Work on the sewer systems near Peace Arch Hospital is expected to get underway this month, after White Rock city council voted to award the $297,000 contract at a special meeting Tuesday.
The project – awarded to B&B Contracting – combines a new sanitary sewer system, required by a new Fraser Health building at Peace Arch Hospital, and a storm sewer line on Russell Avenue due for replacement.
According to a report to council, constructing the sewers side-by-side in the same trench will save the city approximately $63,000.
Coun. David Chesney expressed concern at Monday’s meeting about the two lines sharing a trench, asking if there was a risk of leakage between the two.
Bob Ambardar, the city’s manager of engineering, told council the risk of leakage was minimal.
“It’s quite common to have sanitary and storm sewers in a common trench,” Ambardar said. “They are both gravity systems, so there’s not a lot of leakage and the joints are sealed.”
The city also approved $87,00 work of sanitary sewer upsizing on Finlay Street, between Russell and Goggs. The total cost of both projects, including engineering, inspection and contingency costs, is $466,000.