Water Diversion Pipes
– Stabilize and Protect Cofferdam

By: Cathy Vaughan

These huge pre-cast concrete pipes will be used to divert lake water around the cofferdam once it is installed this month. Diverting lake water around the temporary cofferdam ensures that the structure remains stable and protects the dry lakebed worksite so that construction crews and heavy machinery can begin to dismantle the old Williams Lake dam.

Lake water will be redirected around the worksite into Lawson’s Creek. The intake and outfall openings of the pipes usually feature protective screens to prevent fish and other aquatic animals from entering the pipes. The outfall end of the pipeline, discharging lake water into Lawson’s Creek, will have a rock riprap structure or a geotextile fabric to slow the flow of water into the creek to prevent erosion of the stream bed. Lawson’s Creek flows through the Shaw Wilderness Park and discharges into the Northwest Arm.

This is a complex construction project overseen by Build Nova Scotia and built by Dexter Construction Company. The project follows Canadian engineering standards and strict environmental guidelines. As unexpected situations occur in the lake and surrounding environs, adjustments will be made and monitored to these standards.

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