Reduced wastewater spills and efficient use of multi-million dollar equipment are the goals of a pilot project that is taking place in the Grand River watershed.
The project is bringing wastewater plant operators from the watershed together to learn about making the plants work as well possible and to share their experiences.
“We’re two-thirds of the way through the pilot project and everybody seems to be very engaged,” said GRCA water quality engineer Mark Anderson.
The GRCA is working with municipal water managers to ensure their wastewater treatment plants are “optimized.” Solutions to problems come from the plant operators themselves, because each plant has a unique set of challenges.
The municipalities and Six Nations operate 30 wastewater treatment facilities that discharge effluent into the waterways. All the operators were invited to participate.
Two plants within the watershed – Guelph and Haldimand – have already undertaken optimization and the results have been good. Guelph has had fewer and smaller spills and their success was noted by Ontario Environmental Commissioner Gord Miller in his annual report this past fall.
Optimization is a two step process:
– step 1: identify the administrative, operational and maintenance factors that limit performance of a wastewater treatment facility; and
– step 2: systematically address those limiting factors, starting with the highest priority issues.
This program has the important side benefit of potentially reducing costs and improving regulatory compliance. It is a cost-effective compliment to wastewater infrastructure upgrades, which are very costly.
“Wastewater optimization is the right thing to do. It embodies sustainability, financial responsibility and reduced environmental impact,” Anderson said.
“It also taps into the wealth of experience held by the operational staff at each plant. We are very excited about this process. We are also hoping that it will create a community of operators so they can share their experiences. It is getting everybody talking about optimization and what it can achieve.”
The project has received $57,000 in funding from the source protection program through Ontario Stewardship.
