Oakridge Park | 13 Towers | 154m | 52fl | 5M sqft | U/C

[cairnstone]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Thanks for the BC Business story - cool info in there.
I just wonder how tapping the aquifer will affect strata fees and/or liability if something screws up in the future.
It's like having a private district system that may be expensive to maintain and operate.

That Aquafer is not tapped on purpose more like a design flaw. The whole area is plagued by it and has added huge delays and costs to many projects along Cambie. The original plan for Oakridge had to be redesigned as the aquifer caused issues. Mosaic project around 55th was stalled out because of excessive water ingress. A smaller wood frame around 66 was abandoned by the original developer on the east side of cambi.

So asssume the aquifer/artesian well has been capped and turned into a tree project and used as nonpotable water great for LEED points I guess. But if they had a choice they would have wished it gone. This project already is going to high some of the highest strata fees around and the district energy system will be on top of that.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by cairnstone

That Aquafer is not tapped on purpose more like a design flaw. The whole area is plagued by it and has added huge delays and costs to many projects along Cambie. The original plan for Oakridge had to be redesigned as the aquifer caused issues. Mosaic project around 55th was stalled out because of excessive water ingress. A smaller wood frame around 66 was abandoned by the original developer on the east side of cambi.

So asssume the aquifer/artesian well has been capped and turned into a tree project and used as nonpotable water great for LEED points I guess. But if they had a choice they would have wished it gone. This project already is going to high some of the highest strata fees around and the district energy system will be on top of that.

Thanks - that makes sense.
Hope it doesn't become a big liability in the future.

[jollyburger]

This article said Oakridge Mall used to use the aquifer as a coolant.

https://vancouversun.com/news/massive-underground-aquifer-helping-to-keep-vancouver-green

It sounds like they are going to discharge rain runoff into the aquifer as well instead of into the storm drains?

[giallo]

I finally got around to the Oakridge site today. It's looking good.

[officedweller]

Sweet!
Thanks!

[Coldrsx]

Insane redevelopment and shots.

Also, super cool angles.

[officedweller]

Reminder....

Originally Posted by Feathered Friend

https://cityduo.wordpress.com/2022/02/28...ts-to-heal-the-hole-in-its-wooden-heart/

[giallo]

A video of the Oakridge site.

• Video Link

[cairnstone]

I wonder if the remaining strata received any compensation for being left in the middle of ground zero.

I can’t see how Oakridge would be allowed to inject rain water into the the aquafer. The possibility of contamination is to great.

[WarrenC12]

Amazing shots, very well done!

[giallo]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Amazing shots, very well done!

Thanks!

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by cairnstone

I wonder if the remaining strata received any compensation for being left in the middle of ground zero.

I can’t see how Oakridge would be allowed to inject rain water into the the aquafer. The possibility of contamination is to great.

Well the aquifer is filled with ground water filtering down into the ground so how is it any different?

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Well the aquifer is filled with ground water filtering down into the ground so how is it any different?

I agree - water in the aquifer isn't a source of drinking water (as it is in some places), so if rain runoff can be diverted into the aquifer rather than storm drains it shouldn't be an issue.

[cairnstone]

Originally Posted by Changing City

I agree - water in the aquifer isn't a source of drinking water (as it is in some places), so if rain runoff can be diverted into the aquifer rather than storm drains it shouldn't be an issue.

Percolation compared to direct injection are 2 different things and what are the long term effects. Aquifer are used through metro Vancouver for domestic water. Off the top of my head Delta, White Rock and Langley get water from the aquifer. Fast forward 40 years don’t be surprised that we dont move away from surface water for potable water and tap into the aquifer because of growth and the fact we have all our eggs in one basket. Metro Vancouver has researched taking water from the Fraser river Aquifer as it would create unlimited water but the decision at he time ended up going to the twin watershed project between Seymour and groose mtn together. But as we grow another source will be required .

[whatnext]

This article in Gordon Price's blog shows a map with an aquifer underlying much of Metro Vancouver?
https://viewpointvancouver.ca/2016/03/10...uver-and-we-cut-off-water-in-the-summer/

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by cairnstone

Percolation compared to direct injection are 2 different things and what are the long term effects. Aquifer are used through metro Vancouver for domestic water. Off the top of my head Delta, White Rock and Langley get water from the aquifer. Fast forward 40 years don’t be surprised that we dont move away from surface water for potable water and tap into the aquifer because of growth and the fact we have all our eggs in one basket. Metro Vancouver has researched taking water from the Fraser river Aquifer as it would create unlimited water but the decision at he time ended up going to the twin watershed project between Seymour and groose mtn together. But as we grow another source will be required .

Seems more likely they will dump the storm water into their green areas and it will naturally go into the ground versus some water pipe going deep into the sand.

More details:

Oakridge will also utilise the most robust water recycling system ever envisioned for a project of this scale. Through the recycling of groundwater and collection of rainwater across the entirety of the site, 72% of Oakridge non-potable water needs will be met by utilizing groundwater and recycled rainwater, the highest ever achieved for a project of this scale in North America. Oakridge will be the first project in Canada to test using treated recycled water in the washing machines of residential units.

https://council.vancouver.ca/20220301/documents/phea4other20220228_Redacted.pdf

[officedweller]

Ouch, that sounds expensive to maintain and operate (by just Oakridge residents/tenants).
Presumably the water pipes feeding to washing machines and toilets are completely separate from potable water supplies for sinks, showers(?), fridges and dishwashers (i.e. duplication of lines?).

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Ouch, that sounds expensive to maintain and operate (by just Oakridge residents/tenants).
Presumably the water pipes feeding to washing machines and toilets are completely separate from potable water supplies for sinks, showers(?), fridges and dishwashers (i.e. duplication of lines?).

it sounds like its doing what is common in Australia. a grey water system. in that case, it is a 2nd system of grey water which is not connected to the potable water system. assuming its similar, more infrastructure to maintain.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

it sounds like its doing what is common in Australia. a grey water system. in that case, it is a 2nd system of grey water which is not connected to the potable water system. assuming its similar, more infrastructure to maintain.

Thanks.
... and more opportunity for leaks?

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Thanks.
... and more opportunity for leaks?

i mean, the more pipe in the ground, the more fittings, the more potential for leaks. the key is to use quality products and good installation. its a pressurised system, basically the same idea as the potable water system. it shouldnt be anymore or any-less reliable than the potable system. but now youre talking about a developer that cuts corners and cuts costs.

now i LOVE the idea of a grey water system. i think we should be looking into doing that here, personally; water scarcity will only get worse over time through population growth and global warming. i also do quite like infrastructure in general, so i find it fascinating from that aspect. BUT i would NOT want to be in a strata, on the hooks for the costs of 2 pressurized pipe systems built by a developer getting all their parts in china, and cutting corners on the labour... see what happened with Vancouver House.