Seymour-Capilano Water Filtration Project

About This Project

To meet the latest drinking water quality standards—and the needs of a fast-growing population—Metro Vancouver needed to improve how it treated drinking water from both the Seymour and Capilano watersheds. The plan was ambitious: Design one filtration plant to treat water from both reservoirs. While constructing only one plant limited the environmental impacts, designers had to find a way to connect the reservoirs. To do this, they built twin tunnels, boring through solid granite beneath Grouse Mountain and Mount Fromme. The tunnels are 7.1 kilometres long, and the project took over 10 years to complete.

Today the massive Seymour-Capilano Water Treatment Facility, located in the lower Seymour conservation reserve, is among the largest of its kind in North America. It delivers 1.8 billion litres of water every day, blending water from both reservoirs. How does it work? Pumps move water uphill from the Capilano reservoir to the Seymour treatment plant. At the plant, the water undergoes an advanced UV treatment before returning to Capilano via gravity.

The treatment facility, opened in 2010, includes many environmental design considerations. Early in the project, designers reworked the plans to preserve a unique frog habitat near the site. During construction, crews salvaged bio matter from the construction zone. The moss, grass, and plants were collected, stored, and then added to the facility’s green roof. The system also generates 9.6 gigawatt hours of energy every year, thanks to the energy recovery system at the Capilano end of the return tunnel.

SCOPE OF SERVICES

From the earliest stages of this project in 2003, BKL worked closely with Metro Vancouver to minimize construction noise and vibration disturbances to residents.

After predicting and analyzing construction noise levels, BKL’s team recommended noise barriers and oversaw their installation around the Seymour tunnel portal construction site, which was located in Lynn Canyon Park (see photos below). Once the barriers were installed, BKL’s acousticians monitored portal construction noise, placing meters within the park and at the nearest residences to the west. This included a 12-month monitoring program at one residence to measure peak levels from blasting noise, with regular reporting to the contractor to ensure that established limits were not exceeded.

One afternoon, a resident at the house where the long-term noise monitor was installed contacted BKL. He said, “You’d better come down here,” and described how a bear had climbed over his fence and devoured the noise meter. Fortunately, when the acoustician arrived, he found that only the windscreen was mauled. The meter was still operational.

As the project continued, BKL consulted on noise control for a large tunnel ventilation fan after complaints were received from some nearby residents. In addition, before test hole drilling began at several locations within quiet residential areas, BKL predicted noise levels and recommended partial enclosures for the drill rigs to control noise. With the enclosures in position, BKL measured resulting noise levels to confirm the effectiveness of this mitigation and ensure compliance with noise criteria.

During later stages of the project, when work was to begin on the Capilano portal and pump station in Capilano River Regional Park, BKL was retained to predict construction noise in support of Metro Vancouver’s application for a noise bylaw variance. As construction progressed, BKL conducted periodic measurements of noise from portable generators and drilling in response to sporadic complaints from residents.

PROJECT BENEFITS

The size and duration of this incredible construction project demanded a proactive plan to manage noise and vibration, and limit disturbances. BKL, well stocked with noise monitors (although one’s missing a wind screen), the latest prediction software, and experienced acousticians, was able to dedicate staff and equipment to this long-term project, ensuring the client avoided additional risks from unexpected noise complaints.

When unplanned for noise complaints did occur, BKL analyzed the noise and presented solutions—mitigation that worked for residents and the construction crews alike—helping to keep the project on track.

The Seymour shaft of the twin tunnels.

Installing noise walls.

During the long-term monitoring, a bear devoured one of the noise meters. Fortunately, only the windscreen was destroyed.

The People Behind Our Work

Our Technical Leads
Our Team

Brigette Martin

P.Eng., WELL AP

Technical Director, Sound and Vibration Measurements

Brigette Martin, P.Eng., WELL AP

Technical Director, Sound and Vibration Measurements

Brigette Martin graduated from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 2009. Before joining BKL in 2015, Brigette worked as an acoustic consultant on various building and environmental projects throughout New Zealand and Australia.

Brigette has extensive experience with environmental noise including assessing noise impacts and designing noise mitigation for gas compressor and pump stations, power generation sites, port terminals, and transformers sites; modelling construction noise, and developing construction noise abatement and management plans; designing noise controls and preparing noise management plans for mines and quarries; and monitoring benchmark noise, developing 3-D noise models, and designing noise walls for road infrastructure projects.

In the area of building acoustics, Brigette has been involved in numerous projects and has consulted on sound insulation and mechanical services design, as well as controlling external noise intrusion and reverberation noise levels, and optimizing speech clarity for critical spaces.

Over her career, Brigette has gained experience with a wide range of technical equipment and software including Insul, SoundPLAN, Cadna/A, SONarchitect, Brüel & Kjær analyzers, and numerous other sound level meters.

Brigette has also developed and presented training courses for using acoustical software and sound level meters for acoustical engineers and clients throughout New Zealand and Australia.
Trevor Cheng

P.Eng., MIOA

Managing Specialist Acoustical Consultant

Trevor Cheng, P.Eng., MIOA

Managing Specialist Acoustical Consultant

Trevor Cheng holds a bachelor of applied science (engineering physics) from University of British Columbia and joined BKL in January 2016, with experience in environmental and architectural acoustics, as well as condition monitoring, and machine vibration analysis and diagnostics.

With BKL, Trevor has primarily been involved in transportation, commercial, industrial, and infrastructure projects. His work experience includes measuring baseline noise conditions, predicting future noise environments, assessing noise impact, and offering mitigation measures where appropriate.

Trevor also has experience in architectural acoustics, working on hospitals, performance spaces, and multipurpose buildings. He is proficient in measuring noise insulation performance, reviewing building designs, and predicting noise levels from HVAC equipment.

Prior to joining BKL, Trevor worked in London, UK, on a wide variety of projects ranging from large-scale architectural renovations to major airport improvement works. He has unique experience in measuring and assessing noise and vibration in buildings from underground rail sources.

He also has experience using sound level meters by Brüel & Kjær, Norsonic, and Larson Davis, and software tools such as Cadna/A. He is familiar with ASTC/AIIC testing and using acoustic software including Insul, SONarchitect, and EASE for indoor noise predictions.

Trevor is a member of the Institute of Acoustics (IOA) in the UK.