North York Civic Centre
5100 Yonge Street
North York, Ontario
Canada M2N 5V7
June 29, 1998
To:Works and Utilities Committee
From: Barry H. Gutteridge, Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services
Subject:Water Main Replacements/Construction - Various Locations
Finch Avenue East - Page Avenue to 400 meters East
Lawrence Avenue East - Brian Cliff Drive to The Bridle Path
Steeles Avenue West - Bathurst Street to Hilda Avenue
Alfred Avenue - West End to Kenneth Avenue (Through Park)
Purpose:
To obtain approval for the replacement and/or construction of water mains at the above locations as a result of
continuing operational problems or increasing the efficiency of the distribution hydraulics.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
The funding in the amount of $1,425,000.00 is available as follows:
$825,000.00 -from the North York -Water Main Replacement (Non-Specific Locations) Account
$600,000.00 -from the excess funds from previously funded and completed North York water main replacement
projects
As the above are existing funds which have been previously approved there will be no additional financial implications
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
- the water mains on the above streets within the limits as described be replaced at an estimated cost of $1,450,000.00
- the appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take action to give effect thereto.
Council Reference/Background/History:
N/A
Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:
Finch Avenue East - Page Avenue to 400 metres East
The Finch Avenue East water main between Page Avenue and approximately 400 m east was installed in circa 1955.
Historical maintenance records indicate that the 300 mm (12") water main has sustained 10 recorded breaks with five
occurring in the past two years. The nature of these breaks are such that the resulting damage to the roadway and
boulevard areas are extensive and the cost or restoration far exceeds the cost of the pipe repair. Furthermore, staff advise
that the water main is badly corroded. This will lead to more failures in the future. The estimated cost of the replacement
of this water main is $290,000.00.
Lawrence Avenue East - Brian Cliff Drive to The Bridle Path
The Lawrence Avenue East water main between Brian Cliff Drive and The Bridle Path was installed in circa 1945. This
water main is a dead end water main at the pressure area boundary split between area 3E and 4. As of December 1997
staff have been flushing and sampling water from the residential property at 734 Lawrence Avenue East following
ongoing complaints of rusty water form the property owners. Water samples were collected for iron content analysis.
The iron content is consistently in excess of the Ministry of the Environment and Energy - Ontario Drinking Water
Objectives (ODWO) guidelines. Arrangements were made to install, as a temporary measure, a water filter for the
residents of 734 Lawrence Avenue East until a more permanent solution could be implemented. Staff have continued to
periodically flush the water main to maintain iron levels at acceptable limits. In addition there have been 12 recorded
water main breaks on this section of pipe, with four occurring in the past 16 months. The estimated cost of the
replacement of this water main is $230,000.00.
Steeles Avenue West - Bathurst Street to Hilda Avenue
In 1998 the former Metropolitan Toronto Roads and Transportation Department is planning to reconstruct Steeles
Avenue West between Bathurst Street and Hilda Ave. Historical maintenance records indicate that the 150 mm (6")
water main has sustained 33 recorded breaks. In an effort to take advantage of reduced installation costs (savings from
not having to pay for the final restoration of the Steeles Avenue roadway/boulevard) this would be an opportune time to
carry out this work.. The estimated cost of the replacement of this water main is $900,000.00.
Alfred Avenue - West End to Kenneth Avenue (Through Park)
The former North York Works Department have included the road reconstruction of Alfred Avenue from Dudley
Avenue to the west end. Included in the work is the construction of a storm sewer through the park at the westerly limit
to Kenneth Avenue. It is recommended that the existing 150 mm (6") water main be extended from the dead end water
main on Alfred Avenue through the park to Kenneth Avenue to improve the hydraulics in the distribution system and to
loop the system by eliminating the dead end water main. The estimated cost to construct the new water main is
$30,000.00.
It is recommended that the Department install the replacement water mains by trenchless technology wherever possible.
Pipe bursting is a process in which the old water main is physically burst by a bursting tool which is inserted from a
entry pit and removed from the exit pit, with the new water main pulled in behind the bursting tool. This process
minimizes restoration costs and is ideal in instances such as these because of the few service connections that would
require excavation to reconnect to the new water main. Savings by using this method on the above projects are in the
magnitude of $100 per meter of installed pipe over using conventional open cut construction methods. The Alfred new
water main construction is to be constructed by conventional open cut methods.
It is anticipated that these projects will be constructed prior to the end of 1998. In addition, co-ordination of the Steeles
Avenue East water main construction will be required with the Transportation Division.
Conclusions:
As a result of operational difficulties with the water mains on Finch Avenue East from Page Avenue to 400 metres east;
Lawrence Avenue East from The Bridle Path to Brian Cliff Drive; and Steeles Avenue West from Bathurst Street to
Hilda Avenue, it is recommended that the water mains be replaced in an effort to reduce future maintenance costs,
reduce service interruptions and restore aesthetic water quality as applicable. It is also recommended that the hydraulics
of the water distribution system be improved by installing a new water main from the dead end water main on Alfred
Avenue through the park to Kenneth Avenue.
Contact Names and Telephone Numbers:
Mario Crognale, P.Eng.,
Director of Water and Sewer Operations
Phone: (416) 395-6219; Fax: (416) 395-6200
E-Mail: mcrognal@city.north-york-on.ca
Frank Trinchini, P.Eng.,
Works Engineer
Phone: (416) 394-6284; Fax: (416) 395-6200
E-Mail: ftrinchi@city.north-york.on.ca
Michael Price, P.Eng.,Barry H. Gutteridge
General Manager,Commissioner,
Water and Waste Water ServicesWorks and Emergency Services
