Provincial requirements involving dam safety are prompting the city to spend $35,000 on a review of their assets.
Port Alberni city council approved the project at their Monday meeting.
The money will be paid from the city’s water revenue fund.
Specifically, the consulting firm of EBA Engineering is being contracted to do the work.
The firm will be conducting safety reviews of the city’s dams at Lizard and Bainbridge Lakes.
The China Creek intake will also be inspected as part of the review.
The ministry classifies the dams as high impact, or as having a strong likelihood that humans would be hurt in the event of a failure.
“The gravel pit area, Cameron Shops and China Creek Marina are all downstream from them,” city engineer Guy Cicon said.
“That puts it in a high consequence category.”
The review will look at dam records, field inspections, investigations and lab testing.
Structural stability and operational safety are also checked.
Formal dam safety reviews are required to be done every 10 years by the Ministry of Environment.
reporter@albernivalleynews.com