WCW24

Asset Management of water and wastewater infrastructure is at the forefront of the decision-making process for infrastructure management, maintenance, and planning in Indigenous communities in Manitoba. This presentation focuses on utilizing a mobile electronic field data management tool to collect, analyze, and present asset knowledge gained from site inspections. The approach was developed to conform to the requirements of Indigenous Services Canada's (ISC's) Extended Asset Condition Reporting System (e-ACRS). Dillon Consulting completed site inspections and asset condition reporting for 23 First Nation communities in Manitoba totalling more than 1800 assets including lagoons, lift stations, water and wastewater treatment plants, pumping stations, and piping infrastructure. The assessment team utilized ESRI Survey123 to collect data on-site including each asset's general information (name, quantity, year of construction, location), General Condition Rating (GCR), Estimated Remaining Life (ERL), and deficiencies. All data was collected digitally using consumer-grade mobile devices with data synchronized in real-time to a web-accessible geospatial database. The project's subject matter experts reviewed and managed the collected data using ESRI Survey123. The collected data was analyzed to develop a 35-year Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) and Estimated Replacement Value (ERV) for each asset. Collecting data using digital methods and avoiding paper allowed for easier integration with ISC's reporting templates and asset management protocols, reduced person hours, reduced data entry and analysis human error, and increased time available for data analysis and conversion of information into actionable knowledge. The Asset Condition Reports are distributed to participating communities, which provides asset managers and/or public works departments with asset inventories, LCCA, and maintenance priorities. These data and summary analysis allow First Nation communities to take the lead on managing their water and wastewater infrastructure assets according to the desired level of service identified by the community. The expectation of the e-ACRS reporting includes improved understanding of asset intervention needs, more efficient planning, and active insightful asset management to achieve more resilient infrastructure.

Connecting to a centralized water or wastewater system is not always possible for many Canadians, whether it be due to remote location, cost of connection, or both. Therefore, numerous rural residents and First Nations communities rely on decentralized systems, including cisterns and septic systems. Maintaining these systems is critical to providing reliable potable water and safe wastewater management. This presentation will focus on an inspection program developed by ATAP to assess cisterns and septic systems in First Nations communities throughout Alberta. In particular, this presentation will focus on using this inspection program at Alexander First Nation where 170 cisterns and 250 septic systems were inspected. During this presentation, our team will provide the perspective of the inspector and the administrator. The inspector will provide an overview of the program, which uses an ArcGIS data collection program and a submersible camera to identify potential maintenance and contamination concerns. The administrator will discuss the importance of communication with community members to ensure the program is successful.

Since 2019, WSP water & wastewater subject matter experts and engineering professionals have assisted several communities across Canada navigate the challenges faced during unique water crises. Informally known as the WSP Emergency Ready Team, their services have been employed in several critical situations across Canada. These Project include several water shortage and water quality emergencies in Iqaluit, a water contamination & flooding event in Whitedog First Nation, and a water shortage emergency in Attawapiskat First Nation. This presentation discusses the many challenges in designing and maintaining water services remote & northern communities, addressing unique water emergencies across Canada, and applying the lessons learned toward future resiliency and sustainability.