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Sooke Flowline

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reduced. This needed to be remedied by placing strips of material across the joints and fastening them with iron bands. A further challenge occurred in the winter of 1915–16. Parts of the newly constructed pipe got taken out by landslides, and repair was difficult, since the construction railway no longer existed. When the city began to outgrow demand, the pipe section from Sooke to the Humpback Reservoir was decommissioned, in 1970. The pipe had begun to show its age, with many leaks and damage from falling trees and rocks. It was then replaced with the 8.8 km (5.5 mi)
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The factory was very efficient and used steam to accelerate the curing of the concrete segments. In one eight-hour shift, 150–160 segments were produced. The segments were winched up the hill 450 feet (137 m) above the construction site. Three small locomotives were used to bring segments to both ends via a temporary
315:) gauge railway, and the pipe was constructed from the ends to the midpoint. At the ends, tripod derricks would unload the segments and place them on the crushed railbed while the tracks were removed. All trees on the 100 ft (30.5 m) right-of-way were cleared so that they could not fall and crush the pipe. 436:
The flowline was never highly efficient. When the taps were opened in 1915, the water that came through was of high quality, but it was soon discovered that it experienced 50–75% water loss throughout its length, depending on the season and temperature. During summer however, the leaking was slightly
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Every 600 metres (660 yards) or so, there are access hatches meant for periodic maintenance from the inside by workers. A man would lie prone on a cart and scrape moss off the inside of the pipe and clear sediments, rocks, and dead fish, which inevitably backed up in places. Installed on top of these
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In 1912, the city of Victoria expropriated forty property owners on Sooke Lake and on the proposed flowline right-of-way (ROW), at significant cost. The city hired the Pacific Lock Joint Pipe Company to cast the pipe segments, and using their patented design, constructed the pipeline. In between 1911
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At the factory located at Coopers Cove, the site of today's Stickleback Bar and Grill, round concrete segments, 36,000 in all, were mass-produced. The engineering firm Sanderson and Porter specified 40-inch pipe, but the company already had 42-inch molds made up, so they decided to use them instead.
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The portion of the old pipe from Sooke Lake to Sooke remained in service after the Humpback Reservoir section was decommissioned. It was routinely patrolled to make sure marijuana grow ops weren't tapping into the pipe and to do periodic patching up as best as possible, but it still had many leaks.
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and bound with iron bands. These were built to reduce the length around the longest of ravines. The wooden trestles dip down one side of the ravine and go up the other, relying on the downward pressure to push the water back up. These "dipping" trestles, known as "inverted siphons", were initially
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As a pilot project of the Sooke Region Museum, surplus sections of pipe were laid out at multiple locations around the Sooke townsite, accompanied by interpretive signs and historical photographs. One issue that had to be addressed was the presence of asbestos on the pipe, originally used in the
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used to be the water supply for Victoria, and when the Colquitz River was dammed, it flooded the swamp and merged Elk and Beaver lakes. In the early 1900s, it was determined that Elk/Beaver Lake could no longer meet Victoria's water needs. The daily draw from the lake was too great, and despite
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During the flowline's operation, caretakers lived along the route in small cabins. They rode recumbent tricycles on the pipe with tilted rear wheels to stay on top. During their routes, they were on the lookout for cracks in the pipe, leaky joints, and trespassers.
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There are 54 trestles along the 44 km (27 mi) length of various sizes, spanning ravines. During construction, temporary timber trestles were built alongside the proposed trestles to avoid delays and speed up the building of permanent concrete trestles.
269:. Leigh Hodgetts, CRD Waterworks superintendent, reported that the westernmost section of the flowline is still used to carry Sooke's water supply, via a 16-inch interconnecting pipe feeding the Sooke distribution system from Charters Creek to Sooke River Road. 321: 1242: 709:
As part of a beautification project around the CRD, plain electrical boxes were outfitted with decorative images of the pipe trestles. Such examples are at the following locations:
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Damage had also resulted from falling rocks and trees, and there were concerns about its ability to survive a major earthquake. Finally in late 2009, it was replaced with a
462:. This connects to the Sooke River Road Disinfection Facility, which went online in 2009. The facility incorporates ultraviolet disinfection, followed by the addition of 1232: 236: 297:. The pipe is almost completely at a constant elevation. Although figures vary, the slope from Sooke Lake to Humpback is between 0.0947% and 0.119% when the 919:– drive up the road and park just before the Camp Thunderbird main gate. The pipe crosses the road approximately 50 metres (55 yards) south of the gate. 571:
constructed of concrete as well, but the material is very weak in tension and resulted in cracked segments due to the pressure of 39.017 
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still owns pipe and the approximately 100 ft (30.5 m) wide corridor, which includes large trees, cliffs, and mossy bluffs.
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Panorama of the Sooke Flowline looking east above the Sooke River near today's Sooke Potholes Regional Park
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measures taken to extend its useful life, such as filter ponds, the pressure and supply was too low, and
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and 1915, this major engineering project employed over 400 workers and housed their families in rural
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Evidence of leaking on the pipe and broken iron bands demonstrate why decommissioning was necessary.
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hatches were wire mesh domes, which reduced pressure buildup and helped aerate the water.
1221: 576: 438: 266: 956:– this steep road is best if it's walked up; there is no room to park up the road. 661:
An example of how surplus sections of pipe were used through the township of Sooke
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Sea-Lake: Recollections and History of Cordova Bay and Elk Lake
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The pipe can be found and accessed at the following locations:
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PowerPoint about the Sooke Flowline's historical significance
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segments, which are four by four feet (1.22 by 1.22 m).
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Another example demonstrating the vulnerability of the pipe
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The New Water Supply System of Victoria British Columbia
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These segments can be found at the following locations:
1030:– the pipe runs north–south to the east of Sooke River. 1243:
Transport buildings and structures in British Columbia
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A picture taken just after construction of the pipe
213: 205: 200: 192: 184: 179: 171: 163: 152: 144: 125: 49:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. 284:were getting drawn out through the lake's intake. 1151:. New York: Sanderson and Porter Engineers. 1915. 1213:Images of the line east and west of Impala Road 1166:. Sooke, BC: Sooke Region Museum. p. 191. 1081:. Sooke, BC: Sooke Region Museum. p. 192. 1164:The Sooke Story: the history and the heartbeat 555:The largest part of the pipeline consists of 237:Timeline of the Greater Victoria Water System 8: 775:. Unsourced material may be challenged and 625:. Unsourced material may be challenged and 519:. Unsourced material may be challenged and 404:. Unsourced material may be challenged and 1079:The Sooke Story: the history and heartbeat 122: 795:Learn how and when to remove this message 645:Learn how and when to remove this message 539:Learn how and when to remove this message 424:Learn how and when to remove this message 109:Learn how and when to remove this message 1188:"Sooke River Road Disinfection Facility" 231:Credit: Sooke Region Historical Society. 224: 1051: 671:mortar to join pipe segments together. 562:Six concrete trestles are made out of 1233:History of Victoria, British Columbia 1127:At The End of the Trail From Victoria 7: 773:adding citations to reliable sources 623:adding citations to reliable sources 517:adding citations to reliable sources 402:adding citations to reliable sources 47:adding citations to reliable sources 16:Aqueduct in British Columbia, Canada 1129:. Victoria: Cougar Press Editions. 732:Bay and Pleasant Street in Victoria 719:Veteran's Memorial Parkway at the 14: 713:Helmcken Road and Watkiss Way in 196:1.07 m (3 ft 6 in) 158:Sooke Hills Regional Park Reserve 745: 726:Lansdowne and Foul Bay Roads in 595: 489: 374: 320: 257:to the Humpback Reservoir, near 133: 23: 1106:. Victoria: Sea-Lake Editions. 1060:"Main No.1 Replacement Project" 139:A section of the Sooke Flowline 34:needs additional citations for 460:Galloping Goose Regional Trail 1: 473:The water department of the 1259: 705:Utility box beautification 443:Goldstream Provincial Park 234: 475:Capital Regional District 259:Mount Wells Regional Park 219:1915-2009 (North Section) 132: 1014:48.439567°N 123.716267°W 977:48.404183°N 123.666600°W 940:48.397250°N 123.604267°W 903:48.399850°N 123.636400°W 870:48.413933°N 123.585633°W 829:48.447017°N 123.554883°W 681:grounds on Phillips Road 249:that snakes through the 217:1915-1970 (East section) 843:Mt. Wells Regional Park 188:44 km (27 mi) 167:Sooke Flowline/Aqueduct 1102:Pearson, Anne (1981). 1019:48.439567; -123.716267 982:48.404183; -123.666600 945:48.397250; -123.604267 908:48.399850; -123.636400 875:48.413933; -123.585633 834:48.447017; -123.554883 662: 458:pipe buried under the 362: 354: 232: 1162:Peers, Elida (1999). 1077:Peers, Elida (1999). 660: 360: 352: 228: 769:improve this section 723:crossing in Langford 698:Sooke Municipal Hall 619:improve this section 513:improve this section 398:improve this section 148:Sooke Lake Reservoir 43:improve this article 1238:Juan de Fuca region 1228:Aqueducts in Canada 1194:on August 23, 2013. 1066:on August 24, 2013. 1010: /  973: /  936: /  899: /  866: /  825: /  700:on Otter Point Road 692:Holy Trinity Church 679:Sooke Region Museum 666:Sooke Region Museum 557:reinforced concrete 1125:Hall, Del (1989). 663: 363: 355: 233: 206:Construction start 175:CRD Water District 805: 804: 797: 655: 654: 647: 549: 548: 541: 434: 433: 426: 223: 222: 119: 118: 111: 93: 1250: 1196: 1195: 1190:. 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Archived from 1056: 1041:Lubbe Powerhouse 1025: 1024: 1022: 1021: 1020: 1015: 1011: 1008: 1007: 1006: 1003: 991:Harbourview Road 988: 987: 985: 984: 983: 978: 974: 971: 970: 969: 966: 951: 950: 948: 947: 946: 941: 937: 934: 933: 932: 929: 914: 913: 911: 910: 909: 904: 900: 897: 896: 895: 892: 881: 880: 878: 877: 876: 871: 867: 864: 863: 862: 859: 840: 839: 837: 836: 835: 830: 826: 823: 822: 821: 818: 800: 793: 789: 786: 780: 749: 741: 650: 643: 639: 636: 630: 599: 591: 544: 537: 533: 530: 524: 493: 485: 429: 422: 418: 415: 409: 378: 370: 324: 314: 309: 299:inverted siphons 137: 123: 114: 107: 103: 100: 94: 92: 58:"Sooke Flowline" 51: 27: 19: 1258: 1257: 1253: 1252: 1251: 1249: 1248: 1247: 1218: 1217: 1204: 1199: 1186: 1185: 1181: 1174: 1161: 1160: 1156: 1147: 1146: 1142: 1124: 1123: 1119: 1101: 1100: 1096: 1089: 1076: 1075: 1071: 1058: 1057: 1053: 1049: 1037: 1018: 1016: 1012: 1009: 1004: 1001: 999: 997: 996: 981: 979: 975: 972: 967: 964: 962: 960: 959: 944: 942: 938: 935: 930: 927: 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688:on Sooke Road 687: 686:Home Hardware 683: 680: 677: 676: 675: 672: 665: 659: 649: 646: 638: 635:December 2023 628: 624: 620: 614: 613: 609: 604:This section 602: 598: 593: 592: 586: 584: 582: 578: 575:(269.01  574: 569: 565: 560: 558: 553: 543: 540: 532: 529:December 2023 522: 518: 514: 508: 507: 503: 498:This section 496: 492: 487: 486: 480: 478: 476: 471: 469: 465: 461: 457: 448: 446: 444: 440: 439:Kapoor Tunnel 428: 425: 417: 414:December 2023 407: 403: 399: 393: 392: 388: 383:This section 381: 377: 372: 371: 365: 359: 351: 347: 343: 336: 329: 323: 316: 310: 302: 300: 296: 287: 285: 283: 279: 274: 270: 268: 267:Kapoor Tunnel 264: 260: 256: 252: 248: 244: 238: 227: 216: 212: 208: 204: 199: 195: 191: 187: 183: 178: 174: 170: 166: 164:Official name 162: 159: 155: 151: 147: 143: 136: 131: 124: 121: 113: 110: 102: 99:December 2023 91: 88: 84: 81: 77: 74: 70: 67: 63: 60: –  59: 55: 54:Find sources: 48: 44: 38: 37: 32:This article 30: 26: 21: 20: 1192:the original 1182: 1163: 1157: 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"Sooke Flowline"
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Sooke Hills Regional Park Reserve

Timeline of the Greater Victoria Water System
aqueduct
Sooke Hills
Sooke Lake
Mount Wells Regional Park
Victoria
Kapoor Tunnel
Elk Lake
sediment
amphibians
Sooke
inverted siphons
2 ft


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