GeoEnviro Training Professionals Inc. (GeoEnviroPro)

The planning and environmental permitting for construction of a deep underground electrical distribution line presented unique environmental challenges with respect to groundwater management. Recent changes to the Water Sustainability Act and constraints in sewer capacity have made the planning & permitting process and water management during construction significantly more complex. This presentation presents one such project of a recently constructed underground distribution line in Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam, BC.

The presentation will cover the regulatory framework, the permitting process, groundwater assessment, options for groundwater management and how groundwater was ultimately managed with close involvement of the local First Nation during construction. The presentation will focus on key challenges that project proponents face in light of the recent changes in the Water Sustainability Act, how the challenges were overcome, and what the future holds for these types of project moving forward.