Alternate water supplies
The City's existing water supplies, from Capilano and Seymour reservoirs, are vulnerable to earthquakes. As a result, the City is developing alternative sources of water in case the regular supply is lost.
Emergency water supply in the City of Vancouver
Potable supplies
The Engineering Department, in conjunction with Parks and Recreation, has developed access to underground supplies at both Langara and McCleery Golf Courses. Wells have been established to provide water for irrigating the courses through the summer. These wells can be used to provide drinking water. The Engineering Department is also working with Oakridge Mall to access their well to provide potable water. The water quality from these wells is tested regularly to ensure the on-going safety of the supply.
In case of a large scale emergency, such as an earthquake, water from these wells can be transported to various emergency shelters via City street flusher trucks. These trucks usually carry potable water to flush the street. Plumbing has been developed to allow the truck to act as a water supply to fill individual buckets or containers.
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Fire fighting supplies
There are a number of initiatives being developed to provide water for fighting fires outside of the regular supply. The Dedicated Fire Protection System (DFPS), a $52 million project has been constructed Downtown, in Kitslano and Fairview Slopes to provide these dense, residential and commercial areas with either potable water (if available) or sea water from the ocean.
In addition to the DFPS, the City has constructed a drafting station on the Fraser River at Gladstone Park. A drafting station allows fire pumper trucks to draw water directly from the river.
As an alternative to fixed location drafting ramps, portable floating pumps that can be dropped into the river, or a lake, are being investigated. These have the potential to supply a pumper truck with water from any source such as the Fraser River, the ocean, Lost Lagoon or Trout Lake.
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