prepare the new watermain for testing. Work at the bulk meter station in Timbermont Road is expected to get underway in early July.

Windermere’s connection to the East Side Lake Windermere water system
We are approaching the time when the treated water from the water treatment plant will start entering Windermere’s water system. Part of the process involves flushing all of the watermains in Windermere. This flushing is expected to get underway during the week of June 8. While flushing is happening, Windermere Water System users may notice temporary water discolouration or some sediment for a short time. If there is discolouration of the water, please run your cold water taps until the water is clear.

Our current target for completing flushing and confirming with Interior Health about removing the Water Quality Advisory is the end of June. We look forward to being able to share the news with you when this milestone is achieved.

This will mean that starting July 1, 2020, Windermere will be considered fully part of the East Side Lake Windermere Water System and will be charged those rates. Details were provided in earlier newsletters which are available on our website.

Windermere
Work is progressing well in Windermere. The drilling subcontractor is expected on site this morning to start installing the watermains in the second phase of this year’s work. Marwest Industries will then be working on the services and testing to have the new sections put into service. Drilling of the watermains is much quicker than services and testing, so some areas will be on temporary water for an extended period. We don’t have the detailed schedule for the order in which each street/lane will be completed.

Starting this week, temporary water will become the only source for most homes in the construction area. Also, please note, we do not connect temporary water to homes unless we have word from an owner that we should. If you aren’t in the home, water is not expected to be required and we prefer not to risk anything. Temporary water can usually be quickly connected to anyone’s house if you are away. However, depending on your hose bibs, some additional effort may be required, so please provide notice as you decide to come out so that we can ensure water in the home around your arrival.

Timber Ridge & Swansea Project
Water into Timber Ridge has changed and the pump house has been shut off as the work in that area has been completed. Pressures should have remained similar, except some areas in Timber Heights where pressures should have been improved. We may have some minor adjustments to make over the coming weeks, but what you see now should be consistent with expectations moving forward. The work in Swansea Road area is also almost complete. We expect to switch the water system in that area around June 8.

There is still clean up to do which will be the Contractor’s focus when they return to site this week.

The other outstanding work is connecting the water system between Merlo Road and the strata across the highway, and changing out equipment in the bulk meter station on Timbermont Road. We do not have a schedule yet for this work, but will let you know in an upcoming update.

Questions? Comments?
Elizabeth Ahlgren, Project Supervisor is overseeing the project and is available to discuss anything that comes up. It is best to email her at eahlgren@rdek.bc.ca with your question and a phone number to call you back. You can also call the Cranbrook office and leave a voicemail at 250-489-2791

Here is the latest construction update.

Both Contractors will be away from the site for the long weekend, leaving sometime today and returning back to work on Tuesday. There will be fencing up around any open excavations.

Timber Ridge & Swansea Project

Work is progressing and we hope to have the north end of Timbermont Drive receiving their water from the new pressure zone on Tuesday. Pressures in the area will be similar or higher than currently in place. We know there have been low pressure issues in this area in the past, so this should improve things. If you own a property in the addresses listed below, please check the Pressure Reducing Valve in your home, you may need to adjust it.

• 824 to 902 Timbermont Road
• 4975 Timberside Place
• All addresses on Timbermont Place
• All addresses on Timber Heights Rd

Windermere

The RDEK has extended Marwest Industries contract to include all the additional areas shown in the map sent out earlier (orange lanes). As they prepare for the next phase, Marwest has been starting to prepare to install temporary water in the additional areas. If you own property near our construction areas (shown in orange on this map (click to view)) and are not currently in Windermere, please reach out to Elizabeth at eahlgren@rdek.bc.ca to confirm whether the shut-off in your house is turned off. Next week, Marwest will be working to wrap up construction in Rocky Mountain and working in North Street near the Highway.

With the significantly expanded scope of work, construction is now expected to extend through the summer, with wrap up in August.

The existing Pressure Reducing Station in the turn where Windermere Road becomes Victoria Avenue (across from Coldstream Landing entrance) will also be replaced this summer with an above ground structure.

Also, please note, we do not connect temporary water to homes unless we have word from an owner that we should. If you aren’t in the home, water shouldn’t be required and we prefer not to risk anything. Temporary water can usually be quickly connected to anyone’s house if you are away. However, many of the homes in the additional areas have frost-free hose bibs. These prevent the usual connection, so please provide notice as you decide to come out so that we can ensure water in the home around your arrival. No temporary water is in place for the May long weekend, but as we move forward something to remember.

Questions? Comments?

Elizabeth Ahlgren, Project Supervisor is overseeing the project and is available to discuss anything that comes up. It is best to email her at eahlgren@rdek.bc.ca with your question and a phone number to call you back. You can also call the Cranbrook office and leave a voicemail at 250-489-2791.

Windermere.
We heard from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) that the paving in Windermere townsite will resume next week. It’s scheduled to take about a week for their contractor to complete the remaining roads in the community. For more information on the paving project, you can contact: Arnold Van Reekum, Project Supervisor, Ministry Representative at (250) 354-8785 or Mike Verhage at OAL at (250) 540-4547

Marwest, the RDEK’s contractor for the watermain project in Windermere, will be focusing on getting their work outside the pavement in some areas. Unfortunately, timing will not allow them to complete everything and there will be some cutting into fresh asphalt based on the Ministry contractor’s schedule. Marwest will repair any asphalt affected by construction. We know this will be frustrating to watch but know that all parties are doing their best to work within budget and schedule restraints as well. The bright side is all the new watermain and new pavement that will be around the area once both projects are complete.

In terms of progress, Marwest is wrapping up the watermain and water service installation in the lanes off Sinclair between the store and community center. Homes in that area have been all or almost all connected to the new watermain. There will be some jumping around over the next week as they work to clean up areas for paving. They are working to finish up the watermain in the lane off Cemetery Road.

Timber Ridge & Swansea
Testing of the watermain is expected to happen next week. Installation of the underground spool pieces for the Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV) stations will also be installed in the next week or so. The two PRV stations are located (1) Timbermont Road, near Timberside Place and (2) Swansea Road, near Copper Point Way. The proposed changes will increase the pressure in Timbermont Road north of Timberside Place.

As most RDEK staff are continuing to work remotely due to COVID-19, email is the best way to reach Elizabeth at: eahlgren@rdek.bc.ca. If you would prefer, you can also call the RDEK Cranbrook office (250-489-2791 or 1-888-478-7335) and leave a message.

Construction continues to move forward. A couple of key notes/clarifications:

• Windermere townsite owners: if you own property near our construction areas (shown with green in the attached) and are not currently in Windermere, please reach out to Elizabeth at eahlgren@rdek.bc.ca to confirm whether the shut-off in your house is turned off.
• Treated water will be coming to everyone on the Windermere water system later this spring/early summer. There are two components to the project and funding: (1) providing treated water to the community and (2) upgrading some of the aged and undersized watermains.

Windermere

The temporary water services are ready to be connected, once test results are completed. If you own a home in our construction area (CLICK HERE TO VIEW MAP, streets marked as green) and are not at the property, we would like to confirm whether the water shut off in your home is turned off. Please send a quick note to Elizabeth at eahlgren@rdek.bc.ca.

This week, the drilling subcontractor will be on site. They are now planning to start with the loop comprising the lane by the Community Center/Stolen Church, Victoria Avenue and the lane behind the store.

We have had a few people ask about treated water and the community upgrades in Windermere, so thought we would share this information with everyone. Essentially, there are two components to the Project:

1. Providing the community with water from the East Side Lake Windermere water treatment plant. The watermain to connect the two systems has been installed. Last year, some system adjustments were identified to improve overall system management. The current schedule is to have Windermere connected later this spring or early summer. Once this work is complete, the entire Windermere water system will have treated water and the Water Quality Advisory signs at the entrances to Windermere will be removed. No one in Windermere will have treated water until spring.
2. Upgrading the water system in the community is the second component. Some areas of the Windermere water system are aging and smaller diameter which limits fire flow availability. We are working on upgrading some of these areas to provide a more robust water system. This is the work that occurred within the community last year and is getting underway this spring. These upgrades are not related to who will receive treated water since it is one system and once the system is connected to East Side Lake Windermere water treatment plant, everyone on the Windermere water system will have treated water.

Timber Ridge & Swansea

The work in Swansea Road is completed for now. We don’t have an update for where they will be working this week, but our understanding is the work in Cooper Road will be underway next week.

If there are any additional questions, please reach out to Elizabeth Ahlgren, Project Supervisor at eahlgren@rdek.bc.ca or phone 250-489-2791.

The link to the latest newsletter about various projects around the Windermere and East Side Lake Windermere water systems this spring is below:

• East Side Lake Windermere Water Newsletter & Construction Update

Both contractors mobilized to site last week, so we apologize for not letting you know the details before they arrived.

COVID is at the front of everyone’s mind and it’s no different for our contractors. The RDEK has had a number of conversations with the contractors about how they will manage their risks. Both have COVID plans and are taking the Provincial orders and guidelines seriously. We have also had one of our weekly site meeting for each contract to date and COVID was - and will remain - a topic at each meeting. Both want to keep working while they can and feel it can be done at a low risk.

If you have specific concerns or questions about any aspect of construction, please reach out directly to Elizabeth, Project Supervisor.

Since most RDEK staff are currently working from home, email is best: eahlgren@rdek.bc.ca. If you would prefer, you can also call the RDEK Cranbrook office (250-489-2791 or 1-888-478-7335) and leave a message.

Plans are moving ahead for a system-wide water shutdown in Windermere on Monday, August 12. Notices will be handed out starting tomorrow (Friday, August 9.19). The shutdown will begin around 8:30am on Monday August 12 and is expected to last until late afternoon/early evening. The Contractor will be working in the area in front of the fire hall. Eagle Rock will be busy with the work at hand, but if there’s something urgent or concerning, please contact Mark at (250) 571-8902.

We have also scheduled an end of contract walk through for later next week. Eagle Rock is still working on finishing things up, but if there’s something that you notice has not been done, please send Elizabeth an email eahlgren@rdek.bc.ca with details so we can make sure to check on it before they move offsite.

In non-RDEK related news, we have heard that the Province’s paving job is expected to be in Windermere sometime in October. Their project will overlay a new asphalt surface on many of the roads in the Windermere townsite area. The patching underway this week is required before an overlay can be installed.

If you have any questions about the shutdown - or the construction in general - please contact Elizabeth at eahlgren@rdek.bc.ca or by phone in our Cranbrook RDEK office at 1-888-478-7335.

We truly appreciate the community’s patience through all the construction this year. We are getting close to completing this first year’s work.

Here is the latest construction update on the Windermere Water Upgrade project.

Construction is nearing the end for this year, but we have one complete water system shutdown for Windermere before we are done. Tentatively set for Monday, August 12, this will be an all day water system shut down while Eagle Rock, the Contractor, connects the watermain in the highway to the existing system in front of the Fire Hall. As we get closer, we will confirm the date and notices will be provided. With the upcoming long weekend, Eagle Rock will be offsite Friday through Monday and back on Tuesday.

We have had a few people ask about treated water and the community upgrades, so thought we would share this information with everyone. Essentially, there are two components to the Windermere Treated Water Project:

1. Providing the community with water from the East Side Lake Windermere water treatment plant. The watermain to connect the two systems has been installed. As we have found an opportunity to improve operation and eliminate a planned pressure reducing station, some more work is required around the water treatment plant before the treated water can flow to Windermere. The current schedule is to have Windermere connected in the spring of 2020. Once this work is complete, the entire Windermere water system will have treated water and the Water Quality Advisory signs at the entrances to Windermere will be removed. No-one in Windermere will have treated water until spring.
   
2. Upgrading the water system in the community is the second component. Some areas of the Windermere water system are ageing and smaller diameter which limits fire flow availability. We are working on upgrading some of these areas to provide a more robust water system. This is the work that occurred within the community this year (Government/Sinclair/North St areas), and also includes some of the hydrants that are being added within the community. More upgrades are planned for next year, with details still under review. These upgrades are not related to who will receive treated water since it is one system and once the system is connected to East Side Lake Windermere water treatment plant, everyone on the Windermere water system will have treated water.

Hopefully this clears things up, but if there are any additional questions, please reach out to Elizabeth Ahlgren, Project Supervisor at eahlgren@rdek.bc.ca or phone 250-489-2791.

Eagle Rock, the Contractor, will be shutting of the water in two areas tomorrow.

One area is around the North Street & Sinclair Avenue intersection, where the new watermain will be connected to the existing system. (Notices were previously delivered on Saturday for a Monday shutdown, but this work was then delayed and is now scheduled for tomorrow).

Besides the watermain construction, we also have some hydrants that will be installed within the community. The second area that will be affected by a watermain shutdown tomorrow is for a hydrant being installed at the intersection of Selkirk Street and Swansea Avenue. Other new hydrants expected this year include Selkirk & Victoria, Lake Drive, Park Drive and Taynton Road.

Notices will be delivered this afternoon to all those expected to be affected by the shutdowns.

If you have any questions about the shutdowns - or the construction in general - please contact Elizabeth at eahlgren@rdek.bc.ca or by phone in our Cranbrook RDEK office at 1-888-478-7335.

We just wanted to touch base to let you know the Contractor is taking a long weekend. They will be back to work on Wednesday.

Things within the community are wrapping up. Some finishing work was started this week. Next week will be focused on testing of the watermains installed in North Street and Sinclair.

Hopefully the following week we will be able to start connecting the new watermain to the system. This will involve five tie-ins, which will mean more than one shutdown affecting different groups of homes. Notification will be provided in advance to the affected properties.

Elizabeth and her team are happy with the progress to date and we all appreciate the community's ongoing support.

If you have questions, as always, Elizabeth is the best resource for you. She can be reached at eahlgren@rdek.bc.ca or 1-888-478-7335 in our Cranbrook RDEK office.

Have a great weekend...and Happy Canada Day!