Aquatera CEO says downtown water line being replaced was nearly 80 years old

Jul 26, 2026 | 6:00 AM

The CEO of Aquatera says the water line being replaced downtown was nearly 80 years old.

Vaughn Bend says the line under 99 Avenue was installed in 1947.

“We monitor our whole fleet in our asset management plan, so we track the age of the asset, in this case a pipe. We track the material it is made of, and then we also track its performance.”

Bend says the water main replaced was about 200 metres long.

He adds that this work “ensures the reliability of the water service to customers.”

“We’re seeing increased unplanned outages or breaks on this line, and so, what we’re doing is making sure that we replace some of the assets that aren’t performing in a planned manner.”

“Doing it in a planned manner makes it cheaper.”

“It avoids the inconvenience of an unplanned water main break, (and) interruption of water service to customers in an unplanned manner, whether it be restaurants or businesses. They need to (be sure they can count on our service, and this makes sure that our reliability stays at the high level it usually is.”

Bend says the project cost is around $2 million.

Bend says the work was delayed by a few days, but it should be finished at the end of July or early August.

He adds that the replacement line should last for 75 years.

by Curtis Galbraith