City of Guelph Southwest Quadrant Municipal Class Environmental Assessment

Transcription

1 City of Guelph Southwest Quadrant Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Tuesday April 15 th, 2008

2 Agenda TIME 6:00 pm 7:00 pm Open House Registration DESCRIPTION Opportunity for participants to view displays and meet informally with City staff and Consultant Project Team members Purpose & Agenda Review Susan Hall, Lura Consulting Welcome and Opening Remarks Dave Belanger, City of Guelph Introduction to the Southwest Quadrant Class EA Study Golder/ Earth Tech 1. Water Supply Master Plan 2. Study Area Description & Groundwater Use 3. Problem & Opportunity Statement 4. Class EA Process, Alternatives & Evaluation Criteria 5. Test Programs 6. Next Steps Discussion Session Closing Remarks Dave Belanger 9:00 pm Adjourn

3 3 Purpose of this Public Open House To introduce the Southwest Quadrant Groundwater Supply Class EA to the community. To provide the public with an understanding of how the City is approaching the need for additional groundwater supply in this area. To seek feedback from the community on the proposed approach.

4 Water Supply Master Plan: Short Term Recommendations From the WSMP Short-term Recommendations ( ): Expand Existing Groundwater Supply System Confirm, and if available, increase the capacity of existing municipal wells. as per a Schedule A Class EA to assist in addressing the security/capacity concerns identified by the City. Investigate and confirm the treatment requirements for existing municipal wells (i.e., Edinburgh.) with existing Permits to Take Water and the potential for returning the wells to service under a Schedule A Class EA. Initiate in 2007, the further investigations and the Class EA work necessary. for potential new wells in the City as indicated by modeling in the following areas: Hanlon/Stone.. Of these initiatives, the Hanlon/Stone area, based on the Guelph Lime project, is the highest priority.

5 5 WSMP Water Supply Alternatives Guelph Southwest Quadrant Class EA Scope of Work

6 6 Study Area Well Field: A well field is a series of wells that pump from the same section of an aquifer, with some mutual interference effects. Southwest Quadrant Municipal Production Wells: Membro Edinburgh Water St. Dean Ave. University Downey Rd.

7 7 Study Area and Natural Environmental Features/Land Use Features Southwest Quadrant Land Use: Predominantly Residential Open Space Commercial/Industrial Guelph-Lime Quarry Environmental Features: Speed River Hanlon Creek Hanlon Creek Wetland Areas

8 8 Hydrogeological Setting Amabel Aquifer Guelph Aquifer Eramosa Member

9 9 Groundwater Use (in Amabel aquifer) Groundwater in Amabel aquifer flows in a southerly direction towards the Grand River Localized depressions of groundwater levels in Amabel aquifer have resulted from pumping Southwest Quadrant represents a major pumping centre

10 10 Groundwater Use in Southwest Quadrant Average Daily Pumping Rates (m³/day) 20,000 15,000 10,000 5, Note: No quarry data available for Year

11 11 Problem and Opportunity Statement The City has identified the need for additional groundwater for existing residents and future development in the City of Guelph as confirmed by the Water Supply Master Plan. In addition to implementing increased water conservation and demand management opportunities, stakeholder and public comments focused priority on increasing water supply capacity through existing municipal wells and new groundwater wells within the City boundaries. An additional opportunity in the Southwest Quadrant is to capture groundwater for use as municipal supply that is currently being pumped to waste from the Guelph Lime Quarry. The City s approach is to consider the existing and new municipal wells in the Southwest Quadrant as one wellfield, thereby providing additional redundancy in the available water supply. For example, this approach would allow the City to operate some wells at higher pumping rates while one well is off-line for maintenance, to achieve the same total production capacity.

12 12 Class EA Process PHASE PHASE11 This project is being undertaken in accordance with the (2007) for a Schedule C undertaking (Phases 1 through 5). The Municipal Class EA is approved under the Environmental Assessment Act and enables the planning of municipal infrastructure projects in accordance with a proven process for protecting the environment. There is an opportunity at selected points in the study for public input (see diagram). Notice of Study Commencement October, 2007 (Discretionary Contact Point) Identify Identify &&Describe Describethe the Problem Problem A We Schedule A, A+, B & C Projects Public Open House # 1 (Discretionary Contact Point) April 15, 2008 PHASE PHASE22 Schedule A, A+ Project Complete CompleteStudy StudyArea AreaInventory, Inventory, Identify/Evaluate Identify/EvaluateAlternative Alternative Solutions Solutions&&Establish Establishthe the Preferred PreferredSolution Solution Schedule B Project Public Open House # 2 (Mandatory Contact Point) Fall, 2008 Schedule C Project PHASE PHASE33 Identify Identify&&Evaluate EvaluateAlternative Alternative Design DesignConcepts, Concepts,Address Address Environmental EnvironmentalEffects Effects && Establish EstablishPreferred PreferredDesign Design PHASE PHASE44 Prepare PrepareEnvironmental EnvironmentalStudy Study Report Report (ESR) (ESR)Documenting Documenting Phases Phases A working group of agencies and neighbouring municipalities meets with the Project Team to review and comment on technical materials at key points in the process. Southwest Quadrant Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Environmental Study Report Prepared by: Earth Tech Canada The Galleria Suite 702 Kitchener, ON N2H 6R2 Prepared for: City of Guelph 59 Carden Street Guelph, Ontario N1H 3A1 EO Opportunity for Part ll Order Request (Appeal to MOE) Upon completion of the Class EA process, an Environmental Study Report (ESR) will be prepared and made available for public review and comment (minimum 30 days). PHASE PHASE 55 Complete CompleteDrawings Drawings && Documents DocumentsProceed Proceedtoto Construct, Construct,Operate Operate&&Monitor Monitor Project Project Public Open House # 3 (Mandatory Contact Point) Winter, 2008 Notice of Completion (Mandatory Contact Point) H re ere

13 13 Preliminary Alternatives for Groundwater Supply in the Southwest Quadrant Alternatives Description Alternative Well Locations 1. Do Nothing Maintain existing wells at current pumping rates; i.e. no increase in water supply from existing or new municipal wells in the Southwest Quadrant area. 2. Increase Wellfield Capacity A. Increase production of existing municipal wells within regulated permitted rates. Downey Well Membro Well Dean Ave. Well Water St. Well University Well B. Increase production of existing municipal wells beyond current regulated permitted rates. Membro Well Downey Well C. Provide treatment required to re-activated municipal well with existing Permit to Take Water. Edinburgh Well D. Steffler Park University Village Park (Ironwood) New Municipal Wells

14 14 Next Steps: Development of Wellfield Supply Alternative Approaches Investigate feasibility of increasing water takings from each SWQ groundwater source. Determine technical and financial requirements for implementation. Develop SWQ wellfield supply alternative approaches, which will consist of various combinations of the feasible alternatives. Evaluate alternative approaches and present to the public for comment. (PIC #2) Undertake conceptual designs for preferred alternative approach and present to the public for comment. (PIC #3)

15 15 Preliminary Evaluation Criteria The following considerations and indicators are proposed to evaluate wellfield supply alternative approaches. Responses to field testing of the new municipal test wells and potential impacts during construction and operation will be considered in the evaluation process. Social/Cultural Visual impact: Natural Environment Change to views from surrounding Speed River, Hanlon Creek and Wetland areas: property owners and park users. Adverse effects on water table elevation and streamflow rates. Park use: Change to recreational use Park Trees and Vegetation: Nuisance odour/noise. Number and significance of trees removed and/or disturbed in park; Loss and/or disruption to archaeological and resources Extent of loss/disturbance to park grass/vegetation. Traffic impact Economic/Financial Estimated capital and life cycle costs for well facility and associated works. Engineering cost estimates. Technical Potential impacts to private wells. Reliability of municipal test well supply (quality and quantity).

16 16 Considerations for Test Well Target Areas Site selection considerations for the municipal test well locations included: Located within the Southwest Quadrant; Capable of intercepting groundwater that now flows to the Guelph-Lime Quarry; Greater than 1 km from the Guelph-Lime Quarry to limit the likelihood of water quality concerns if/when the quarry ceases pumping; Greater than 500 m from the existing municipal production wells to limit mutual interference; Proximity to existing or proposed large diameter watermains; and City-owned land (long term access). Based on these criteria, only two (2) sites in the study area were recommended: Steffler Park; and University Village Park (off Ironwood). Location of test wells within parks Away from recreational areas Accessible locations

17 17 Test Well Locations Steffler Well Ironwood Well

18 18 Proposed Testing Program Performance Testing of Existing Municipal Production Wells Performance Testing of New Municipal Test Wells (40 days) Groundwater monitoring of municipal well locations and key private wells in Southwest Quadrant Surface water monitoring in Hanlon Creek, Wetland Areas and Speed River

19 19 Points of Concern (during short term testing) Noise Generators will be enclosed to meet municipal noise by-law. Limitation of Park Access Work areas will be limited to small portions of the park and separated by security fencing. Steffler Drive Lane Restriction Possible reduction of Steffler Drive to a single lane on the west side of the park. Private Well Users Nearby private wells will be monitored during testing period.

20 20 City Municipal Well Facilities Guelph municipal well facilities with UV disinfection Water St. Well Facility Emma St. Well Facility

21 21 Next Steps Public Input Introduce Class EA Project and Invite Feedback Public Input Define Alternative Solutions Based on Feasibility Studies Evaluate and Select Preferred Solution Public Input 30 Day Public Review Period Spring 2008 Fall 2008 Identify and Evaluate Design Concepts and Select Preferred Design Concept Winter 2008 Preparation of Environmental Study Report Winter 2008 Implementation

22 22 How You Can Provide Input All comments collected during the course of this EA will be considered as part of the project s next stages. Place your completed participant worksheets in the Comment Box tonight or send it by May 7, 2008 to either of the following: Mr. Dave Belanger, M.Sc, P.Geo Water Supply Program Manager City of Guelph 59 Carden Street Guelph, Ontario N1H 3A1 Telephone: ext. 251 Fax: dave.belanger@guelph.ca Ms. Patricia Quackenbush, P.Eng Senior Project Manager Earth Tech Canada Inc. 101 Frederick Street, Suite 702 Kitchener, Ontario N2H 6R2 Telephone: Fax: patty.quackenbush@earthtech.ca Ask to be added to the project mailing list.