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Union Gas Ltd. Cross Bore Safety Program

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Presentation on theme: "Union Gas Ltd. Cross Bore Safety Program"— Presentation transcript:

1 Union Gas Ltd. Cross Bore Safety Program
The attached presentation provides an overview of the Union Gas Cross Bore Safety program. TSSA Overview Presentation November 10, 2011

2 UGL Cross Bore Safety Program
Sewer Safety Inspection (SSI) Program Locate sewer and gas lines in response to a sewer line blockage prior to blockage removal tools being used. Sewer Safety Investigation Program Planned video investigation of high risk / high priority sewer lines to potentially locate legacy cross bores Canadian Gas Association and Enbridge New Installation Program Process and procedures to be used to ensure that new cross bores are not created when using trenchless technology The UGL Cross Bore Safety Program has 4 main components: Sewer Safety Inspection Program (SSI): to locate sewer lines and natural gas lines in the event of a blocked sewer before sewer blockage is cleared. Sewer Safety Investigation Program: proactively identify and investigate areas of potential cross bores. New Installation Program: process and procedures to be used to ensure that new cross bores are not created when using trenchless technology. Education and Awareness: Municipalities Industry (plumbers, sewer companies, rental companies etc) Regulators (OEB,TSSA) Public (homeowners, businesses, institutions etc) Company Employees Alignment with the CGA White Paper on Cross Bores and the Enbridge Cross Bore Program Education and Awareness Program Municipalities Industry (plumbers, sewer companies, rental companies etc) Public (homeowners, businesses, institutions etc)

3 UGL Cross Bore Safety Program: Overview
Cross Bore Program Development: started in November completed early 2011 Vendor Selection: Spring 2011 Implementation: started in Summer 2011 The Cross Bore program has been implemented in all Union Gas areas except Eastern District (Port Hope to Cornwall area) The Sewer Safety Inspection process has not been implemented in this area due to difficulty arranging for a qualified vendor to support Interim procedures are in place to manage cross bore incidents; a vendor to support the program has been selected and should be trained / operating in early 2012 Communications: Started Spring 2011 Internal communications are complete External communications plan is underway and continuing UGL Program is aligned with Enbridge program and CGA White Paper UGL Cross Bore Program represents an estimated annual investment of $1.825 M in O&M and $1.1M in Capital. The Union Gas Cross Bore Safety Program was developed in late 2010 and early 2011 Implementation of the program began in the spring of 2011

4 UGL Cross Bore Safety Program
Sewer Safety Inspection (SSI) Program Locate sewer and gas lines in response to a sewer line blockage prior to blockage removal tools being used. Sewer Safety Investigation Program Planned video investigation of high risk / high priority sewer lines to potentially locate legacy cross bores Canadian Gas Association and Enbridge New Installation Program Process and procedures to be used to ensure that new cross bores are not created when using trenchless technology Further details on the Sewer Safety Inspection Program Education and Awareness Program Municipalities Industry (plumbers, sewer companies, rental companies etc) Public (homeowners, businesses, institutions etc)

5 Sewer Safety Inspection Process
Home Owner / Plumber / Municipality Report Sewer Blockage Ontario One Call Dispatches Locate Service Provider (LSP) Locate Service Provider (LSP) Locate: Sewer Lines Gas Lines Other Utilities if required Video Inspection Provider (VIP) Video Inspect Sewer Line Identify Cause of Blockage Union Gas Limited Excavate Site Identify Sewer Cross Bore Repair & Remediate Sewer Cross Bore This is a an outline of the Sewer Safety Inspection portion of the UGL program Homeowner/Plumber/Municipality has a blocked sewer line-someone arranges to call Ontario One Call Ontario One Call sends a Locate Service Provider to the address on behalf of Union Gas Locate Service Provider does a natural gas and sewer line locate to ensure there is no potential conflict The Locate Service Provider may need to arrange a video inspection of the sewer line as well If there is a potential cross bore conflict Union Gas reps will respond to the site and make safe

6 Sewer Safety Inspection Program
UGL UGL GTEL QX TBD The map attached shows the vendors that are supporting the Union Gas Cross Bore Program across Ontario GTEL/Benko Robinson/PVS

7 UGL Cross Bore Safety Program
Sewer Safety Inspection (SSI) Program Locate sewer and gas lines in response to a sewer line blockage prior to blockage removal tools being used. Sewer Safety Investigation Program Planned video investigation of high risk / high priority sewer lines to potentially locate legacy cross bores Canadian Gas Association and Enbridge New Installation Program Process and procedures to be used to ensure that new cross bores are not created when using trenchless technology Further details on the Sewer Safety Investigation Program Education and Awareness Program Municipalities Industry (plumbers, sewer companies, rental companies etc) Public (homeowners, businesses, institutions etc)

8 Sewer Safety Investigations
~ investigations by end of 2012 High Risk Areas Cross Bore found, shallow sewers, elevated lawns, no basements etc. High Priority Areas Schools, Hospitals, Nursing homes etc. The Sewer Safety Investigation program is designed to identify areas with a higher potential for cross bores throughout Union’s system and video camera the sewer lines in this area to ensure they are clear of legacy cross bores. At this point, Union is targeting to complete ~1500 sewer video investigations by the end of 2012….based on the results of these investigations, additional investigations may be undertaken.

9 UGL Cross Bore Safety Program
Sewer Safety Inspection (SSI) Program Locate sewer and gas lines in response to a sewer line blockage prior to blockage removal tools being used. Sewer Safety Investigation Program Planned video investigation of high risk / high priority sewer lines to potentially locate legacy cross bores Canadian Gas Association and Enbridge New Installation Program Process and procedures to be used to ensure that new cross bores are not created when using trenchless technology Further details on the New Installation Program Education and Awareness Program Municipalities Industry (plumbers, sewer companies, rental companies etc) Public (homeowners, businesses, institutions etc)

10 New Installations Procedures
Enhanced pre-work procedures developed and implemented in spring of 2011 to be used prior to trenchless technology install Pre-work form now includes: Identification of potential risk factors Sketch of area to identify location of utilities and site features Identification of sewer system depths (basement access, sonde locate or video camera) New procedures were developed and implemented in the spring of 2011 to be used when trenchless technology is to be used for installing natural gas lines These new procedures are intended to mitigate the potential for new cross bores being created These new procedures include the identification of risk factors related to cross bores (elevated lawns, shallow sewers, no basements etc) and the identification of the sewer lines and depths (visual inside of basement, sonde locate from sewer clean out or video camera from sewer main) prior to trenchless technology being used.

11 New Installation Procedures
Sewer line exiting house must have required depth separation of proposed gas line, or New location of gas line required to ensure separation Sonde or video sewer locate, or ‘daylighting’ of intersection area required Avoid trenchless technology for install 2.4m 0.8m 0.5m Gas Line Foundation Wall Sewer Line Grade Basement Floor A-B-C calculation to ensure 1m vertical separation between proposed gas line and sewer line if <1m at any point, sonde sewer locate / daylighting is required

12 WARNING FOR YOUR SAFETY PLUMBERS/ DRAIN CLEANERS Front Back
Natural gas lines have recently been installed or replaced in your neighbourhood. If you experience sewer problems, call: Ontario One Call at or If you have called a plumber / drain cleaner, please inform them of the information on this tag IMPORTANT SAFETY MESSAGE Form 001 (Rev 001) WARNING PLUMBERS/ DRAIN CLEANERS Ensure this is not a SEWER CROSS BORE DO NOT use line clearing tools such as a motorized auger or water pressure tool to clear blockages outside the building wall prior to obtaining a SEWER SAFETY LOCATE Ontario One Call or IMPORTANT SAFETY MESSAGE As we complete our pre-work, we will be hanging tags in the houses to ensure homeowner is reminded to call Ont1Call before they clear a blocked sewer Union Gas or Gas Contractor will hang the tag at or near the sewer cleanout inside the house. If the cleanout cannot be found the tag will be hung near the laundry sink or furnace. Two tags will be hung if appropriate to heighten sewer awareness. Front Back

13 UGL Cross Bore Safety Program
Sewer Safety Inspection (SSI) Program Locate sewer and gas lines in response to a sewer line blockage prior to blockage removal tools being used. Sewer Safety Investigation Program Planned video investigation of high risk / high priority sewer lines to potentially locate legacy cross bores Canadian Gas Association and Enbridge New Installation Program Process and procedures to be used to ensure that new cross bores are not created when using trenchless technology Further Information on the Education and Awareness Component Education and Awareness Program Municipalities Industry (plumbers, sewer companies, rental companies etc) Public (homeowners, businesses, institutions etc)

14 Education and Awareness
Industry (Plumbing/ Drainage Companies) Municipalities Customers A comprehensive external communication plan has been developed and is being executed. The external communications is focused on 3 main areas

15 Industry Communications
Late July 2011: Direct Mail to ~ 1000 Plumbing and Drainage companies across the areas Union Gas serves (companies that would potentially perform sewer clearing services). Letter and brochure that outlined safety risk and the new Union Gas Cross Bore Program Sept 2011 – Present Follow up calls and in person training sessions with Plumbing and Drainage Companies across the areas Union Gas serves. Additional training information left with companies (powerpoint training presentation, brochures etc.) Industry Communications targeting Plumbing and Drainage companies that may provide clearing of blocked sewers to the public In late July Union Gas mailed a letter and brochure outlining the cross bore safety risk and the Union Gas Cross Bore Safety Program to approximately plumbing / drainage companies across Union’s distribution areas Since September, Union has been contacting plumbers/drainage companies and arranging training sessions or dropping off additional information on the Union Cross Bore Safety Program. These training sessions have been taking 1 hour – 1 1/2 hours to complete.

16 Customer Communications
July – August 2011: Direct Mail to 24,000 homes that had a new conversion or replacement gas service installed in the past 5 years. Included yellow ‘Cross Bore Safety Tag’ for customer to hang near sewer cleanout (see next slide) Spring and Fall 2012 Bill inserts to all customers Targeted newspaper ads In July and August of 2011 Union Gas sent a direct mailer (letter and yellow Cross Bore Safety Tag – see next slide) to ~24,000 residential customers The 24,000 customers were homes that had a replacement service or a conversion service installed at their address in the past 5 years. The letter explained the Cross Bore Safety issue and asked them to call ONt1Call if they experienced any sewer blockage issues

17 WARNING FOR YOUR SAFETY PLUMBERS/ DRAIN CLEANERS Front Back
Natural gas lines have recently been installed or replaced in your neighbourhood. If you experience sewer problems, call: Ontario One Call at or If you have called a plumber / drain cleaner, please inform them of the information on this tag IMPORTANT SAFETY MESSAGE Form 001 (Rev 001) WARNING PLUMBERS/ DRAIN CLEANERS Ensure this is not a SEWER CROSS BORE DO NOT use line clearing tools such as a motorized auger or water pressure tool to clear blockages outside the building wall prior to obtaining a SEWER SAFETY LOCATE Ontario One Call or IMPORTANT SAFETY MESSAGE Tags that were included with letter to 24,000 customers with a recently installed natural gas service (conversion or replacement) Front Back

18 Municipal Communications
June-July 2011: Direct Mail to ~ 400 Municipalities where Union Gas supplies natural gas Letter that outlined safety risk and introduced the new Union Gas Cross Bore Program Sept 2011 – Present Presentation / training session with municipalities to outline safety risk and the Union Gas Cross Bore Safety Program

19 Questions… Wes Armstrong; Director, Distribution Operations
Union Gas Ltd. Jeff Hodgins Manager, Utility Cross Bore Program For further information, please contact.

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