New Westminster Overhauls Century-Old Sewer and Water Systems
New Westminster, B.C. is in the middle of a major sewer and watermain overhaul, Daily Commercial News reports. The West End Sewer Separation, Watermain Rehabilitation, and Green Infrastructure Project is tackling infrastructure that dates back to 1911 for sewer mains and 1937 for water infrastructure, according to Brittany Tom, an integrated stormwater engineer with the City of New Westminster. RAM Engineering Ltd. of Vancouver is providing consulting services on the project, which covers the 16th, 18th and 20th Street catchments and includes 24 rain gardens designed to capture and filter stormwater before it reaches the drainage system. Construction started in April 2024 and is expected to be substantially complete ahead of schedule by the end of 2026. The city says other work in the pipeline includes a CCTV sewer inspection and rehabilitation program, a watermain replacement under Carnarvon Street, and upgrades to three sanitary pump stations slated for 2026 and 2027.
What It Means for Subcontractors
- Civil and utility contractors working in B.C. should note the project’s phased delivery model, coordinating sewer separation and watermain replacement in the same road corridors, a template New Westminster may repeat as it plans its next multi-year construction phase.
- Landscaping and green infrastructure crews have an entry point through the 24 rain garden installations, a growing niche as municipalities pair traditional pipe replacement with nature-based stormwater management.
- Firms with pump station experience should watch for upcoming packages tied to the three sanitary pump station upgrades scheduled for 2026 and 2027, as well as the Carnarvon Street watermain replacement.
