The City of Melfort and Catterall & Wright Consulting Engineers (CWCE) have a long history of working together to tackle municipal infrastructure projects. While many things have changed in the decades since this first project in 1989, many of the challenges facing municipalities and engineering consultants have remained the same. Current Director of Public Works, Kalyna Cipywnyk, and Associate Partner with CWCE, Eric Melendez-Duke, have partnered to bring their unique perspectives together to discuss the opportunities and obstacles of working in the municipal world, particularly when delivering infrastructure projects with limited budgets and aging systems.
Using the City of Melfort’s ongoing efforts to improve their water infrastructure network as a starting point, Kalyna and Eric will share their thoughts on the importance of good working relationships, effective communication, and creative thinking, and how the presence (or lack) of these elements can ultimately influence project success, timelines, and final budget. This presentation will provide both owner and consultant perspectives on infrastructure renewal planning, project delivery, and adapting to new technologies.
This joint presentation will cover the following topics:
- Brief History of Melfort Water Infrastructure
- Operational Challenges (Aging Infrastructure, Limited Budgets)
- Watermain Renewal Strategy – 2019-Present
- Firsts for Melfort – Cured In Place Pipe, Water Master Plan
- Implementation of New Technology
- Preventing water loss = cost savings
- Current Consulting Contract
- Benefits of Value Based Procurement – Owner and Consultant Perspective
- Service Levels – Using technical data to meet resident expectations.
- Lessons Learned
The ultimate goal of this presentation is to provide practical insight into how municipalities and consultants can work together to deliver cost-effective, sustainable water infrastructure improvements, while maintaining service levels and meeting community expectations. Attendees will leave with lessons learned and strategies that can be applied to their own infrastructure renewal programs, regardless of municipality size.
