The City of Toronto has retained R.V. Anderson Associates Limited (RVA) to provide program management, design, inspection, and contract administration services during construction for a “stand-alone” watermain replacement program.
Currently in the early stages, the program has an estimated capital budget of $130 million. It includes the replacement of approximately 80 kilometres of water distribution mains between 100 to 600 millimetres in size, along with related appurtenances. In some cases, the work will include reconstructing roads and replacing sewers. The capital works will be completed through approximately 30 construction contracts.
According to Michael D’Andrea, director of water infrastructure management at Toronto Water, this program will expedite the renewal of the City’s aging water distribution system. The City of Toronto has nearly 6,000 kilometres of watermains with an average age of nearly 60 years. It has one of the oldest systems in Ontario, and repairs approximately 1,500 water main breaks each year.
Toronto Water’s business plan identifies the need for a significant investment in watermain renewal over the next 10 years in order to address the backlog of aging infrastructure. The City of Toronto has already taken significant steps towards securing the funding required for ongoing renewal of their distribution system. However, the City has been challenged since amalgamation to ramp up its existing renewal programs to reduce the backlog of renewal needs. Through this program, RVA will function as an extension of the City’s in-house resources.
This program is to be completed over the next three years. Construction of the works is expected to commence in the spring of 2010, with completion slated for autumn 2012.
