Fort St John City Council unanimously voted to conduct a dam safety review and hydrotechnical assessment of the Charlie Lake dam during Monday’s regular council meeting.
The reviews will ensure the dam is up to the current standard of safety for a structure of its size and will be conducted by an out-of-town engineering company.
The expected cost is $110,000, as per the details discussed in Monday’s meeting.
“Although the structure is very old, we don’t anticipate that there will be any major issues. Though, the report will outline any improvements, or issues, that are there,” Jeremy Garner, the Director of Public Works and Utilities, told City Council.
“If there are changes that are coming, I will report back to council,” Garner continued.
The dam and water treatment facility are owned by the city – meaning Fort St John is responsible for its maintenance and would be liable if the structure failed
Charlie Lake was the city’s main source of drinking water until 1997. The dam is located on the outlet portion of the lake and is classified as a “high consequence dam.”
A high consequence dam, according to the province of B.C.’s website, is a dam that could cause permanent damage, including loss of life, to people living in its surrounding areas if it bursts.
The safety review will focus on the physical condition of the structure and its operating components. The hydrotechnical assessment will focus on risks presented by the dam.
According to Monday’s agenda from the city, the Charlie Lake dam was last reviewed in 2015 and dams with a high risk classification must be examined every ten years.
