Communal Sewage Inspection Report

Transcription

1 Ministry of the Environment Ministère de l Environnement Communal Sewage Inspection Report Client: Inspection Site Address: City of Ottawa, Business/Facility Name: Robert O. Pickard Environmental Centre Mailing Address: 800 Green Creek Dr, Gloucester, Ontario, Canada, K1J 1A6 Physical Address: 800 Green Creek Dr, Ottawa, City, Ontario, Canada, K1J 1A6 Telephone: (613) , Extension: 22814, FAX: (613) , lawrence.gangur@ottawa.ca Client #: TESF7, Client Type: Municipal Government, NAICS: , Robert O. Pickard Environmental Centre Address: 800 Green Creek Dr, Ottawa, City, K1J 1A6 District Office: Ottawa GeoReference: Map Datum: Unknown, Zone: 18, Accuracy Estimate: metres eg. Medium Quality GPS, Method: Map, UTM Easting: , UTM Northing: ,, LIO GeoReference: Zone: 18, UTM Easting: , UTM Northing: , Latitude: , Longitude: Sewage Works Number: Contact Name: Gary Robidoux Title: Process Supervisor (Process Control) Contact Telephone: (613) ext23303 Contact Fax: (613) Last Inspection Date: 2012/03/15 Inspection Start Date: 2013/03/21 Inspection Finish Date: 2013/03/21 Region: Eastern 1.0 INTRODUCTION On March 21, 2013, Senior Environmental Officer Courtney Redmond and Junior Environmental Officer Jennifer Faria with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment (Ministry), Cornwall Area Office completed a Communal Sewage compliance inspection of the Robert O. Pickard Environmental Centre (ROPEC), Wastewater Treatment Plant. During this time, Ministry staff were accompanied by Mr. Gary Robidoux, Process Supervisor (Process Control) with the City of Ottawa. As part of this compliance inspection, samples of the final effluent were previously collected by Ministry staff from the Ottawa District Office in June The focus of this inspection was the physical plant itself. A detailed review of the associated collection system was not deemed to be within the scope of this compliance inspection beyond estimations provided in Section The purpose of the Ministry's communal sewage compliance inspection program is to confirm that entities operating sewage treatment works within the Province of Ontario are in compliance with Ministry legislation and control documents and are in conformance with Ministry related guidelines and procedures which are relative to the operation and maintenance of communal sewage facilities. Specifically, this includes but may not be limited to the following: - The Ontario Water Resources Act (OWRA); - Ontario Regulation 129/04 (O. Reg. 129/04); - Environmental Compliance Approval(s) and / or Amended Environmental Compliance Approvals (ECA's); - Orders (Provincial Officer's Order and / or Director's Orders); - Guideline F-5 : Levels of Treatment for Municipal and Private Sewage Treatment Works Discharging to Surface Waters; - Procedure F-5-1 : Determination of Treatment Requirements for Municipal and Private Sewage Treatment Works Discharging to Surface Waters; Page 1

2 - Guideline F-8 : Provision and Operation of Phosphorus Removal Facilities at Municipal, Institutional and Private Sewage Treatment Works; - Procedure F-8-1 : Determination of Phosphorus Removal Requirements for Municipal, Institutional and Private Sewage Treatment Works; - Guideline F-10 : Sampling and Analysis Requirements for Municipal and Private Sewage Treatment Works (Liquid Waste Streams Only); and - Procedure F-10-1 : Procedures for Sampling and Analysis Requirements for Municipal and Private Sewage Treatment Works (Liquid Waste Streams Only). ROPEC is owned and operated by the City of Ottawa and is situated along the shores of the Ottawa River, on approximately 150 acres of land. ROPEC was originally built in the 1960's and has undergone significant upgrades throughout its operational life. ROPEC is responsible for the treatment of the City's domestic, commercial and industrial wastewater and accepts sewage waste from recreational vehicles as well as septage from licensed haulers. ROPEC is designated as a Class IV Wastewater Treatment Facility. Currently, the treatment process includes secondary as well as biological treatment. The treatment plant is divided into two (2) parts, which ROPEC staff refer to as the 'wet' and 'dry' plants. The following provides a brief overview of the works and operational process associated with ROPEC: Wet Plant: Raw sewage from the City of Ottawa is directed to ROPEC via the Orleans / Cumberland Collector; Ottawa Interceptor; Greens Creek Collector and the South Ottawa Tunnel. At the time of inspection, Mr. Robidoux confirmed that the South Ottawa Tunnel is only utilized in high flow periods to alleviate stress on the Green Creek Collector. Raw sewage entering the plant is put through a coarse screen for large solids removal, prior to being pumped to the facility's screen and degrit facility. Raw sewage entering the plant from the Green Creek Collector is generally directed straight to the facility's screen and degrit facility. The screen and degrit facility has a total capacity of 6 mechanical bar screens (screenings removal) and 10 grit tanks (grit removal). Wastewater is then directed to the primary clarifiers (15 clarifiers in total; approx. 2-4 hr. retention time); followed by aeration (8 tanks in total; approx. 4-6 hr. retention time); and then to the secondary clarifiers (16 clarifiers in total; approx. 10 hr. retention time). Phosphorus removal at the plant is practiced and achieved within the secondary treatment process. Following secondary treatment, the effluent is disinfected (NaOCL). Disinfection is seasonally practiced at the plant between May 16th and November 15th. Continuous disinfection will be required once the dechlorination system is online. Final effluent from the sewage works is discharged on a continuous basis to the Ottawa River. Dry Plant (solids, dewatering, gas): Raw sludge and scum from the primary clarifiers and thickened waste activated sludge (TWAS) from the secondary clarifiers are directed to the on-site anaerobic digesters (6 in total; 5 primary, 1 secondary which is used as the dewatering feed tank). Waste activated sludge (WAS) from the secondary clarifiers is directed to the thickening and dewatering building where it is thickened via thickening centrifuges (7 in total). From here, the thickened waste activated sludge (TWAS) is pumped into the digesters. Following digestion, the sludge is dewatered via the dewatering centrifuges (6 in total). The centrifuges discharge dewatered cake into the cake storage hoppers prior to disposal. Mr. Robidoux further confirmed that the methane from the digesters is burned in 3 internal combustion engines which produce electrical and thermal energy. Equipment powered by sub-station No. 2 uses all the electrical energy produced while the thermal energy is transferred to the hot water loop for building and process heat. Digester gas is primarily burned in the co-generation facility and can also be burned in the East Boiler Plant as required. During situations when neither the co-generation facility nor the East Boiler Plant is available, gas is directed to a waste gas burner. The above information provides a high level description of the sewage works and its associated process(es). For a full detailed description of the various components of the system and process overview, please refer to the governing ECA for the site, attached to this inspection as Appendix "B". Prior to conducting the inspection, available data and information pertaining to the sewage works was reviewed for the previous one (1) year of operation (2012). The physical inspection involved a site visit to the various components of the sewage works with Mr. Robidoux. The administrative component of the inspection included a meeting and interview with Mr. Robidoux. Throughout the inspection, ROPEC staff were interviewed to determine their overall perception as to how the sewage works is run. During the physical inspection, particular attention was paid to any notable changes to the works to determine whether new or additional approvals may be necessary. The findings collected at the time of inspection and a prior file review have resulted in the writing of this compliance inspection report. Please refer to Appendix "A" to view a copy of the Plant Layout. Page 2

3 Please refer to Appendix "B" to view a copy of the ECA No HLNDP. 1.1 AUTHORIZING AND CONTROL DOCUMENT INFORMATION Authorizing/ Control Document Number Issue Date Effluent Limits (yes/no) Effluent Monitoring Requirements (yes/no) Effluent Reporting Requirements (yes/no) ECA (Sewage) /11/01 Yes Yes Yes ECA (Sewage) TPYC 2004/12/04 Yes Yes Yes ECA (Notice #1) TPYC 2007/09/08 No No No ECA (Notice #2) TPYC 2009/11/10 No No No ECA (Sewage) D2SAQ 2010/02/10 Yes Yes Yes ECA (Sewage) HLNDP 2011/06/30 Yes Yes Yes The above table illustrates ECA's issued to ROPEC for their associated sewage operations only. The above table does not reflect the approval documents associated with the collection system, nor air discharges from the site, as they were not determined to be within the scope of this inspection. ROPEC currently operates under ECA No HLNDP. 2.0 INSPECTION OBSERVATIONS Sewage Treatment Plant Sewage Works Number: Certificate of Approval Number(s) Yes No C of A Number(s): HLNDP Plant Ownership: Munc. OCWA Other Operating Authority: Munc. OCWA Other Service Population: 720,000 Wastewater Collection System Certificate of Approval Number(s): C of A Number(s): Yes No The Wastewater Collection System was not deemed to be within the scope of this compliance inspection report. Collection System Ownership: Munc. OCWA Other Operating Authority: Munc. OCWA Other 2.1 SYSTEM DESCRIPTION Type Of Plant Primary: Yes No Secondary: Yes No Advanced: Yes No Biological Treatment: Yes No Conventional AS Contact Stablization Extended Air Rotating Biological Contactor Lagoon(s): Yes No Other: Yes No Describe: Communal Septic Constructed Wetland Effluent Discharge Frequency: Seasonal: Continuous: Does the Plant Practice Phosphorous Removal? Yes No Effluent Disposal Method: Snowfluent Other Annual: No Direct Discharge: Page 3

4 Surface Water Surface Land Disposal If disposal is to surface water, name of immediate receiving stream: Ottawa River Subsurface 2.2 EFFLUENT QUALITY ASSESSMENT Parameter Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Limits BOD5 (mg/l) Suspended Solids (mg/l) Total Phosphorus (mg/l) Limits are based on: Certificate of Approval PO Order Does the facility comply with its limits: Yes Director's Order Guidelines Condition 7 (1), Table 2 of the ECA provides the Effluent Limits that ROPEC is required to comply with. Table 2 requires the following: (1) (2) (3) (4) Table 2 - Effluent Limits Effluent Parameter Annual or Monthly Average Concentration (1) Annual Average Loading (kilograms per day) (milligrams per litre) CBOD (2) 13,625 Suspended Solids 25.0 (2) 13,625 Total Phosphorus 1.0 (3) 545 Total Residual Chlorine 0.02 (3) Not Applicable Dissolved Oxygen 2.0 (3) Not Applicable E. Coli 200 CFU/100 ml (4) (Monthly Geometric Mean Density) - Except E. Coli, which is Monthly Geometric Mean Density. Annual average concentration Monthly average concentration. Upon on installation of the dechlorination system, year-round disinfection shall be conducted, every year. The following charts illustrate ROPEC 2012 data for BOD5; SS; and TP: Page 4

5 Page 5

6 The following chart provides the BOD and SS trends for ROPEC: No exceedances of the effluent criteria were reported during the 2012 operational year. Page 6

7 2.3 CAPACITY ASSESSMENT Flows shown below are for the last three calendar years. Identify the year, eg., 1999 Item Year Year Year Average daily flow (m 3 /day) Maximum daily flow (m 3 /day) Capacity Design (m 3 /day) % of capacity, based on average daily flow The rated capacity for ROPEC is detailed within ECA No HLNDP. The ECA provides the following table: Robert O. Pickard Environmental Centre (Rated Capacity) Average Daily Flow Peak Flow Rate Instantaneous 545,000 m3/d m3/s The following chart illustrates flows during the 2012 operational year The following chart provides flow trends for ROPEC: Page 7

8 The sewage works continue to be operated within the approved average daily flowrate. 2.4 EFFLUENT SAMPLING REQUIREMENTS Sampling requirements are based on : Certificate of Approval Does the plant meet the sampling requirements? Yes Table 4 - Effluent Monitoring (samples to be collected at the outlet of the disinfection facilities or at the outfall sewer as close as possible to the treatment plant) Parameters Sample Type Frequency CBOD5 24-hr. composite Weekly Suspended Solids 24-hr. composite Weekly Total Phosphorus 24-hr. composite Weekly Total Ammonia Nitrogen 24-hr. composite Weekly Total Residual Chlorine Grab Weekly Dissolved Oxygen Grab/Probe Weekly Residual Sulphide Grab Weekly E. Coli Grab Weekly ph Grab/Probe Monthly Temperature Grab/Probe Monthly At the time of inspection, Mr. Robidoux confirmed that, at a minimum, the above parameters are sampled at the corresponding frequency, with many parameters actually sampled at an increased frequency than required by the Site's ECA. 2.5 EFFLUENT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS Reporting Requirements are based on :Certificate of Approval Does the plant meet the effluent reporting requirement? Yes Reporting requirements are described within Condition 10 (1) to (6) of the ECA. Condition 10 (6) (a) - (j) provides the requirements for the Annual Performance Report for the sewage works which is to be submitted to the District Page 8

9 Manager within ninety (90) days following the end of the period being reported upon. The 2012 Performance Report for ROPEC was received by the Ottawa District Office on February 14, MINISTRY SAMPLING AT TIME OF INSPECTION Were Ministry samples collected at the time of inspection Yes Grab sample- Effluent - Phys/Chem, Grab sample - Effluent - Metals, Sample Locations and Analyses: Grab sample - Effluent - Bacteriological Ministry staff collected audit samples of the final effluent on June 4, 2012 (see results below). Additional Ministry audit samples were not collected at the time of the inspection. PARAMETER NAME VALUE UNITS QUAL Mercury.02 ug/l <=W Aluminum.04 mg/l <=WE Barium mg/l <=TE Berylium.004 mg/l <=WE Cadmium.004 mg/l <=WE Calcium 52.6 mg/l Chromium.008 mg/l <=WE Cobalt.004 mg/l <=WE Copper.004 mg/l <=WE Iron mg/l Lead 0.2 mg/l <= WE Magnesium 15.2 mg/l Manganese mg/l Molybdenum 0.2 mg/l <=WE Nickel 0.4 mg/l =WE Potassium 12.7 mg/l Silver 0.2 mg/l <=WE Sodium 131. mg/l Strontium 1.08 mg/l Titanium.004 mg/l <=WE Vanadium.004 mg/l <=WE Zinc mg/l <=TE Hardness 219. mg/l Oxygen demand; BOD-carbonaceous 2.4 mg/l Solids; Suspended 3.9 mg/l Arsenic.0005 mg/l <=W Selenium.0005 mg/l <=W Nitrogen; Nitrate mg/l Nitrogen; nitrate+nitrite 0.29 mg/l Nitrogen; ammonia+ammonium 21.2 mg/l Phosphorus; phosphate 0.11 mg/l Nitrogen; total Kjeldahl 23.8 mg/l Phosphorus; total 0.24 mg/l Escherichia coli 60. c/100ml CODE DESCRIPTION <=WE No measurable response (diln/conc): <Rep'd Value <T A measurable trace amount: interpret with caution <TE A measurable trace after extra diln/conc.:caution NDID No Data: Insufficient data to perform calc. <=W No measurable response (zero):<reported value It is noted that the effluent limits for the sewage works are based on annual or monthly average concentrations, therefore the samples collected will not determine compliance with the effluent limits. However, the results will indicate the general quality of the effluent on the sampling day. 2.7 DISINFECTION Page 9

10 a) Method of disinfection: Chlorination b) Disinfection Period: Continuous c) Comment on the seasonal disinfection period for each year: d) Disinfection Required By: Certificate of Approval e) Residual monitoring technique: Autoanalyser f) Was there a measurable chlorine residual in the final effluent after contact: Not obtained Disinfection is required from May 16th to November 15th each operational year. ROPEC is currently working towards commissioning their dechlorination system, but are experiencing inconsistent readings with the analyzer for SO3 (sulphite). Once the system is on line, the plant will be disinfecting their final effluent on a continuous basis. 2.8 PLANT CLASSIFICATION & OPERATOR CERTIFICATION a) Plant classification: i) Facility Level: Level IV ii) Certificate Number: 128 iii) Date of Issue: 1990/02/22 b) Plant operators have the appropriate level of certification for this plant: Yes No 2.9 FLOW MEASUREMENT a) Flows are being metered at: Raw Sewage, Final effluent, Bypass b) Date of last calibration of effluent flow meter: 2012/09/01 Condition 9 (7) of the ECA requires the installation and maintenance of (a) continuous flow measuring device(s), to measure the flowrate of the effluent from the Works with an accuracy to within plus or minus ten per cent (+/- 10%) of the actual flowrate for the entire design range of the flow measuring device, and record the flowrate at a daily frequency. Calibration of flow metres is conducted by the City of Ottawa and generally takes place between September and December of each year BYPASSES, AND/OR OVERFLOWS Plant Collection System Are bypasses and overflows routinely reported? Yes No Yes No Are bypasses and overflows routinely monitored? Yes No Yes No Are bypasses and overflows routinely sampled? Yes No Yes No PLANT INFORMATION: Plant Bypass Plant Overflow Item Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 1 Year 2 Year Total number of events? Total duration of event(s)? (Hour(s)) Of the total number of events, how many are dry-weather events? Total quantity with no treatment? (1000 m 3 ) Total quantity with only disinfection? (1000 m 3 ) Total quantity with primary treatment? (1000 m 3 ) Total quantity with primary treatment and Page 10

11 disinfection? (1000 m 3 ) Total quantity with other treatment? (1000 m 3 ) Total quantity with other treatment and disinfection? (1000 m 3 ) What is the most common reason for event(s)? What is the name of the receiving water? Ottawa River Ottawa River Ottawa River Ottawa River Name the most important type of sensitive receptor? beach beach beach beach What is the approximate distance to the sensitive receptor? (km) COLLECTION SYSTEM INFORMATION: (Satellite(s), Lift Station(s) and Regulator(s)) Lift Station Overflow Other Location Overflow Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Item Total number of events? Total duration of event(s)? (Hour(s)) Of the total number of events, how many are dry-weather events? Total quantity with no treatment? (1000 m 3 ) Total quantity with only disinfection? (1000 m 3 ) Total quantity with other treatment? (1000 m 3 ) Are any overflow(s) at combined sewer locations? (Yes/No) What is the most common reason for event(s)? What is the name of the receiving water? Name the most important type of sensitive receptor? What is the approximate distance to the sensitive receptor? (km) No No Yes Yes Yes weather weather weather weather weather Ottawa River Ottawa River Ottawa River Ottawa River Ottawa River Ottawa River beach beach beach beach beach beach Comments: There was at least one (1) reported overflow (sanitary sewage overflow) at a pumping station noted in the above table under 'Lift Station Overflow': July 23, 2012: Report indicates that the pumping station, in close proximity to a line break (Wessex Street) was overflowing allowing the City to isolate the line break for repair. The City of Ottawa's collection system includes five (5) combined sewer regulators that can overflow into the Ottawa River. These 5 regulators are referred to as the: - Keefer Street Regulator - Cathcart Square Regulator - Rideau Canal Regulator - Kent Street Regulator - Booth Street Regulator These combined sewer overflows are noted in the above table under 'Other Location Overflow'. The 2012 Combined Sewage Report has not been released yet. Therefore the duration and quantities listed in the above table for 'Lift Station Overflows' and 'Other Location Overflow' are obtained by reports given at the time of the events to the Ministry's Spills Action Centre (SAC). Page 11

12 It should be noted that while the majority of these reports contain both duration and volume estimates, not all reports include this information. It should be noted that the above table includes only an estimate of the number of reports received throughout the 2012 operational year, as well as an estimate of the associated duration and quantities of the overflows. Therefore, the Ministry will review the 2012 Combined Sewage Report following it's submission. The City should continue their efforts in reporting both the duration and volumes of overflows to the Ministry. It should also be noted that the above estimate of overflow reports may include overflow(s) occurring simultaneously at more than one overflow location. Therefore, for the purposes of this report, an overflow event is characterized as any and all overflow(s) occurring with the City's collection system within a given timeframe (i.e. a wet weather event with CSO's occurring at multiple regulators). Since October 2011, real time flow monitoring equipment and automatic samplers have been installed and operational in the 5 regulators. This has enabled the City to more accurately determine CSO volumes and effluent quality. There were no overflows reported at the plant during the 2012 operational year SLUDGE (BIOSOLIDS) MANAGEMENT Sludge Stabilization: Sludge Storage: Total available storage: Volume Retention Time Certified waste hauler Certificate numbers of haulers are: Method of Disposal/Utilization: Certified waste disposal facility Certificate number(s) of facilities are: Anaerobic Holding Tank 800 m3/day 3 days Yes Third High Farms, H Agricultural Yes Various 2.12 WASTEWATER COLLECTION SYSTEMS 1. Does this plant receive sewage from a Combined Sewer Collection System (sanitary sewage, roof leaders, foundation drains, catch basins and/or storm water conveyed within a single pipe)? If yes, approximately, what percentage of the sewer collection system is combined? 2. How are bypasses, overflows and/or combined sewers being minimized or eliminated? Yes > 25% 6-10 % No % 0-5 % a) Pollution Prevention and Control Plan (As described in Procedure F-5-5) Yes No Developing i. Other Plan Yes No Developing b) Characterization Study? Yes No Developing c) Implementation Plan? Yes No Developing Comments: A review of the wastewater collection system and associated PPCP was not deemed to be within the Page 12

13 scope of this inspection. 3.0 REVIEW OF PREVIOUS NON-COMPLIANCE ISSUES A detailed file review indicates that there are no on-going non-compliance issues related to this inspection. 4.0 SUMMARY OF INSPECTION FINDINGS (HEALTH/ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT) Was there any indication of a known or anticipated human health impact during the inspection and/or review of relevant material, related to this Ministry s mandate? No Specifics: Was there any indication of a known or anticipated environmental impact during the inspection and/or review of relevant material? No Specifics: Was there any indication of a known or suspected violation of a legal requirement during the inspection and/or review of relevant material which could cause a human health impact or environmental impairment? No Specifics: Was there any indication of a potential for environmental impairment during the inspection and/or the review of relevant material? No Specifics: Was there any indication of non-conformance or minor administrative non-compliance? No Specifics: 5.0 ACTION(S) REQUIRED None at this time. 6.0 OTHER INSPECTION FINDINGS None at this time. 7.0 INCIDENT REPORT Not Applicable Page 13

14 8.0 ATTACHMENTS PREPARED BY: Environmental Officer: Name: Courtney Redmond Cornwall Area Office District Office: Date: 2013/03/27 Signature REVIEWED BY: District Supervisor: Name: Tara MacDonald District Office: Ottawa District Office Date: 2013/03/30 Signature: File Storage Number: SI OC GL GR 430 Note: "This inspection report does not in any way suggest that there is or has been compliance with applicable legislation and regulations as they may apply to this facility. It is, and remains, the responsibility of the owner and/or the operating authority to ensure compliance with all applicable legislative and regulatory requirements" Page 14