Lake Huron Primary Water Supply System Acoustical Fibre Optic (AFO) Project

The Board of Management at the Lake Huron Primary Water Supply System (LHPWSS), awarded the Pure Technology team the supply and installation of acoustic fibre-optic (“AFO”) monitoring system on the LHPWSS transmission watermain. It serves approximately 500,000 people spanning eight municipalities from Grand Bend to London, Ontario.

After four transmission watermain failures (the latest in 2012), LHPWSS undertook a proactive approach to manage its critical pipeline through a technology-driven management program. Through leak detection and condition assessment, LHPWSS and Pure began to collect information on the existing condition of the transmission watermain. Subsequent to these inspections, LHPWSS verified and replaced three pipe sections showing high levels of distress, likely leading to failure, and identified additional transmission watermain sections for future replacement. Once commissioned, the AFO monitoring system will identify any further deterioration of the pipeline in real-time, preventing failures, and will allow LHPWSS to plan for future repairs, if required.

L82 Construction joined the Pure Team to design and build the civil works for this project. This included installing 2400 mm concrete structures over the existing transmission watermain and refurbishing existing chambers complete with 4” taps for entry of the acoustical fibre optics into the pipeline. Also with this work included electrical and mechanical upgrades to the Arva Reservoir and Mcgillvray Pumping Station.

With the findings from the condition assessment of the Transmission watermain, the L82 team completed replacement of the distressed pipe including removal of existing 1200 mm pipe and complete restoration of the farm land.

We would like to acknowledge everyone involved with this project including Lake Huron Primary Water Supply System, Ontario Clean Water Agency, Pure Technologies, Stantec Consulting, Pipeline Repair Services, EXP Consulting, Dielco Industrial Contractors, Emco Pipe and Products, Hanson Pipe and Precast and all the stakeholders for all the coordination and cooperation.