Engineering & Public Works
Water Services
The Water Services section provides, operates and maintains services that are necessary to supply high-quality drinking water to the public. They must also maintain volume and pressure levels to meet fire flow demand while continually maintaining and improving the water distribution system.Responsibilities of this section are maintenance of watermains, water connections, water meters, fire hydrants, valves, pressure reducing valve stations and proving excellent customer service.
Watermain Maintenance
Involves the daily maintenance for repair of watermains, flushing to maintain water quality, inspection and monitoring of the cathodic protection system to protect steel watermains from corrosion. Construction involves replacement of watermains which have reached the end of their economic maintenance life cycle or that are undersized for the service area.
Water Connection Maintenance
Involves the daily maintenance for the repair, renewal, disconnection, and locating of water connections that services individual properties. These are the lines that supply water from the watermain to the customers point-of-use.
Water Meter Maintenance
Involves the repair, replacement, delivery, installation, reading and testing of water meters. The meters record the amount of water a customer consumes and bill accordingly. The sewage cost to the customer is directly proportionate to their water usage.
Fire Hydrant Maintenance
Involves the repair, servicing, testing, painting and clearing of fire hydrants. The fire hydrants are maintained to the fire code standards. This section responds when a fire hydrant has been damaged in a motor vehicle accident.
Valve Maintenance
Involves the repair, replacement, painting, clearing and cleaning of control valves. These are key components of the system as they serve to isolate areas of the system for repair. As an area increases in population density, additional valves are installed to lessen the impact of watermain shut downs.
Pressure Reducing Stations Maintenance
The water system has 12 pressure reducing valve stations which reduce Metro Vancouver's higher operational pressure down to one that is manageable for Richmond's water distribution system. The stations are connected to a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system that provides information to the Works Yard such as water pressure, quality and volume. The activities in the area involve the repair, servicing and monitoring key components of the system.
Customer Service
Water Services responds to a large volume of requests for service from the public. The types of services provided include: "turn-off" and "turn-on" for private repairs, location of water utilities, flow testing, advice on repairs, and inquires on water quality, low pressure, frozen services connections, water meters and water restrictions.
Emergency Service Response
Water Services provides emergency service response 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Emergency response is an important function in maintaining a pressurized water system, avoiding or minimizing the amount of damage to property, both private and public.
General Information
Overview of the Water Distribution System
Richmond's waterworks inventory consists of 633 km of watermains. In addition, there are 12 pressure reducing valve stations, where the water pressure from Metro Vancouver is reduced to one that is manageable for Richmond's water distribution system.
Water Restrictions
From May to October each year, water restrictions are in effect throughout Metro Vancouver, including the City of Richmond. These restrictions are required to conserve the region's limited water supply, which are particularly needed throughout the summer months.
Flushing Watermains
The flushing practice ensures high-quality tap water by moving water through the pipes and eliminating stagnant water at dead-ends. The pipes are cleared and the risk of high HPC levels, which lead to bacteria re-growth, is significantly reduced.
Contact Us: Water Services
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