Rough estimate

Picton’s backwash upgrade costs continue to climb

From original estimates of $2-$3 million tje upgrade to Picton's water backwash system is now expected to cost $5.8 million when completed next year.

Who knew managing backwash could be so expensive? The upgrade to Picton’s backwash residue management system—part of the town’s aging water system—has been plagued with problems since the province pushed the municipality to fix it.

The project is currently several months behind schedule and when completed next year is expected to cost several millions of dollars more than the $2 to $3 million originally estimated.

The original estimates came from engineering firm RV Anderson, who won the assignment based upon design of the system they said could be completed for $132,000. But soon the scale of the project had blossomed—along with their fee. They would now need $351,000. But wait! The consultants had made an adding error on their bill to the municipality. When they double-checked their arithmetic they learned the County owed them nearly $450,000 for their design and estimating advice. The County obligingly wrote the cheque.

In the meantime the estimated cost of the project had grown as well. The upgrade would now cost $3.7 million. It was now a major infrastructure project—coming at a inconvenient time. The County was getting ready to build a controversial new sewage treatment plant perched up on a hill overlooking the town. It did not need another big-ticket infrastructure project in Picton.

There were not good alternatives available, however. The Ministry of Environment was insisting the upgrade to the backwash system be upgraded, and soon. So County council swallowed hard and found $3.7 million in the 2009 budget. But when tenders for the project came in that summer the cost of the upgrade had risen to $5.6 million—a 51 per cent increase.

The consultant said the cost increase was due the addition of items such as a diesel generator, air handling units, new control switches for existing valves and cleaning and repairing the roof of the lower level reservoir.

But the engineering firm also admitted that it underestimated the effect of system redundancies “to ensure troublefree operation.”

At the time, the engineer also blamed market conditions— pointing to a high level of infrastructure spending across the province pushing up the cost of this project.

The project has continued to run into problems during construction. A reservoir that was to be used as a clear water well for the systems was found to be heavily damaged when it was emptied and inspected. The drainage system below the partially earth-covered tank had failed years ago, compressing the tank and causing the inner pillars to fracture.

In August, Public Works officials advised council the project was now expected to cost an additional $200,000—pushing the project cost to more than $5.8 million—nearly three times the original estimates.

Project manager Joe Angelo assures that the project, though delayed by a few months due largely to the problems with the reservoir, is currently on budget.

He says that much of the difference in estimates can be explained by the vagaries of upgrading an existing system— much of it underground.

“With an old plant—50 or 60 years old—there are so many thing you don’t know until you get in and begin examining the plant,” said Angelo.

“Many of the mains [pipes] down in the basement were old. Do you leave them and take a chance that they burst somewhere down the road? We also had to consider how to upgrade the plant and continue to supply water to the residents of Picton.”

What does the experience with this one component of the water system in Picton tell ratepayers about the cost and reliability of their water supply?

Angelo says consultants advise him that the water system is likely to endure another 20 years of service. There is at least one more major project being planned within the system— that is replacing the water intake pipe in the Picton Bay.

He doesn’t foresee as many difficulties either in estimating the cost of the project or constructing it when the time comes.

“It’s a straight replacement,” said Angelo. “We aren’t upgrading the intake pipe or keeping an old system running.” The current estimate to replace the water intake pipe: $3 million.