Work on the $33.5 million East Langley Water Supply project officially began with a ground-breaking ceremony on May 1 to mark the first phase of work on a new pipeline to bring Metro Vancouver water to Aldergrove and Gloucester.
It is the biggest project ever undertaken by the Township of Langley’s engineering department, with 14 kilometres of water main and a booster pump station.
Phase 1 will run a one-metre diameter steel water main between Willoughby and Murrayville following 72 Avenue, 210 Street, Worrell Crescent, 216 Street, 56 Avenue, and 224 Street.
Work will run Monday to Friday until December, 2013.
East Langley’s water currently comes from seven groundwater wells.
In the summer, when water usage peaks each year, water restrictions have to be enforced.
The Aldergrove Community Plan projects increased demand for water, with the population in the area growing from 12,000 to 20,000 people within 20 to 30 years.
Mayor Jack Froese said the project will ensure a sustainable supply of water.
“Aldergrove and Gloucester’s current water supply comes from ground water aquifers and aging wells, and long-term monitoring has shown this is not sustainable,” Froese said.
“It [the project] will significantly pay off in the long run.”
Ramin Seifi, Langley Township’s General Manager of Engineering and Community Development said bringing in water from Metro Vancouver will reduce the rate at which local aquifers are being depleted and their ability to recharge will be enhanced.”
Once the pipeline’s first phase is completed, additional connections will be constructed into the Salmon River Uplands, including the municipal Tall Timbers and Acadia water systems, to give other rural areas access to Metro water.
The East Langley Water Supply Project will not be paid through property taxes.
Instead, it will be funded through higher utility fees that went up a couple of years ago to pay for the project.