Yorkton Council received a look at the state of its water and wastewater network at its Committee-of-the Whole meeting Monday.
Associated Engineering was retained in January of 2008 to create an inventory of the City of Yorkton's water and wastewater networks suitable for strategically defining capital investments in these systems as part of an overall water and wastewater sustainability or Asset Management Plan.
"This plan will ensure that these systems continue to function at a level that is adequate for the customer base in Yorkton both now and in the future. In the interest of clarity this study and analysis includes water and wastewater piping and related components and does not include treatment facilities, pump stations, reservoirs and other non linear assets," detailed a letter from Associated Engineering circulated at the meeting.
Jason Horner, manager infrastructure group AE Saskatchewan said the process has created a staff independent memory of the City's water and wastewater systems.
"It's a living resource tool that doesn't walk out the door when somebody retires or changes jobs," he said.
In doing the work there were some estimations which had to be used, including the concept that the life expectancy of underground pipes was 75 years, said Horner. He said that doesn't mean some of the piping will not last longer, and it has in Yorkton, but it is an accepted industry measure.
"You have to look at some estimated lifespans," said Horner, adding there are many variables impacting the actual lifespan.
Horner said in general terms a lot of "infrastructure has been put in the ground and essentially forgot about for 70-years," he said.
In Yorkton the overall replacement value of the system was estimated at $118 million, $51 million for the water system, $38 million for wastewater and $29 million for the storm water system.
As it now stands the City of Yorkton invests $600,000 annually in waterlines, which would mean a line is theoretically replaced every 85 years.
The investment in wastewater lines is only $200 annually meaning a replacement every 190 years, said Horner.
No money is invested annually in the storm water infrastructure, which would mean the system would essentially need to last indefinitely, said Horner.
"The current investment is a bit unbalanced and needs to be reviewed," he said.
As it stands, based on the 75-year life expectancy there is also a backlog of older lines in the city, said Horner, adding it would require $7.5 million to replace wastewater lines older than 75 years, $3.9 million for water lines, and $136,000 for storm water lines.
While not all the older lines need immediately replaced, Horner said the trend line of breaks is moving higher, and 90 per cent of those breaks are older cast iron lines.
"They're breaking at an accelerated rate," he said. " Everything is deteriorating every day. You just have a better idea about it."
