Township of West Lincoln – West Lincoln Sanitary and Storm Sewer Systems Assessment
Efficient management of municipal sewer systems is critical for sustainable urban planning. This case study examines how Civica Infrastructure Inc. partnered with the Township of West Lincoln on a comprehensive sewer systems assessment to evaluate and improve their sanitary and storm sewer networks.
Project Description
The Township of West Lincoln faced mounting challenges with its sanitary sewer network due to inflow and infiltration (I/I), impacting capacity and increasing maintenance demands. Civica developed and executed a comprehensive flow monitoring plan designed to pinpoint high I/I areas and establish actionable insights for system improvement.
Key Components of the Project
Flow Monitoring and I/I Analysis: Civica employed advanced techniques, including dry weather flow (DWF), groundwater infiltration (GWI), intensity-duration frequency (IDF) curve analysis, and rainfall-derived inflow and infiltration (RDII) assessment. These methods provided detailed insights into system performance during various conditions.
Flushing and Inspections: Civica conducted the flushing of over 25 kilometers (km) of sanitary pipes and 11 km of storm pipes. Sewer video inspections (CCTV) covered 28 km of sanitary and 12 km of storm pipes, while maintenance hole (MH) inspections spanned over 400 sanitary and 375 storm MHs.
Data Collection and Prioritization: Civica collected over 1,000 GPS points for all sanitary and storm MHs, enabling detailed GIS mapping. This data informed the development of 5- and 10-year maintenance and capital works programs, ensuring the Township’s system remains efficient and cost-effective.
Relevance of Experience
Civica’s expertise in hydrological and hydraulic modelling, sanitary and storm sewer system capacity analysis, surface water hydrology, and condition assessment made them an ideal partner for this project. By integrating these disciplines, the team delivered actionable insights to optimize the Township’s sewer infrastructure.
Challenges Faced
Coordinating with Multiple Stakeholders: Active communication was central for managing input from the Township, project partners, and affected residents. Civica’s stakeholder engagement ensured smooth workflows and successful investigations, such as lot inspections and smoke and dye testing.
Rainfall Variability: Addressing rainfall variability over large geographical areas posed challenges for accurate inflow assessments. Civica utilized its innovative Distributed Rainfall Modelling Technique (DRMT) to interpolate “virtual rain gauges” and create storm-specific rainfall rasters, enhancing the accuracy of the analyses.
Lessons Learned
Communication Is Key: Consistent dialogue among stakeholders significantly improved project efficiency and reduced disruptions. A clear communication plan and transparency in investigations on private property helped build trust and cooperation with residents.
Data-Driven Insights Drive Success: Comprehensive hydrologic and hydraulic modelling provided a solid foundation for recommending long-term maintenance and rehabilitation strategies. Clear, prioritized action plans enable smoother implementation and cost predictability for municipalities.
Innovative Methodologies Deliver Results: Techniques like DRMT not only accounted for rainfall variations but also demonstrated how advanced modeling can improve system assessments and mitigate risks. Municipalities adopting such methods build resilience in addressing extreme weather events.
A Path Forward for Municipal Sewer Management
The collaboration between Civica and the Township of West Lincoln serves as a model for municipalities and civil engineers facing complex sewer system challenges. By leveraging tools such as sewer video inspections, inflow and infiltration inspections and assessments, and advanced modelling, organizations can optimize their sanitary and storm sewer infrastructure while ensuring long-term efficiency.
If your organization is interested in improving sewer system capacity analysis, Civica provides industry-leading expertise tailored to your needs. Contact us today!