YORKTON - The 2025 Water Main Replacement Program tender was awarded G. Ungar Construction Ltd. for $1,915,301.00 (plus applicable taxes) by Yorkton Council at its regular meeting Monday.
Connor Hunt, Director of Environmental Services with the city explained the work being undertaken was carefully determined as critically required.
“In recent years, the City of Yorkton has implemented a “Corridor Management” strategy toward infrastructure renewal. This approach evaluates roadways, sidewalks, stormwater infrastructure, and both water and wastewater systems collectively to identify corridors where linear asset condition, age, and service priority promote the replacement of most or all assets,” he told Council.
“By aligning projects with this layered approach, the City can renew multiple types of aging assets simultaneously; enhancing return on investment, and reducing future service disruptions. This approach highlights a greater shift in the way we manage the water and wastewater utility.”
This process has already identified, and prioritized some major capital initiatives in 2025, including:
* Construction of the Park Street Pumping Station – Water Storage Infrastructure
* Rehabilitation of the Water Tower – Water Storage Infrastructure
* Expansion of the North Industrial Water System – Water Distribution Infrastructure
* Renewal of the Water Pollution Control Plant – Wastewater Treatment Infrastructure (preliminary design phase ongoing)
“Concurrently, the Dalebrooke Drive Water Main Replacement is being prioritized in the 2025 Annual Watermain Replacement Program. This project is intended to be funded through the operational budget and is essential to maintaining reliable service by reinvesting in our communities subsurface infrastructure,” continued Hunt. The water and wastewater utility manages approximately 300 kilometres of water distribution and sewer collection mains. Within this network, 55 km of water mains and 75 km of sewer mains have 25 years or less of remaining service life. It is important to note, 19 km of both systems respectively have already reached or surpassed their designed lifespan.
“While these underground assets are often out of sight, it remains imperative they remain front of mind with regards to utility management,” said Hunt.
The 2025 Water Main Replacement Program focuses on a 270-meter segment of Dalebrooke Drive between Broadway Street and Lakeview Road.
“This corridor has been prioritized due to three converging risk factors: a high frequency of water main breaks, aging infrastructure, and a confirmed collapse in the sanitary sewer system. Collectively, these conditions present a substantial risk of water and wastewater system failure,” said Hunt.
The line has shown issues.
“This corridor has a break-density of over seven times the national average. At 50, and 63 years old, the water mains in this corridor have as little as 12 years of expected service life remaining,” said Hunt.
The project scope will also include full surface reconstruction, encompassing the roadway structure, curbs, sidewalks, and upgrades to the stormwater system.
In addition the sanitary sewer collection system needs attention too.
Dalebrooke Drive includes a clay tile sewer main:
• A 300 mm (12-inch) main, installed in 1961 on the east side, which will be replaced with a 375 mm PVC pipe.
“CCTV inspection has confirmed a collapse in the sanitary sewer in the north half of the corridor, along with deformation near the failure point,” said Hunt.
This sewer main functions as a Major Collector for both residential and commercial zones, also managing surge flows from the Painted Hand Casino business complex.
The 2025 Water Main Replacement Program was publicly tendered, with two tenders received.
Construction will be performed in two phases to reduce disruption and maintain accessibility. Phase one; scheduled to begin as early as May 5, 2025, involves the full closure of the Broadway Street and Dalebrooke Drive intersection. This work must be completed by May 21 to avoid interfering with major events at the Gallagher Centre, including the Yorkton Film Festival.
All work is scheduled to be completed by September 30, 2025.
