The Farrel Road area, to the west of the Railway museum is part of a legacy water system that previously serviced a trailer park. City staff have modelled the fireflows and domestic flows through the current system, and have found that available fireflows on the north side of the railway tracks are approximately 30 L/sec, far less than the required 150L/sec for commercial and half o the flows required for residential. Staff are in the process of confirming these results through flow tests.

Challenges with the site include the fact that the system is not looped.
and that the largest size of pipe crossing Victoria Road and the Railway tracks is a 4" main, which I believe is hung inside a stormwater culvert, a construction practice that is neither secure or meeting Interior Health requirements.

This area had been identified for upgrades in the past through the Big Bend development proposals, which would have included a road realignment, as well as water and sewer upgrades.

The City has received a building permit application from the new owner of 910 Farrel Road, and through the usual review of services, the City confirmed that upgrades are required to provide adequate service.

City staff have completed a preliminary desktop-level design and cost estimate for the required upgrades, which include directional drilling under CP's rail lines and Victoria Road.

The preliminary estimate is $220,000, and this is work that the City would contract out, rather than perform with our own staff. These costs include Roadworks, water upgrades and surface restoration. This does not include any upgrade to the sewer main in the area, which crosses a parcel with no right of way, nor does it address the road layout that currently crosses several properties.

This project would provide a secure water supply for the neighbourhood and fireflows for these houses and the Railway museum which is currently inadequately protected. Compliant fireflows are only available from hydrants on the south side of the railway line.