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The first phase of a water pipeline upgrade project in the Aamjiwnaang First Nation is taking longer than expected due to nearby pipelines.
Published on December 27, 2024 • Last updated 1 day ago • 2 minutes reading time
Sarnia City Hall (File Photo/Postmedia)
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The first phase of a water pipeline upgrade project in the Aamjiwnaang First Nation is taking longer than expected due to nearby pipelines.
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“Typically these (pipelines) are connected to the petrochemical plants here,” said David Jackson, general manager of engineering and operations for the city of Sarnia.
“If we work in a certain proximity to those, we have to have an agreement” for the companies to inspect the city’s work for safety reasons.
Obtaining these agreements can take time, especially when multiple companies, sometimes with headquarters in different provinces, are involved, Jackson said.
The project is a 1.3-kilometer, $1.4 million water main replacement along Vidal Street South in Aamjiwnaang Territory, from northern Beaver Circle to near Sun Avenue, Jackson said.
“They’re in the final stages now,” he said. “The main water main work has been completed, so just some restoration work will be carried out.”
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A recent report on the progress of the city capital project notes that part of the project has been postponed to 2025 due to pipeline agreements.
Emergency repairs to the aging pipeline, which was prone to ruptures and ran through woods near a third-party pipeline easement, were a headache, Jackson said.
“It can create significant complexity for us if we need to get on site quickly,” he said, noting that contractor Schouten Excavating has moved the main line so that it now follows the road.
“We shouldn’t have to worry about disruption there for a while,” Jackson said.
The work is Phase 1 of a $9.9 million project Sarnia and Aamjiwnaang jointly received grants for in 2022 to replace five kilometers of old water mains in the First Nation's territory.
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Sarnia has budgeted $2 million in the new year for Phase 2 work to replace main lines on the LaSalle Line from St. Clair Parkway to Vidal Street South. on Vidal Street South, south of Beaver Circle and on Beaver and Wahboose counties.
A third phase is planned for 2026, Jackson said.
The 2024 budget was $4.6 million, but the project scope was limited, Jackson said.
“We will utilize these unused funds as part of the (subsequent) phases,” he said.
Joint provincial and federal funding through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program covers all but approximately $2.5 million of the project costs.
Sarnia, which owns the water lines, is covering most of those costs, while Aamjiwnaang is contributing $200,000 for associated road work.
The water pipes to be replaced were also too small, said Jackson.
Their exchange is expected to support Aamjiwnaang's expansion and development projects.
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