Water Quality and Conservation
Despite being situated in a temperate rainforest, the Vancouver
2010 Games region experiences seasonal water shortages and dramatic
weather events. Preservation of water quality is important to
protect both fish and wildlife habitat and drinking water sources.
In designing and constructing venues, particularly those in the mountains, we are committed to preserving natural water systems such as streams and wetlands to protect both fish and wildlife habitat and ensure clean drinking water sources. We do this by:
In designing and constructing venues, particularly those in the mountains, we are committed to preserving natural water systems such as streams and wetlands to protect both fish and wildlife habitat and ensure clean drinking water sources. We do this by:
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Maintaining natural flow rates and volumes through best practices in integrated stormwater management and application of LEED green building criteria
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Preventing sedimentation of waterways through best practices in design and construction
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Avoiding the discharge of pollutants into waterways through best practices in construction and operations
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Protecting riparian areas (waterways and adjacent lands) in venue development activities
Following the LEED Green Building Rating
System and best practices in design and construction helps maintain
natural flow rates and volumes, prevent sedimentation of waterways,
avoid discharge of pollutants in waterways and protect riparian
areas.
Our third-party environmental monitors have been regularly examining water quality at our venue sites during construction, helping ensure implementation of best practices for local water quality protection.
At the Whistler Olympic Park, we are constructing a small wastewater treatment plant that will accommodate pre-Games and post-Games anticipated use levels for the facility. At Games time, as with our other outdoor venues, temporary infrastructure will be in place for wastewater collection to accommodate high visitor numbers. The Whistler Olympic Park wastewater treatment plant will use a tertiary membrane filtration and ultraviolet disinfection system, resulting in high-quality discharge to local surface water.
Challenge: Sediment and Erosion Control at Whistler Creekside (alpine venue)
A delayed start in summer 2006 led to a hurried construction season at the Whistler Creekside venue and lack of time to fully implement sediment and erosion control plans. Heavy rainfalls in October 2006 led to erosion issues in some areas of the site, including surface soil instability and some sedimentation of local waterways. To address this issue well in advance of the fall 2007 rainy season, additional training for contractors was provided by the project's third-party environmental monitor to ensure that workers proactively employ best practices in sediment and erosion control. This was a good learning experience for us, and we are now exercising additional due diligence in having our measures in place this year and beginning in a more timely fashion.
Our third-party environmental monitors have been regularly examining water quality at our venue sites during construction, helping ensure implementation of best practices for local water quality protection.
At the Whistler Olympic Park, we are constructing a small wastewater treatment plant that will accommodate pre-Games and post-Games anticipated use levels for the facility. At Games time, as with our other outdoor venues, temporary infrastructure will be in place for wastewater collection to accommodate high visitor numbers. The Whistler Olympic Park wastewater treatment plant will use a tertiary membrane filtration and ultraviolet disinfection system, resulting in high-quality discharge to local surface water.
Challenge: Sediment and Erosion Control at Whistler Creekside (alpine venue)
A delayed start in summer 2006 led to a hurried construction season at the Whistler Creekside venue and lack of time to fully implement sediment and erosion control plans. Heavy rainfalls in October 2006 led to erosion issues in some areas of the site, including surface soil instability and some sedimentation of local waterways. To address this issue well in advance of the fall 2007 rainy season, additional training for contractors was provided by the project's third-party environmental monitor to ensure that workers proactively employ best practices in sediment and erosion control. This was a good learning experience for us, and we are now exercising additional due diligence in having our measures in place this year and beginning in a more timely fashion.
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