Two public work projects have led to unanticipated expenses of approximately $44,000 for the District of Squamish.
In the beginning of February 2020, district staff was made aware of a sunken abandoned boat in the Xwu’nekw Park water lot, making it a district responsibility.
Due to hydrocarbons beginning to leak and potential for further environmental damage, the staff obtained emergency approval from the CAO to proceed with removal of the boat immediately, which cost $4,000.
On Wednesday March 10, a substantial break was discovered on the water main on Third Avenue that serves Squamish Terminals.
The water main had to be shut down, leaving the Terminals with no source of potable water either for domestic or industrial use, or for fire-fighting need.
The staff is not sure if the main can be repaired “as is” and is examining the failure and the design of a replacement connection, a process that can take weeks, or even months.
Meanwhile, the staff began to use the recently installed water main connection from the Oceanfront development to Third Avenue to the terminals.
It is also now designing and sourcing larger pipe to provide fire flows from the Oceanfront development to the Terminals.
All of this work has been directly awarded to contractors already on site at the Oceanfront, currently working on water and sewer servicing.
The approximate cost of the interim measures will be in the order of $35,000 to $40,000.
