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Dive and dash Students from Oak Bay High make a quick dash in and out of the frigid water at the annual preChristmas Oak Bay High Polar Bear Swim at Willows Beach. Arnold Lim/News staff
Bowker Avenue flood report finds flaws Old shut-off valves led workers to turn more water on, adding to rising flood waters
O
ak Bay set out to answer some tough questions around the Nov. 20 Bowker Avenue flood with the release of an incident report from the chief administrative officer on Dec. 21. The report identified several problems associated with the cause of the incident and makes several recommendations for changes in policies and procedures. “We know that there were things we could have done better,” Mayor Nils Jensen said in a press release. “What’s important now is that we address the harm that was caused and make sure that we learn from our mistakes and make sure they’re never repeated.” The water main broke when a public works crew fol-
lowed a long-established practice of replacing a fire hydrant The report reveals that the first four valves were turned on a live line, a procedure in which the water is not shut off within 45 minutes, however two of the valves used left turn before the replacement is installed. The closures and were initially in the closed bracing of the live valve failed, releasing a position. Workers unknowingly opened “It took approximately them, releasing more water. significant flow of water from the 18-inch water main. The report recommends a complete two hours to get word to “Our report addresses this practice,” inventory of the system, so crews know municipal administrator Mark Brennan the Fire Department. We the location of any system anomalies said. “In future we will require a shut-down know that they should have before work is undertaken and says there of the line before any such work is underwill be a “major effort to fast track the been called much earlier.” overall integrity and accuracy of our cortaken.” - Mayor Nils Jensen The report also says the situation was porate Geographic Information System aggravated by out-of-date shut off valves (GIS)-water network.” All public works in the area that closed with a left turn instead of the stan- staff will have accurate information as to location and operdard right turn closure. “We have only ever encountered ation of the water system. a handful of these among the approximately 1,600 valves PLEASE SEE: on the system, and the left turn valves at Bowker were not Residents still feeling snubbed, Page A11 marked or previously recorded,” Brennan said.
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