Water levels in the Speed River through Royal City Park can run down to a trickle at times. Expect that to happen quite suddenly next week, as the city essentially drains part of the river to make ready for sewer pipe installations.
Starting Monday, the Wellington Street Dam on the Speed will be cranked open to reduce water levels. The measure is part of the extensive work going into the York Trunk Sewer project. The dam will be open for two weeks while pipes are installed under Royal City Park.
“Affected businesses and community groups have been advised of the temporary change in water levels and we’ll complete the work as quickly as possible,” said Majde Qaqish, a city project engineer, in a city media release.
The low water levels are necessary to increase visibility underground, so that 40 metres of pipe can be safely and accurately installed. Qaqish described the installation process as delicate, due to the proximity of an existing water-main and bedrock obstacles.
The normal water levels will be restored on June 28. The river was similarly lowered last year to install 180 metres of water pipes on the same project.
The city’s largest water-main and sewer infrastructure project, York Trunk Sewer Paisley-Clythe Feedermain is a $30 million, multi-year undertaking. Construction begin in 2014.
