Utilidors in the Canadian North

Abstract

The majority of communities in northern Canada lack piped water and sanitation services. In the permafrost region this is primarily because of the high costs associated with constructing above-ground piping conduits called utilidors.This paper examines the designs and costs of various utilidors in Inuvik, Northwest Territories, and outlines the necessary approaches to reduce costs and to improve performance of utildor-type systems. Technical innovation and establishment of performance standards are called for as a means of achieving these aims. Also, it is evident from the presented information that design engineers and utility system operators, in order to realize savings, should be keenly aware of cost–benefit relationships on a long-range basis.