By Glenn Hicks

Renovated pumping station nearly ready for use

Apr 18, 2018 | 5:00 PM

After six months of work, the Second Ave. W. pumping station in Prince Albert is nearly ready to come online.

The $6.1 million project was aimed at increasing the city’s water distribution capacity on the hill, improving efficiency and reliability. Also included in that cost are upcoming upgrades to the Marquis Rd. reservoir pumphouse.

“We’re getting ready for startup,” Engineering Services Manager Jeff Da Silva told paNOW. “That means we’re running through all the computer programming, pumps and backup power, which will get us towards a full commissioning.”

Da Silva said the startup and testing process could take around four weeks, and they’re “well within a comfort zone” in terms of the estimated six-month schedule for the high-tech renovation of the 11.5 million-litre facility. Work started in early October, and the job involved replacing all the 55-year-old infrastructure connected to the concrete reservoir buried underground.

“All the electrical has been connected, all the pumps and controls are running, and backup power is all set, “Da Silva said.

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One of the key parts of the renovation was the installation of full backup power, so water distribution won’t be impacted in the event of any outage, electrical or gas.

The work was done over the winter months when water demand was lowest, which meant the city was able to tap into the Marquis Rd. facility and water treatment plant to meet the city’s needs. This long winter meant the timing of the work couldn’t have been better, according to Da Silva.

“The delayed spring means our increase in demand is delayed. We’re still getting water from the river as normal, but if everything had been dry by now we would have been seeing increased demand for things like watering and washing,” he said.

Editor’s Note: This story was updated at 2:19 p.m. on Thursday, April 19, 2018, to clarify that the $6.1 million upgrade budget also included the upcoming pumphouse upgrades at the Marquis Rd. facility.

glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow