General contractor to undertake RAW1 pump station isolation and shutdown to facilitate invasive condition assessment of the piping and also undertake valve replacement/new valve installation.
Background:
•The Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant (WTP) relies on two (2) raw water intakes and pump stations: RAW1 and RAW2.
•RAW1 Pump Station is Calgary’s most critical raw water supply pump station.
•The City plans a high-risk shutdown in March 2026–May 2026 to complete condition assessment and valve replacement.
•Shutdown requires divers, blind flange installation, draining, and confined-space entry, posing significant safety and operational risks.
•If RAW1 fails unexpectedly, The City cannot meet maximum day demand in summer or average day demand in winter, creating a major water supply risk.
•RAW1 has not been taken offline for years due to this dependency; shutdowns require extensive planning and risk mitigation.
•A condition assessment of RAW1 intake and piping is planned as part of the Raw Water Intake project.
•Shutdown involves scuba divers isolating intakes in Bearspaw Reservoir at the TransAlta dam.
•Opportunity exists during this shutdown to replace existing isolation valves and install additional valves to meet occupational health & safety double isolation requirements, reducing future reliance on divers for isolation.
