Project Overview:
The City of Yellowknife is replacing the pipeline that supplies drinking water to residents. This pipeline currently runs underwater from the mouth of the Yellowknife River at Pumphouse No. 2, along the bed of Yellowknife Bay, to Pumphouse No. 1 located adjacent to the Water Treatment Plant.
A new pipeline ensures the City’s future water needs can be met and that drinking water supply is better protected during extreme weather.
The City assures residents that clean, municipal water will be readily available for use during this project.
Public Open House
The City of Yellowknife hosted a Public Open House on November 2, 2022, at the Explorer Hotel Katimavik A Room to discuss the Submarine Water Pipeline Replacement Project. City staff and members of the AECOM team gave a presentation on the project, as well answered questions from residents.
November 2, 2022 Open House Presentation.
November 2, 2022 Open House Handout (accurate as of November 2, 2022).
Frequently Asked Questions:
| Where does our water come from today? |
| Since 1969, the City’s primary water source is the Yellowknife River. The City draws its municipal drinking water from the Yellowknife River. Water is transported by an underwater line to the City’s Water Treatment Plant (WTP) on the shore of Yellowknife Bay. Water is treated and tested before making its way to residents of Yellowknife, Ndilo and Dettah via underground water mains, water trucks, or summer aboveground water lines.
The water treatment process uses a series of membranes that trap particles and contaminants as the water moves through them. After this filtration, the water is chlorinated to neutralize remaining impurities, and fluoride is added. The City’s current municipal water licence allows for use of up to 4,000,000 cubic metres of raw water annually, equivalent to an average raw water use of 10.96 ML/day (127 L/s). The City also draws a limited amount of water from Yellowknife Bay for maintenance and emergency purposes only. The City is authorized to withdraw a maximum of 300 cubic meters a month. |
| Why is the City of Yellowknife replacing the pipeline? |
| The existing underwater pipeline currently draws water from the Yellowknife River. It was built in 1969 and is nearing the end of its use. A new pipeline will better protect the drinking water supply during times of extreme weather. A new pipeline will also help ensure the City’s future water needs will be met. |
| What will the project entail? |
| The City is replacing the pipeline that supplies raw water to the City which ultimately provides drinking water to residents. This water line runs underwater from the mouth of the Yellowknife River at Pumphouse No. 2, along the bed of Yellowknife Bay, to Pumphouse No. 1 located adjacent to the Water Treatment Plant.
A new water supply system will include a new 600 mm submarine pipeline and upgraded pumps in Pumphouse No. 1 and No. 2. The pumphouse buildings and related systems must be upgraded to accommodate the increase in pipe diameter and to modernize the aging facilities to ensure a reliable and safe drinking water system. The pipeline replacement project will include various areas of study, engagement, construction, and decommissioning. Project activities will include:
The project will include various engagement processes for the land use permits and water licence amendment applications required by the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board (MVLWB). |
| What is the proposed pipeline replacement route? |
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The proposed pipeline route will run parallel to the existing pipeline starting at Pumphouse No. 1 (PH1) but will branch east of the existing line and follow a new alignment from Jolliffe Island to Hideaway Island.
North of Hideaway Island, there are two options proposed for the new alignment.
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| Where will the new pipeline take water from? |
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Once built, the new pipeline will continue to draw water from the mouth of the Yellowknife River. In 2017, the City of Yellowknife commissioned a comprehensive engineering study (Potable Water Source Selection Study) to look at the costs and risks of two water sources: the Yellowknife River and Yellowknife Bay. This study was completed by AECOM Canada Ltd (AECOM). AECOM recommended that the existing underwater pipeline be replaced, and confirmed that the Yellowknife River is the preferred option for the City’s water supply over the long term. The Yellowknife River option was chosen because it reflects public feedback heard during discussions on the new Yellowknife Water Treatment Plant in 2010 and 2011, and in the 2020 MVLWB water licence renewal process. Throughout, residents, regulators, stakeholders, and Indigenous governments underscored the importance of drawing water from the mouth of the Yellowknife River. Arsenic contamination of Yellowknife Bay from a major failure of the nearby Giant Mine site has a low probability of happening but is still considered plausible.
Although Yellowknife Bay water is safe to drink, meets drinking water guidelines, and taking water from the Yellowknife River will cost more, drawing water from the mouth of the Yellowknife River ensures reliable, long term water supply. Dillon Consulting Ltd (Dillon) completed a third-party review of AECOM’s study in 2018. Both professional engineering companies recommended that the City of Yellowknife maintain Yellowknife River as the drinking water source and replace the submarine pipeline right away. |
| Will water from Yellowknife Bay be used during this project? |
| Yes. The Yellowknife Bay will be the raw water supply source during upgrades of Pumphouse No. 1. It will take approximately six to twelve months to replace the existing Pumphouse No.1 with a new building and equipment.
The existing Type A Water Licence authorizes the City of Yellowknife to withdraw a maximum of 300 cubic metres per month from Yellowknife Bay for maintenance purposes. To upgrade Pumphouse No.1, an amendment to the existing Water Licence is needed for temporary withdrawal of water from Yellowknife Bay and to supply drinking water for the City of Yellowknife. Water from Yellowknife Bay is only used for maintenance and emergencies. Maintenance includes regular start-up and inspection of the intake pump at Pumphouse No.1. emergency scenarios include things like a leak in the existing pipeline that would force it to be shut down for repairs, or a major fire that would need a large volume of water to put out. Water taken from Yellowknife Bay is always tested for arsenic before water is used. Maintenance is not done if arsenic concentrations are more than the Maximum Allowable Concentration (MAC) from Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines for Arsenic (0.01 mg/L). In the case of emergencies, risk management principles would be applied, and regulators notified. Water at intake points from both water sources is tested monthly for arsenic and other compounds. Not all aspects of the City’s water and waste services are regulated by a water licence. For example, drinking water quality is regulated by the Department of Health and Social Services under the NWT Public Health Act. This is not part of the water licencing process. |
| Is the water from Yellowknife Bay safe to drink? |
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The water in Yellowknife Bay is tested on a monthly basis and is safe to drink. Since 2005, testing of Yellowknife Bay water at the intake of Pumphouse No.1 has indicated that it meets the standards outlined in the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality. The Chief Environmental Health Officer and Chief Public Health Officer are satisfied that water drawn from Yellowknife Bay is safe to use for drinking water purposes. The Office of the Chief Public Health Officer confirmed this in the City’s application to draw water from Yellowknife Bay in March 2018. The City is very lucky to have two viable, high quality sources of drinking water. |
| Why is the City seeking a Water Licence Amendment? |
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The City received its new water licence May 31, 2022 after public consultation in 2020 and completing the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board (MVLWB) renewal process in 2021. Under the NWT Waters Act, the City requires a “Type A” licence to draw water from local water bodies and to deposit waste. During the Type A Water Licence renewal proceedings, the City of Yellowknife said it had plans to replace the ageing underwater line. Now the City is applying for an amendment to this licence to do work required for the pipeline replacement. More information on the 2020 water licence renewal is available here. |
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When will the pipeline be built? |
| Construction will be done in phases, and could occur in the summer or winter months, through January 2024 – April 2026. Construction planning will consider things like feedback gathered from affected parties, regulatory requirements, construction requirements, supply of materials, seasonal construction windows, useable winter ice, open water, and the need to ensure ongoing water supply to residents. |
| What will happen to the old pipeline? |
| The current pipeline will be left in place. This is to limit sediment disturbance, and to minimize disturbance to the bed of the Yellowknife Bay. |
| Will pipeline construction disturb the sediment in Yellowknife Bay? |
| It is expected construction activity will create localized disturbance to lakebed sediment as the pipeline settles. Disturbance will be for a short time, and construction methods that limit disturbance will be applied. |
| How will the project affect traditional hunting, fishing, gathering or other traditional activities? |
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Yellowknife Bay (Wıìlıìcheh) is a sacred harvesting area for the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, critical for traditional land use, gathering, and spiritual practices. For centuries, the YKDFN have used the Bay to travel and access other areas.* The mouth of the Yellowknife River (Wıìlıìdeh), has long been a dwelling place and where Treaty was often taken, and continues today to be an active cultural gathering site. Throughout the project planning and construction, the City will work closely with the YKDFN to identify and minimize disturbance to sacred areas and places of historical significance, as the route is planned and construction begun. *Trailmark & DownNorth (October 2020). Summary of Research on the Establishment, Administration and Oversight of the Giant Mine and its Impacts on the Yellowknives Dene First Nation. |
| Who is paying for the pipeline replacement? |
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On March 13, 2019, the Government of Canada announced that Yellowknife was a successful applicant to the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF) program and would receive funding of $25,862,218, which represents 75% of the total project costs. The City received a letter from the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities stating approval-in-principle for the project. The remaining $8,620,740 cost of the project will be funded by the City of Yellowknife. |
| How will the pipeline impact remediation activities at Giant Mine? |
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The City is an ongoing partner with Indigenous, Federal and Territorial Governments, regulators and affected parties on the Giant Mine Remediation Project. We remain committed to ongoing monitoring and evaluation to ensure the safety of northerners and the environment at the Giant Mine Site.
We will continue to work closely with the Giant Mine Remediation Project as the pipeline project progresses, promoting transparency and sharing information about pipeline design, construction, and ongoing monitoring. |
