Residents across Saanich and the Saanich Peninsula are being asked to ease up on their water use while crews tackle a major leak in the regional supply system. The Capital Regional District began emergency repairs Thursday on a large transmission main near Thetis Lake that normally carries water north to the Saanich Peninsula and parts of Saanich. To make the repair, crews must take the damaged main out of service and reroute water through another part of the system. “It’s challenging for that alternate main to keep up with the demands,” said Alicia Fraser, the CRD’s general manager of infrastructure and water services. The backup route operates at lower pressure and must move water a long distance to reach the peninsula, including through its hills and valleys. The main being repaired is about 1.2 metres in diameter and plays a critical role in supplying the region. “It is our primary and sole feed to the peninsula and a large portion of Saanich,” Fraser said. That temporary change is why residents are being asked to hold off on outdoor watering, washing vehicles and other non-essential uses until the work is finished. “The people that are drawing water from that system are dependent on it,” she said. “Every drop that we can reduce truly matters.” The alternate system has so far been able to maintain service, but there have been some signs of strain. “During the peak demands, we did see some areas that were struggling to keep up,” Fraser said. Reducing water use helps preserve capacity for essential household, business and emergency needs while crews work to restore the primary supply route. Fraser says the leak was first identified after someone noticed water along the Trans Canada Highway earlier last week. CRD crews investigated and traced it to the transmission main. The cause of the leak remains unknown, and Fraser said crews should have a better idea once they fully expose the damaged section. Excavation began Thursday morning along the northbound Trans Canada Highway between the Island Highway and Six Mile Road overpasses. Fraser said crews were hoping to complete the repair by the end of Friday, but the work won’t end once the damaged section is fixed. The system will need to be repressurized and water quality testing will be carried out downstream of the repair. The CRD is asking residents to conserve water until Monday morning, giving crews additional time to deal with any unforeseen issues. Drivers travelling through the work zone are being asked to slow down, follow traffic control directions and obey posted signs. A multi-use trail at the south end of Thetis Lake Regional Park is also closed while the repair continues. Water quality is not expected to be affected. Residents are encouraged to monitor the CRD’s active service alert for updates on the repair timeline and any changes to the water conservation request. “We’re asking residents to help us by reducing the demand on this system,” Fraser said.
