Climate Change Impacts on Water and Wastewater Systems in the Arctic Kenneth Johnson, M.A.Sc., RPP, FCAE, P.Eng. Planner, Engineer, and Historian Cold Regions Specialist Funding for this report provided by NRC and INFC through the Climate Resilient Buildings and Core Public Infrastructure Project, as part of the Pan Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change 1.0
Introduction
1.1
Background
2017-03-30
Many factors influence engineering practices associated with water and sewer infrastructure in Canada's Arctic. These factors include the extreme cold conditions that infrastructure must withstand, ground related conditions, the short construction season, challenges of transporting construction material, delays in procuring specialized equipment, and an undersupply of labour. Water and sewer infrastructure systems in Canada's Arctic are uniquely vulnerable compared to southern infrastructure systems. Permafrost and other ice related issues are fundamental considerations for the infrastructure design, construction, operation and maintenance. Construction and operating costs are high due to distance and isolation plus the extreme cold and infrastructure deteriorates rapidly in extreme environments. Experience in Canada's Arctic shows that, even after a brief interruption in operation, reopening infrastructure tends to be costly. The existing infrastructure deficit, the lack of options and ""backups"' in infrastructure services, and capacity constraints in the form of finances and human resources are all relevant issues associated with northern infrastructure. The impact of the climate change on the Arctic region of Canada is affecting community infrastructure, and in particular water and wastewater systems. There are limitations in current approaches to design, construction, both new construction and rehabilitation construction of Core Public Infrastructure (CPI) that are based on past climatic loads and not on expected future climatic loads. Future climatic loads may lead to early failure of CPI, long service disruption, high rehabilitation and replacement costs, and considerable negative socio-economic impact. The consequences of failure of existing and new CPI are quite significant, particularly in the far north because infrastructure has additional stresses associated with cost, geography, extreme climate, and operation maintenance limitations. The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and Infrastructure Canada (INFC) are leading a group to develop decision support tools, including codes, guides and models for the design of resilient new Canadian core public infrastructure (CPI) and rehabilitation of existing CPI. The objective is to make sure there is an inherent capacity against existing and future climate change and extreme weather events through various engineering, and facility management tools, and opportunities. 1.2
Scope of Work
The report addresses the potential impact of climate change related to water and waste water systems in the Arctic. This report, along with those produced by NRC staff, will be compiled into a summary document that identifies the key knowledge gaps that need to be addressed to make sure Canada’s Arctic water and waste water systems are resilient to the effects of climate change. The results of the gap identification may be used to provide guidance for future research activities.
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