The City is going to start soil testing being on Nose Hill Park in preparation for a needed water supply main to north Calgary in the 2018-2020 timeframe. The City needs to do soil samples in order to choose the best route for this. When you see the driller, please keep your distance.
Obviously, Nose Hill is a sensitive area, and that is why the drilling will take place in winter when the ground is frozen, and rare plant and bird surveys will be conducted prior to drilling. If you want to ask further question on this, contact my office at ward04@calgary.ca or 403-268-3727.
Info about the project:
As part of a long-term plan for the water supply system, The North Calgary Water Servicing Project is now underway. A new water supply line (feedermain) is required to service future development and to ensure the sustainability of the water supply system in north Calgary.
The City’s project consultant, AECOM, has been engaged to design and construct a new water main from Big Hill West Pump Station to the Beddington Reservoir. The preferred alignment traverses Nose Hill Park from the southwest to the northeast and will be constructed using tunneling technology.
The Nose Hill portion of this larger water serving project will be completed in two phases.
Phase 1: Soil Sampling (Mid-February – Early April 2017)
- AECOM needs to test soil conditions using Geotechnical drilling along the proposed tunneling route to ensure soil condition are right for Phase 2 tunnelling.
- There will be survey and geotechnical personnel and equipment in the Park in the southwest /northwest of the park away from park paths.
- The best time to drill the 21 test holes which are six inches in diameter is mid-winter when the ground is frozen; this minimizes the impact on the surface environment.
- Rare plant and bird survey will be conducted prior to drilling. Mitigations measures will be in place to conserve protected species.
Phase 2: Construction – tunnelling (Summer 2017– Summer 2018)
The proposed alignment of the pipe traverses Nose Hill Park from the southwest to the northeast and will be constructed using “tunneling technology”, up to 600 feet below the surface.
Information handout available here and at Nose Hill Park (signage at parking lots).
