Engineering Services works in partnership with the community, developers and project managers to make leading edge decisions that contribute to the overall sustainability of the City of Mount Pearl’s infrastructure system through asset management and capital improvements.
Mission
The City of Mount Pearl Engineering Services is committeed to supporting a safe and sustainable community through leading Design, Construction and Infrastructure Management.
We are professionals dedicated to providing quality, technical expertise in the field of Municipal Engineering.
We are committed to:
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Fiscal responsibility for resource allocation.
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Meeting the infrastructure demands of the community.
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Regional integration and partnerships intended to benefit residents and the business community.
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The Engineering Services team is part of a customer responsive organization striving to be the best with the promotion of co-operation, integrity and the provision of quality service.
Frequently Asked Questions
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General Information
Engineering Services is responsible for the operation, repair, maintenance and replacement of the City's infrastructure including water, sanitary and storm sewer systems, streets, bridges, traffic signals, playgrounds and City buildings and facilities. Engineering Services is also responsible for environmental services and regional services relative to water and sewer systems.
Water
For any water quality inquiries relating to color, taste, odour, leaks or water restrictions, please contact Engineering Services at 748-1016 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday or 748-1006 after 4:00 p.m.
Synopsis
The City's water distribution system consists of cast iron and ductile iron watermains ranging in age from relatively new to 50 years old and ranging in diameter from 150 to 450 mm. The City is served by 2 separate networks each of which has a number of pressure zones. In addition to this, the City has a water pressure boosting station required to supply water to development above the 190 m contour line, which is the maximum elevation to which water can be supplied by gravity from the regional water tanks.
Water Quality Program
Weekly tests are conducted as follows:
- Drinking water samples for biological parameters are taken from 11 sites throughout the city. These samples are fowarded to the provincial public health laboratory for testing.
- Daily sampling is carried out for disinfection residuals within the distribution system.
- Quarterly sampling for chemical/physical parameters of the drinking water is also carried out as outlined in the Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines.
These samples are in addition to the sampling conducted by staff of the Regional Water Authority and the Provincial Government.
Water Conservation Program
To promote appropriate use of water, the City has introduced a water conservation program which governs watering of lawns, washing vehicles, cleaning driveways, etc. This program is in effect year-round and establishes both time of day for watering of lawns and equipment to be used for exterior residential water usage. Residents are reminded on an annual basis through radio announcement and mail-outs. Please review this water conservation policy.
'Save A Drop' Program
With summer fast approaching, the City of Mount Pearl and the (St. John’s) Regional Water Services Committee are encouraging residents to conserve water through its 'Save A Drop' program.
The 'Save A Drop' program is focused on educating residents about the importance of water conservation and how they can help ensure we have an adequate water supply, particularly through the summer months when usage increases. Water is not an unlimited resource, and undergoes a rigorous and costly treatment process before it is delivered to our taps,
Conserving water one drop at a time will ensure that our environment - and our wallets - are protected. There are so many ways we can help conserve water, It is extremely important to start thinking about our use of water like we do any other energy or utility resource. The cost to treat water is increasing and it is amazing how much water you can save by just implementing a few helpful tips in your home or business.
For instance…using a running hose to wash your vehicle can waste about 400 litres of water; using a bucket with a sponge, plus a trigger nozzle on the hose, will wave you about 300 of those litres; take shorter showers and replace your showerhead with a low-flow version, which can cut water use in half; and fix leaks and drips - a toilet that continues to run after flushing, if the leak is large enough, can waste up to 200,000 litres of water in a single year.
The Save A Drop website is filled with tips and information on how residents can conserve water - at home, at work and in the yard.
Visit www.saveadrop.ca for more information. Let’s all conserve water, one drop at a time!
Leak Detection Program
The Leak Detection program is comprised of:
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A detailed investigation of the City's water distribution system using specialty leak detection tools to identify and locate water leaks. These investigations are repeated on a four year cycle.
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Continuous Monitoring Stations - three water meters continually monitor the flows at the entry points into Mount Pearl. These provide accurate readings of overall water consumption within the City.
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Dial in Monitoring Stations, remote monitoring capability at Topsail Road, Ruby Line, Olympic Drive (Pearlgate) and Farrell Drive (Kenmount Park neighborhood) water meters.
Watermain Flushing Program
In accordance with the City's maintenance programs, the utility maintenance crew performs bi-annual uni-directional flushing. The annual startup of the flushing program begins in May and ends in September.
Water Operating Permit
Municipalities within the province of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Provincial Government have combined efforts to ensure high quality drinking water to residents with the introduction of the municipal system-operating permit. This permit formalizes maintenance objectives, testing procedures and record keeping methods carried out by municipalities in the supply of water to the consumer. Based on the requirements of this Operating Permit, the City has established very aggressive leak detection, watermain repair, flushing, and valve and hydrant maintenance programs.
Water Policies
The City also has a number of policies and procedures in relation to individual water service lines for residential and commercial customers which can be viewed on this website. These policies are:
Asset Management
The City's mandate for Asset Management includes the following:
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Monitoring condition of assets
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Developing maintenance programs
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Developing replacement schedules
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Forecasting and infrastructure reliability
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Maintenance of infrastructure models
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Collecting of City water and sewer infrastructure
Sanitary Sewer Systems
For any inquiries regarding backups, leaks or restrictions, please contact Engineering Services at 748-1016 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday or 748-1006 after 4:00 p.m.
Synopsis
The City's sanitary sewer system consists mainly of three types of pipe materials: asbestos cement, pvc sewer and concrete and range in sizes from 150 mm to 750 mm.
The system contains in excess of 1200 manholes and 7 sewage lift stations of varying capacities.
Wastewater Collection System Permit
The City of Mount Pearl has a Class III Wastewater Collection System and an operating permit for this system is issued by the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador annually. This permit formalizes maintenance objectives, testing procedures and record keeping methods.
As part of the City's annual maintenance program, all sanitary sewer manholes are inspected, cleaned and flushed when required. To enhance its maintenance program, the City also incorporates remote monitoring techniques in which cameras are deployed to the sewer lines to assess the condition of the individual main or service lateral. This review is generally reserved for areas that have been recorded as having experienced ongoing problems or where streets are slated for upgrading.
Cross Connection Control Program
The Cross Connection Control Program investigates suspected cross connections between the sanitary and storm systems. This program is initiated when the City receives report of harmful substances coming from storm sewer pipes into the City waterways. Upon receipt of a report, the City's UTM (utility maintenance) crew will visually inspect the system to trace the source back to the originating neighborhood and then through the use of dye tablets or specialized smoke testing equipment, will test the portion of underground system in question to locate any possible sources of the cross connection. In recent years, due to the City's ongoing efforts in eliminating cross connections and new controls that have been put in place to prevent the occurrence of new cross connections, requirements for this program have been substantially reduced.
To prevent further occurrences of cross connections within the City's systems, residents and businesses should contact the City's Engineering Services Division prior to conducting any plumbing work within their properties.
The utility maintenance crew has a stand-by system that responds to all emergency calls, 24 hrs. /day, 7 days a week. These calls are relayed from either the office staff during regular business hours or from the after hours answering service. If during the response to the call-out the crew determines that the problem is localized to a specific service lateral, the crew will advise the owner that the blockage is contained within their service lateral. For residential units, the City offers the service of clearing the blocked service lateral for a fee of $50. The resident also has the option of hiring an outside contractor. The City does not offer this service to commercial/industrial property owners. In those cases, the property owner must contact a private contractor to clear the service lateral.
Sanitary Sewer Policies
The City also has a number of policies and procedures in relation to individual sewer service lines for residential and commercial customers which can be viewed on this website.
Service excavation policy for water lines
Service excavation policy for sewer lines
Storm Sewer System
For any inquiries regarding backups, leaks or restrictions please contact Engineering Services at 748-1016 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday or 748-1006 after 4:00 p.m.
Synopsis
The storm sewer system consists mainly of corrugated metal with various protective coatings and a minimal amount of pvc, (solid wall and ribbed) products.
The storm water system outfalls to the Waterford River or its tributaries. In order to maintain the rate of runoff, the City has implemented a stormwater management plan focusing on pre and post development runoff rates wherein the pre-development rate will be equal to or less than the post-development rate. This is accomplished through various soft landscaping measures and storm water detention measures, either in the form of underground or above ground storage.
Smaller pilot type projects have been initiated to reintroduce storm water runoff back into the ground to maintain ground water flows and also to maintain minimum flows under dry weather conditions in the various tributaries of the Waterford River.
As part of the annual maintenance program, the City's utility maintenance crew inspects and cleans the approximate 1200 storm manholes and 1400 catchbasins. The crew also inspects and maintains storm water outfalls and inlets on an annual basis to ensure that pipe flows are maintained at a designed capacity. This work is performed in consultation with the Provincial Department of Environment and the Federal Department of Fisheries, to ensure that restoration of disturbed areas within the water course is in compliance with the applicable provincial and federal regulations.
Storm Water Management
The City has developed, and is continuing to refine, a set of storm water management guidelines for all new construction and development within the City's boundaries:
The guidelines are intended to achieve "no net increase" in the rate of runoff to the various streams and drainage channels within Mount Pearl.
These guidelines have been in use for several years and have been generally accepted by developers as a reasonable environmental initiative to protect ground and surface water sources.
The City has also included these guidelines within its own land development projects. These guidelines are used both on an individual lot basis and on a subdivision development basis.
Subdivision Development and Inspection (Infrastructure & Roads)
Engineering Services regarding subdivsion development include:
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Review of grading plans
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Verification of subdivision specifications to City standards
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Traffic review and studies
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Modeling, verification and inspection of water and sewer services
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Coordination and installation of electrical, telephone and cable services
Subdivision Development Policies
Engineering Services has a number of policies in relation to subdivision development. Links to these policies are below:
Capital Works
Facilities
The New Pearlgate Recreation Multiplex/Complex
Street Upgrading
The City evaluates its streets every 5 years and assigns ratings. These ratings are used to determine where the street will rank within the schedule for upgrading. The rating is for the actual driving surface, however, the concrete works, including curb, gutter and sidewalk also attribute to the overall rating process.
The available funding (generally cost-shared with the Provincial Government) determines the number of kilometres of streets included for upgrading.
If you have any questions, please contact Engineering Services at 748-1016.
Schedule for Street Upgrading
The City of Mount Pearl’s Street Upgrading Program 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 has been approved and is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2013.
The streets included in the 2012-2013 upgrades are: Second Street, Sagona Avenue, Farrell Drive, Winsor Place, Galway Crescent, Manley Place, Brett Place, Edinburgh Drive and Crewe Place.
The Streets included in the 2013-2014 upgrades are: Mortimore Drive, St. David’s Avenue, Laval Place, Neal Place, Pumphrey Avenue, Princeton Crescent, Oxford Crescent, Elmcliffe Street, Hann Place, Hounsell Avenue, Hillhurst Street, Jeffers Place, Lidstone Crescent, O’Keefe Avenue and Olympic Drive.
This project will include replacement of damaged curb and sidewalk, gutter and asphalt resurfacing.
The City of Mount Pearl appreciates your cooperation during this upgrade and apologizes for the temporary inconvenience this work may bring about.
For information on the streets included in 2011-2012 street upgrading program please click on the link below.
Street Upgrading Brochure (2011 - contract package #3)
If you have any qustions regarding street upgrading please contact Engineering Services at 748-1018 or engineeringservices@mountpearl.ca.
Environmental Services
Environmental Initiatives
The City of Mount Pearl endeavors to provide a clean, healthy, pleasant environment for all its citizens. In doing so, the City undertakes a number of ongoing environmental initiatives as part of its normal operations. These programs occur throughout the municipality with the various departments having involvement in a number of environmental issues pertaining to their area of service delivery. Engineering Services is directly involved in a number of initiatives in the area of drinking water, storm water and energy management.
Standards, Polices, Application & Brochures
Water
Sewer
Capital Projects, Maintenance and Replacement
Subdivision Development and Inspection (Infrastructure & Roads)