The city’s summer student Erik Groenenberg gave his final report to council and staff at its committee meeting of the whole Aug. 28.
Going into his second year of engineering at Trinity Western University, Groenenberg spent the summer doing city mapping work.
“This mapping project has been going on for several years now. The previous students have gone over the entire city between them, finding, surveying and mapping water boxes and sewer cleanouts/inspection chambers, as well as reporting any that are broken or buried,” Groenenberg said in his report, adding the work ensures quick access if needed and provides a valuable map of the city’s water and sewer infrastructure.
During his stint at the job, Groenenberg revisited water boxes and sewer cleanouts/inspection chambers that were not previously recorded. He kept records of everything he encountered and noted what records were available.
“I am also surveying and mapping saddle valves on South Lakeside Drive and Pigeon Avenue as they are replaced by contractors,” he said in his report.
Groenenberg told council overall it’s been a good experience working for the city.
“Working with people with water and sewer systems, and understanding how the whole system works has been interesting. Trying to deal with people as you dig up their front lawns has also been a learning experience,” he said, adding he found people are intrigued to find out how the systems works in connection with their own properties.
When asked if he will return to work for the city next summer, Groenenberg said students can only work in that summer student position once.
“I probably won’t be coming back in that capacity, but in the future maybe,” he added.
In his report, Groenenberg said summer students hired by the city will gradually map everything from electrical systems to city benches in order to have electronic records that track city infrastructure and property.