Ensuring water supply under environmental protection

When a buried potable water pipeline in Stanley Park, Vancouver, Canada, required inspection and maintenance in 2025, it was essential to ensure an uninterrupted supply to the connected facilities. As one of Canada’s most visited urban parks, the area is subject to strict environmental and heritage protection regulations that prohibit open-cut excavation and the use of buried temporary infrastructure in order to protect trees, root systems and sensitive habitats. Therefore, a seasonal above-ground bypass was required to maintain operational continuity while preserving the protected surroundings.

The bypass was designed for deployment for four to five months of the year during scheduled maintenance windows, but it had to be removed during the peak tourist season in order to preserve accessibility and the park’s natural appearance. In addition to environmental constraints, the operating pressure of 15.5 bar/225 psi and the test pressure of 19 bar/275 psi were beyond the capabilities of conventional temporary bypass systems that lack the structural strength and pressure-rating capacity to safely operate under these conditions, rendering them unsuitable for this application. Although the initial plan had assumed an operating pressure of 12 bar/175 psi, on-site verification revealed an actual working pressure of 15.5 bar/225 psi and a required test pressure of 19 bar/275 psi.

An engineering assessment confirmed that the Primus Line® DN 400 medium-pressure system meets these requirements, with a maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) of 15.56 bar/225.7 psi and a maximum allowable test pressure of 19.45 bar/282.1 psi. The lightweight aramid-reinforced liner enables above-ground installation and can accommodate bends of up to 45 degrees with a minimum bend radius of 20 times the pipe diameter, as agreed during the planning stage.

The solution comprised two unfolded Primus Line® liners, each measuring  365 m, which formed an approximately 650 m bypass across five sections. Ten Primus Line® R1 connectors were used to provide secure mechanical terminations and ensure leak-tight operation. The installation was carried out in August 2025.

Working in a protected park environment required extensive preparatory measures. Metal fencing was installed around the trees, and vehicles were only permitted access to the site after timber protection boards had been placed to prevent damage to the grass and root systems. Such constraints necessitated careful logistical planning and precise execution.

Accurate liner alignment was essential during installation to ensure the full insertion of all ten R1 connector cores, guaranteeing correct assembly and leak-free operation under the demanding environmental conditions. The project also required adaptation to on-site design modifications, including integrating an additional T-piece (air valve) into the bypass alignment.

The system is designed for repeated seasonal deployment over five years, involving multiple installations and removals, resulting in an environmental exposure period of approximately 25 months in total. Following installation and verification, the bypass ensured an uninterrupted supply of potable water, minimised environmental impact and preserved park accessibility, while fully complying with environmental and heritage protection requirements and the client’s performance expectations.

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