Seymour Capilano Water Utility Projects

For more information about this project:

Call: the Community Liaison Officer at
604-451-6654
Fax: 604-432-6297
After-Hours Emergencies: 604-451-6610
Write: Metro Vancouver Public Involvement Division
4330 Kingsway Burnaby, B.C. V5H 4G8
E-mail: icentre@
metrovancouver.org

Seymour Capilano Water Utility Projects

The Seymour and Capilano watersheds supply up to 70% of the Lower Mainland ’s drinking water. Construction of new water supply and treatment facilities for these water sources is underway in the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve (LSCR) and at Capilano River Regional Park.

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Seymour Filtration Projects

Filtration Plant (Complete)
The Seymour-Capilano Filtration Plant, the largest of its kind in Canada, will treat 1.8 billion litres of water per day from both sources. That is enough water to fill B.C. Place Stadium every day! Located in the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve (LSCR), the filtration plant will improve Metro Vancouver’s drinking water by removing turbidity and micro-organisms, and by reducing the amount of chlorine required to maintain water quality.

Seymour source water is currently being treated at the plant and conveyed by regional water mains to member municipalities for distribution to homes, businesses and industry. Following completion of the Twin Tunnels Project, Capilano source water will also be filtered at the plant and distributed by regional water mains.

Partial funding for the filtration plant is being provided by the Canada-BC Infrastructure Grant Program.

Seymour Capilano Filtration Plant

Clearwells (Complete)
Clearwells for water storage adjacent to the filtration plant will store treated water for distribution at peak times.

Stormwater Ponds (Complete)
Two large ponds will collect rainwater to control stream flow to prevent downstream erosion. The ponds will also provide habitat for aquatic organisms and vegetation.

Twin Tunnels – Seymour Shaft (Complete)
At the Seymour end of the twin tunnels, a 185-metre-deep, 11-metre-diameter shaft was excavated to link the tunnels to the surface. This shaft is located across Lillooet Road from the filtration plant, in the District of North Vancouver’s Lynn Canyon Park.

Residuals
The water filtration process will generate approximately ten tonnes of residuals (made up of silts, clays and other material removed from the water) per day. Metro Vancouver is currently evaluating recycling, re-use and disposal options for this material.

Capilano Filtration Projects

Capilano Pump Station and electrical substation (Complete, Commissioning in 2013)
Following the commissioning of the Twin Tunnels, Capilano source water will be pumped through the tunnels to the filtration plant for treatment using a 16,000 horsepower pump station, located next to the tunnel shafts. This pump station is powered by an electrical substation, located west of Cleveland Dam.

Energy Recovery Facility and Break Head Tank (Commissioning in 2013)
As the Seymour-Capilano Filtration Plant is higher in elevation than the Capilano Reservoir, excess pressure will be generated when treated water is returned through the twin tunnels. Using the new energy recovery facility and its turbine technology, which will be installed prior to commissioning in 2013, Metro Vancouver will harness energy from the excess pressure.

The Break Head Tank will reduce the pressure of the water before it reaches the distribution system.

Pipeline corridor (Complete)
This corridor contains two large diameter pipes that convey water to and from the Capilano pump station.

Twin Tunnels – Capilano Shafts
Capilano access shafts: Twin tunnels are currently being bored horizontally from the site in the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve, near the filtration plant, to a point 270 metres beneath the pumping station in the Capilano River Regional Park. Twin vertical shafts will bring the tunnels to the surface in Capilano River Regional Park.

In June 2010, Metro Vancouver’s contractor will start constructing these shafts using a method called raise bore. In September, site setup will be complete and boring will take place 24 hours a day, seven days a week for approximately six months.

Crews will start by drilling two small “pilot” holes into the ground using raise bore machines. Once the pilot holes reach the tunnels below, crews will attach reamers - which are large cutting heads – to the raise bore machines. Each machine will then slowly lift its reamer up through the bedrock, gradually widening the holes.

Noise produced by the raise bore machines will be similar to the sound of daytime traffic along Capilano Road. During the reaming process, excavated bedrock will drop into the tunnels below where it will be loaded into tunnel cars for transport to the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve using a track system within the twin tunnels. As a result, there will be very little truck traffic associated with this portion of the project. Trucks will only be used to deliver pipe and equipment.

When raise bore operations are complete in spring 2011, crews will start lining the shafts with steel pipe. Activities associated with this work will include steel liner installation, temporary cement silo set up, tunnel grouting (which will fill the voids between the liner and shaft walls) and crane operations. During this portion of the project, approximately four to six trucks will be arriving on site per day to deliver materials.

Capilano Main No. 5 Valve Chamber
In September 2010, Metro Vancouver will begin constructing a new valve chamber in Capilano River Regional Park north of the Capilano Salmon Hatchery. The valves in the chamber will allow crews to isolate sections of a large regional water main so maintenance work can be conducted without interrupting the water distribution system.

There will be truck traffic associated with this project. When crews begin construction, approximately nine truck trips are expected per day. As work progresses, approximately one to two truck trips are expected per day. Trucks will access the construction site via Capilano Road.

Cleveland Dam Elevator System Replacement
In service since 1954, the current Cleveland Dam elevator has the capacity to transport one person at a time to the dam’s lower gallery where maintenance and inspection work takes place. In September 2010, Metro Vancouver will replace the current elevator system, located inside the dam, with a new system using an existing air shaft, located outside the dam. This new system will have the capacity to hold up to 16 people and can accommodate a rescue stretcher if required.

When construction begins, equipment, including a small crane, will be delivered to site. In addition, there will be approximately seven-to-ten truck trips per day during the first few weeks of the project. Trucks will use the Capilano Pacific Trail and the Cleveland Dam Road to access the work site. This will result in intermittent road/trail closures.

Cleveland Dam Reservoir Control Upgrades
Metro Vancouver’s Cleveland Dam contains a movable gate that controls the level of water in the Capilano Reservoir, and the amount of water that flows over the dam and downstream into the Capilano River. The gate controls are operated by a system within the dam. In September 2010, Metro Vancouver will begin upgrading this system.

The majority of activities relating to this work will occur within the walls of the dam; however, there will be a small number of trucks delivering or removing materials to/from site at the start of the project. During the upgrade work, water levels in the Capilano Reservoir will be lower than usual. The water levels will return to normal when the work is complete in October 2010.

Metro Vancouver is committed to identifying and mitigating the impacts of construction on the communities in which we work. Metro Vancouver maintains an ongoing, open dialogue with residents on the North Shore and recreational users of the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve and Capilano River Regional Park to identify and address any concerns.

Construction Issues

Traffic: In the LSCR, truck traffic on public roads has been greatly reduced because projects use existing LSCR gravel/soil and store excavated soil within the LSCR itself. In Capilano River Regional Park, materials and equipment will be transported to/from site; however, the number of trucks has been greatly reduced as ground materials from shaft construction will be hauled to the LSCR using a track system within the twin tunnels. SCWUP construction traffic on public roads is and will continue to be monitored for noise, speed control and general safety on Metro Vancouver property and nearby roads.

Noise and hours of work: Metro Vancouver monitors construction noise to remain within DNV noise bylaw limits. We recognize noise can be intrusive even when under bylaw limits and make efforts to reduce construction noise impacts as much as possible.

• Mitigation measures such as installing noise barriers, using existing power sources to reduce generator use and periodically monitoring sound levels will be put in place;
• Construction activities will generally occur between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday to Friday. Weekend work will take place occasionally; and
• Raise boring activities for the Capilano tunnel shafts will occur 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A noise variance to conduct this work outside of the regular construction hours has been granted by the District of North Vancouver.

Safety and air quality
• Fencing and safety barriers will be installed around areas of construction;
• Flag personnel will be present during equipment and material deliveries/removal;
• Trucks used to deliver or remove construction materials and equipment will be 1998 models or newer, for which there are stricter emission standards;
• Construction equipment will use low sulphur diesel, particulate traps and diesel oxidation scrubbers to reduce emissions; and
• Vibration monitoring will be conducted during certain activities; however, the expected vibration levels will be within a margin that is considered to be barely detectable by the human body.

Public access: All parks remain open and accessible during construction. Please be aware of construction activities and follow detour and/or pedestrian signage. Construction projects are responsible for restoring park areas upon completion of work. Metro Vancouver often uses the period of construction clean-up to enhance park amenities, such as trails and walkways.

Cyclists: There may be delays for cyclists in areas close to

construction. Watch for signs and flag control. Use caution on loose gravel.

Roads: Roads to the park and conservation reserve will remain open but temporary closures may be required and will be signed. Even though most heavy truck traffic is contained within the LSCR there are still deliveries to the work sites so watch for large trucks on Lillooet Road.
All construction contracts require trucks to avoid using lower Lillooet Road near schools during times that children cross Lillooet Road to and from school.

Resources

	Treatment from Source to Tap Fact Sheet October 2008
	Drinking Water Filtration Project Fact Sheet October 2008
	Filtration Project Twin Tunnels Fact Sheet February 2008

2009 2010 Project Highlights

Watch video clips

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Seymour Capilano Filtration Plant 2008 Update

Seymour-Capilano Filtration Plant Update 2006

Seymour-Capilano Filtration Plant Advisory Committee

Seymour-Capilano Filtration Plant 2004 updates

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Fast Facts

There is a designated Seymour-Capilano Water Utility Projects community liaison officer available to answer questions and listen to construction-related concerns. Please visit the Public Information Office in the LSCR parking lot or call the officer at the Project Information Line at 604-451-6654.

Public involvement

Metro Vancouver will continue to obtain public input, and provide information and address concerns of residents, and LSCR and Capilano River Regional Park visitors. For more information about public involvement opportunities, or to request fact sheets, please:
Call: 604-432-6200
Write:
Metro Vancouver
Public Involvement Division
9th floor, 4330 Kingsway
Burnaby , B.C. V5H 4G8
E-mail
Fax: 604-432-6297