Innovation May-June 2023

PROJECT HIGHL IGHTS 2022•2023

WATER BUDGET MODELLING FOR SUSTAINABILITY PLANNING IN FRENCH CREEK The French Creek water region within the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) is currently experiencing water scarcity, and climate models predict longer, drier summers in the future. Looking beyond the operation of its groundwater supply wells, the RDN teamed with WSP to implement an innovative approach to proactively manage and protect water resources at the regional scale. WSP developed and calibrated a regional scale numerical model using FEFLOW software to conduct water budget analysis for the aquifers and assess potential effects to streamflow in the French Creek region. This analysis identified areas of higher water stress and where future potential impacts to groundwater and streamflow may occur due to climate change, development and land cover changes. The results provide the RDN with the basis to guide land-use decisions and implement resilient water management strategies. Participants: WSP Canada Inc.: Arianna Piazza, P.Eng., Mark Bolton, P.Geo.; RDN: Erica Forssman, Murray Walters, P.Eng.

P hoto : M etro V ancouver

EARTHQUAKE EARLY WARNING AND STRATEGIC RESPONSE SYSTEM

Metro Vancouver’s drinking water system provides a vital service to 2.8 million people. Metro Vancouver is undertaking numerous measures to harden its facilities to withstand seismic events. The ShakeAlarm® and ShakeMonitor® network-based Earthquake Early Warning and Strategic Response System provides operations staff early warning of an earthquake through audible alarms and digital alerts, as well as providing structural-health monitoring and reporting at the Seymour Capilano Filtration Plant. Early warning of an earthquake is critical for staff to ensure drinking water continues to be delivered throughout the region. The system is currently being piloted at the region’s filtration plant, a treatment plant and one of their operations centres. These locations are equipped with seismic sensors providing real-time data capable of detecting seismic events that may disrupt the region’s drinking water system. The three sites operate as a network, employing a distributed computing framework and a client-server model. Participants: Weir-Jones Engineering Ltd: Iain Weir-Jones, Ph.D., P.Eng., Anton Zaicenco, Ph.D., P.Eng., Metro Vancouver: Amin Kassim, P.Eng.