Capital Works
City of Nelson Operations encompasses a wide range of activities. The department is headed by the Director of Operations and Engineering, who oversees operations and acts as liaison between City Hall and Operations. Under the supervision of the director, the Operations department is divided into three broad groups: Public Works, Parks and Utilities.
The director funnels concepts to the Manager of Engineering, who is responsible for developing these concepts into reality with the help of the Supervisor of Public Works and Parks, and the Supervisor of Utilities. These managerial staff is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the City, as well as for delivering on a number of capital projects.
The ongoing maintenance of the City is carried out by Public Works. Streets and lanes, boulevards, sidewalks, bridges, retaining walls, railings, signs, storm sewers, snow removal, street sweeping and dozens of other activities are carried out by Public Works crews. In addition to maintenance duties, Public Works is responsible for a number of capital works projects such as major road works and the annual paving program. During the construction season, well over a dozen major projects will be initiated, ranging from storm sewer extensions and upgrades, to resurfacing of the concrete surfaces at the Parkade.
Like Public Works, the Parks Department carries out a variety of duties throughout the year. Two major parks projects are currently underway. The large park at the top of Davies Street is taking shape, following a plan developed by a local landscape architect in consultation with the community. The Art Gibbon Memorial Park, located in Rosemont, is also being developed.
Numerous capital projects are undertaken each year, occasionally in conjunction with local service clubs, in order to enhance or add amenities to public spaces. Recent examples of capital parks works include: the north entrance and adjacent boat launch area at Lakeside Park, where access to both the park and the boat launch were improved; and the addition of outdoor exercise equipment along the pathways in the vicinity of the Lakeside sports fields.
The Utilities department is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the water system and the sanitary sewer system. The duties performed by the utility workers includes water quality monitoring, main flushing and repair, hydrant and valve servicing and the sanitary duties of operating the sewage treatment plant, root cutting clogged sanitary lines and maintaining sanitary lift stations.
Currently, the water system is subject to ongoing change and renewal, working toward improving the system and ensuring sustainability. A Water Master Plan established the framework for renewal and improvement, and is used as the basis for the capital program. The replacement of the old galvanized iron water main in the downtown lanes is nearing completion, as is the replacement of the 1920s vintage cast iron water main in the 400 and 500 blocks of Silica Street.
Examples of other projects currently underway include: the design of an ultraviolet disinfection system in conjunction with hypochlorite generation at the Mountain Station reservoir site; an intake and feed line works; capacity improvement projects; back-up sources; chlorination upgrades at satellite sites; and development of demand management strategies.
The sanitary system, similar to the water system, has a finite lifespan. Ongoing renovations at the sewage treatment plant are aimed at improving effluent quality and improving the work environment. Advances in technology have enabled the City not only to improve the process at the sewage treatment plant, but to help reduce pipe replacement costs. Sanitary lines can be renewed without having to replace them, using pipe relining technology. New liners are pulled through the sanitary pipes at a fraction of the cost of installing new sewer line. Over the past few years an aggressive relining program has improved the reliability of the system.
Projects are also underway to separate the storm water from the sanitary system, and improve the inflow and infiltration of water into the sanitary pipes. The forthcoming Sanitary Master Plan, a work in progress, will help guide future improvements to the sanitary system.
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