Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV) Station Replacement Design

2022-2026 | District of Saanich, BC

As part of its asset replacement program, the District of Saanich faced a growing challenge: two aging pressure reducing valve (PRV) stations that had reached the end of their service life. Built in 1955 and 1970, the stations were heavily corroded and required confined space entry for routine maintenance, posing ongoing safety risks for operators. Compounding these issues, the inground Wilkinson–Burnside PRV was located in a flood-prone area, creating persistent operational and reliability concerns.

Addressing Aging PRV Infrastructure and Worker Safety Risks

To address these risks, the District engaged McElhanney to deliver full design, tender, and construction services for both replacements. While the stations shared common challenges, each site demanded a tailored solution. At Wilkinson–Burnside, our team eliminated both flood risk and confined-space hazards by designing an aboveground, insulated, and heated kiosk, dramatically improving access, safety, and resilience. At Ferrie–Quadra, we designed a new in-ground concrete vault with a carefully considered layout and access configuration that meets non-confined space requirements, significantly improving safety for operations and maintenance crews.

Modern PRV Station Designs That Improve Safety, Resilience, and Water Security

The upgrades deliver meaningful benefits beyond safer access. Together, the new PRV stations enhance worker safety for District Public Works crews while strengthening water security across two pressure zones. The Wilkinson–Burnside replacement also enabled the District to loop the watermain, improving overall system resilience and water quality. At Ferrie–Quadra, the new PRV incorporates larger valving, increasing available flow and reducing run times at two downstream stations, delivering operational efficiencies that extend across the network.

Looking ahead, McElhanney leveraged the lessons learned from these projects to support the District’s long-term capital planning. Based on the completed designs, we developed standardized PRV templates to reduce future design costs and streamline upcoming upgrades, turning two site-specific replacements into a repeatable, forward-looking solution for the District of Saanich.

McElhanney provided: