Stormwater Infrastructure Climate Risk Assessment: A Prudent Engineering Practice

Transcription

1 Stormwater Infrastructure Climate Risk Assessment: A Prudent Engineering Practice Surviving the Perfect Storm Managing Your Stormwater Risk in Light of Climate Change Mississauga, Ontario November 4, 2013 David Lapp, FEC, P. Eng. Manager, Professional Practice Engineers Canada 1

2 What is Engineers Canada? STRUCTURE National organization for the engineering profession in Canada Members - 12 constituent associations that regulate the practice of engineering e.g. Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) Over 260,000 professional engineers in Canada FUNCTIONS Common approaches for professional qualifications, professional practice and ethical conduct Accredits all undergraduate engineering programs in Canada 271 programs in 43 universities National and international voice of the profession Climate change work since

3 So what is the concern with infrastructure and changing climate? Increasing occurrence of extreme weather events causing damage and destruction with high cost to repair and replace Existing infrastructure has normally been designed using historical climate data Infrastructure will not be sufficiently resilient for its service life in the future climate 3

4 Risks to Various Infrastructure Types from Increasing Climate/Weather Extremes (Frequencies/Intensities) STRUCTURES Power Lines & Transmission Structures Communication Buildings Roads, Bridges Stormwater & Wastewater Water Supply & Distribution Ice Storms and Wet Snow FAILURE ice + wind FAILURE ice + wind SEVERE ICING & WET SNOW OPERATION RISKS POWER FAILURES POWER FAILURES Rainfall Intensity & Accum. Extreme Winds Summer Storms & Tornadoes Extreme Snow ADDITIVE FAILURE FAILURE SOME ADDITIVE FAILURE FAILURE SOME DRAINAGE & FAILURE DRAINAGE & EROSION TOTAL FAILURE LACK OF - DROUGHT FAILURE FAILURE FAILURE OPERATION & RISKS POWER FAILURES POWER FAILURE FAILURE RISK FAILURE POWER FAILURE OPERATION RISKS RISKS

5 Infrastructure and Climate Change August 2005 Storm - Toronto Photos courtesy Jane-Finch.com

6 Interdependency of infrastructure Exposed utilities at Finch Ave Wash Out 6

7 New stream crossing at Finch Ave 7

8 Toronto Storm - July 8, 2013 Preliminary estimate from Insurance Bureau of Canada for July 8 is $850 million and rising

9 The Past IS NOT the Future Current Trend Un-quantified Risk The Past is the Future

10 The probability of extreme changes in a warmer climate Hadley Centre (After IPCC 2007 & Karl et al. 2008)

11 PIEVC Engineering Protocol Five step evaluation process A tool derived from standard risk management methodologies Intended for use by qualified engineering professionals Requires contributions from those with pertinent local knowledge and experience Focused on the principles of vulnerability and resiliency

12 A Five Step Process

13 Climate Change Risk Mitigation through Adaptation Flood Climate Change Flood Adaptation Flood

14 PIEVC Stormwater/Wastewater Assessments ONTARIO City of Welland Stormwater and wastewater infrastructure Town of Prescott - Stormwater management infrastructure NATIONAL Ville de Laval PQ Stormwater management system Ville de Trois Rivieres Stormwater and wastewater management system Cities of Castlegar and Nelson BC Stormwater management system Metro Vancouver Stormwater and wastewater systems 14

15 3. Study Area ONTARIO NEW YORK City of Welland Urban Boundary (approximate) 15 Assessing Climate Change Risk to Stormwater and Wastewater Infrastructure The Canadian Association on Water Quality

16 5. City of Welland Storm & Wastewater (Combined) System. Infrastructure by Age Infrastructure by Condition 16 Rating Description Useful Life Remaining A Newly installed or like new >64% B First signs of aging 45% and 64% C Moderate aging/ deterioration 29% and 44% D Asset functioning with deterioration 18% and 28% F Loss of function imminent < 18% UNK Unknown Assessing Climate Change Risk to Stormwater and Wastewater Infrastructure The Canadian Association on Water Quality

17 9. Action Plan Recommendations Action Classifications # of recommendations Additional Study as a prerequisite for Management Action 1 Additional Study as a prerequisite for Management and/or Operational Action Additional Study as a prerequisite for Remedial Action 2 Additional Study as a prerequisite for Remedial Action and/or Management Action Recommendation Cost Range Management Action 12 Management and/or Operational Action 2 # of recommendations Implementation Time Frame 6 21 # of recommendations < $ 100, ASAP 12 $ 100,000 to $ 500, Short 13 $ 500, Medium 19 Recommended Action by # of recommendations City 12 Region 8 City & Region Assessing Climate Change Risk to Stormwater and Wastewater Infrastructure The Canadian Association on Water Quality

18 9. Action Plan Recommendations 18 Assessing Climate Change Risk to Stormwater and Wastewater Infrastructure The Canadian Association on Water Quality

19 Benefits of Infrastructure Climate Risk Assessment Identify nature and severity of risks to components Optimize more detailed engineering analysis Quick identification of most obvious vulnerabilities Structured, documented approach ensures consistency and accountability due diligence Adjustments to design, operations and maintenance Application to new designs, retrofitting, rehabilitation and operations and maintenance Reviews and adjustments of codes, standards and engineering practices 19

20 Key Activities to Understand and Minimize Climate Risks to Infrastructure Gain climate understanding Understanding new vulnerabilities Prioritize the risks (Urgent to Least Urgent) Minimize the risks (engage Risk Reduction Programs) Combining these Key Activities provides key elements of an Infrastructure Climate Risk Assessment and Risk Mitigation Plan

21 Concluding Remarks 1. Adaptation is risk management climate is another risk 2. Professionals must translate to common lingo 3. Responses compete for resources 4. Need risks and costs (for new and existing infrastructure) 5. Long-term commitments required 6. Much can be accomplished within routine operations, maintenance and redevelopment cycles It s not always about ``building a bigger pipe``

22 Thank you! For more information on Engineers Canada and PIEVC: David Lapp, P.Eng. Manager, Professional Practice Engineers Canada

23 What the profession is doing Raising awareness among professional engineers and other professions as well as decision-makers Continuing professional development climate change course syllabus Assessment of climate risks Developing (best) practice guidelines Model Guide on Principles of Climate Change Adaptation for Engineers (Draft October 2013) Constituent associations practice guidelines for specific infrastructure categories 23

24 What the profession is doing Encourage integration of climate change into undergraduate curriculum Join with other professions to urge government action regulatory and procurement policies Contribute to ongoing reviews of design, construction and operations codes, standards, procedures and policies 24