Thames River Water Quality 2017

Transcription

1 Thames River Water Quality 2017 City Of London Environment and Engineering Services June 2018 Purpose: To present information on the water quality of the Thames River for 2017.

2 Executive Summary Thames River surface water quality criteria were met or bettered in 11 of 16 Ministry of Environment s surface water quality objectives. Of the five that did not meet the objectives, E. Coli concentrations were exceeded downstream at Byron during the disinfection period but are not attributable to the wastewater treatment plant effluents. The Total Coliform levels leaving the city are lower than those entering during the disinfection period of April 1 to September 30. Overflows from sanitary sewers to storm sewers (to prevent basement flooding) and bypasses of raw sewage at wastewater treatment plants would contribute to the increased coliform counts. Phosphorous increased in the Thames River as it passed through the City due to sources such as fertilizers, residual phosphorus in the effluent from the City s treatment plants and storm water runoff. Wastewater treatment plants remove more than 95% of raw sewage phosphorous. Individual practices do impact the Thames River and public education on the impacts and what can be done by residents to help are beneficial. Nitrate increased in the Thames River as it passed through the City. Sources are fertilizers and wastewater treatment. The Wastewater treatment plants convert ammonia which is toxic to fish to nitrates. Levels of aluminium were higher than the objective upstream of the City in the three year average. The 2017 levels were below the objective. Context The City of London is responsible for the treatment of sewage and conveyance of storm water to the Thames River. This report provides information of the effects on the Thames River by the City. Discussion The Thames River is sampled on a regular monitoring programme at ten locations. The parameters analysed include biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), ph, temperature, dissolved oxygen, total phosphorous, ammonia, bacteriological quality, suspended solids, chlorides, nitrates, nitrites, and conductivity. Heavy metals are sampled at Clarke/Highbury, Whites, and Komoka bridges. The sampling locations are shown on the attached map. Water quality in the Thames River has improved significantly since river monitoring was initiated in The dissolved oxygen levels have increased. Wastewater treatment has improved from 90% efficiency in the 1960's to the present where 99% of the BOD is removed. London's plants perform better than typical wastewater secondary treatment processes that have a removal efficiency of between 85% and 95% for BOD. Furthermore, in 2017, the City of London wastewater treatment plants removed 98% of the suspended solids and 95% of the phosphorous. There are pamphlets on Toilets are not garbage cans, Food waste grinders, Sinks are not garbage cans, Grease management for your home and videos. There is a pamphlet

3 on Grease management for Restaurants and Best Management Practices for Automotive Service facilities. Benthic sampling of river bottom species in the Thames River in 2013 indicated that the river quality was fairly poor to very good based on the Family Biotic Index. Results were fairly poor on the Thames River at Clarke to very good on the Thames River at the Springbank walking bridge. Benthic monitoring reports are on the City website. Benthic sampling was also done on Dingman in Dingman was sampled at eight sites and using the Family Biotic Index were fair at Old Victoria, very poor at Highbury, poor at Green Lane and Wonderland, very poor at White Oak Road, Colonel Talbot and Lambeth. A listing of parameters (Appendix A) indicates annual average values and surface water criteria. Comments on noteworthy parameters are as follows: Suspended Solids The weighted average concentration of suspended solids discharged from the WWTP s in 2017 was 6 mg/l. The average background level of suspended solids levels in the river was 14 mg/l in 2017 upstream of the City. Suspended solids are a concern due to potential for covering of spawning beds and bottom dwelling organisms. Phosphorous The MOECC objective has been based on preventing algae blooms. Phosphorous levels in the Thames River are unfavourable in that they exceed the surface water quality objective by a factor of 3.1 in 2017 entering London, and by a factor of 4.0 downstream of London. Phosphorous promotes algae and excessive plant growth; there would be aesthetic benefits in reducing phosphorous levels in the Thames River. In 2015 ortho (dissolved) phosphorous measurement started. In 2017, the dissolved phosphorous was mg/l entering the city and mg/l downstream of the City. The City currently treats its sewage to reduce phosphorous levels to less than current Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Environmental Compliance Approval criteria which vary from 0.5 to 1.0 mg/l. The weighted average phosphorous effluent level from London's PCP s in 2017 was 0.44 mg/l. Based on an average for the period 2013 to 2017 inclusive, 84% of phosphorous loading in the Thames River originates upstream of London. The City of London PCP s contribute about 13.6% and other city sources contribute 3.4% of the phosphorous loading on an annual basis. There are seasonal variations for phosphorous loading in the Thames River. In the summer, the Wastewater treatment plant loading contribution increases to 39% of the load due to decreased river flows. Other sources within London contributed 11% of the load in the spring.

4 The sewage treatment plants have on average removed 93% of phosphorous in sewage. The Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change has targeted phosphorous for further reduction and are taking actions to reduce discharges. As illustrated in the graph above, London Wastewater Treatment Plants contribute up to 39% to the already high background levels in the summer but other sources within London contribute about 11% of the load as well during the spring. The City has committed to gradually reduce its phosphorus limits from its treatment plants over the next 20 years through the Discharge Strategy. The Draft Action Plan for phosphorous reduction in Lake Erie goal is to reduce loading by 40% and WWTP s to reduce phosphorous concentrations to 0.5 mg/l. Contributors of other city sources for phosphorous is fertilizers applied to lawns, birds and pets faeces and organic sources. Reducing the practice of applying fertilizers prior to rain storms and minimizing phosphorous based fertilizers would decrease phosphorous contributions to the Thames River. Managing phosphorous in rural areas is problematic. A high percentage of the loading from rural areas occurs during significant snow melt/rain events. In February 2018, there were peak flows of 1,000 m3 per second in the Thames River near Byron. The flow for the 4 days of peak flows was estimated to be about 10% of the annual flow (based on 2017 flow data) and sample analysis for phosphorous was 0.35 mg/l. The phosphorous loading was estimated to

5 be about 21% of the annual phosphorous loading of 342 tonnes in the Thames River. This shows the significant impact of peak flows to phosphorous loadings. Bacteriological Quality Bacteriological quality standards are set to prevent diseases and infections for activities such as swimming and bathing. The Escherichia Coli (E. Coli) is the dominant organism in human faeces but is also found in faeces of birds and mammals. E. Coli is used as an indicator organism for pathogens. Total Coliforms are also an indicator of pathogens, but Total Coliforms can also be derived from sources other than sewage and faecal matter. To improve bacteriological quality the City is required to disinfect its wastewater treatment plant effluent during the period of April 1 to September 30 each year (the disinfection season). The following observations are related to the disinfection season: Total Coliform quality in the Thames River, both entering and leaving the City, has consistently failed to meet surface water quality objectives. The bacteriological quality of effluent from the City of London PCP s (629 organisms per 100 millilitres) was better than the quality entering the city for Total Coliforms, and 63% of the surface water quality objective (1,000 MPN per 100 millilitres) for the disinfection period (April 1 to September 30) in The Ultra Violet light disinfection is installed at all of the City's plants. Despite the superior quality of WWTP effluents, the Total Coliform levels leaving the City are higher than those entering. The geometric mean in 2017 during the disinfection period for E. Coli was greater than the surface water criteria entering and leaving the City of London. The bacteriological quality of effluent from London s PCP's was about 63% of the surface water quality objective for E. Coli in 2017 for the disinfection period. The E. Coli level in the Thames River at the Byron Bridge were similar to upstream of the City during the disinfection period. Un-Ionized Ammonia The surface water objective for un-ionized ammonia is set for the protection of aquatic life. Excessive levels can be toxic. Un-ionized ammonia levels in the Thames River met the surface water quality objective at Whites, Clarke/Highbury, Byron, and Komoka bridges in Sources of ammonia are domestic sewage and fertilizers. The City s WWTP s nitrify sewage to reduce ammonia in order to meet Ministry of Environment criteria. Nitrates There is no Ontario surface water criterion for nitrates; however, there is a drinking water criterion of 10 mg/l. The Canadian Council of Minister of the Environment (CCME) Water Quality Guidelines for nitrate is 13 mg - NO3/L. There are a number of

6 ways to report nitrates in the literature and the City of London reports nitrates as mg NO3 N/L following Standard Methods. The CCME nitrate standard would have to be divided by 4.43 to compare with City of London monitoring data (a CCME limit of 2.9 mg NO3 N/L). Nitrate levels averaged 5.9 mg/l entering and 6.2 mg NO3-N/L leaving the City, with peaks as high as 10.0 mg NO3-N/L entering the city on the south branch, 9.5 mg NO3-N/L on the North Branch and 9.3 mg NO3-N/L leaving the City occurred in Nitrate levels are higher in the winter than in the summer due to uptake by bacteria in the summer. The weighted average for nitrates discharged from London s sewage treatment plants is 15.1 mg NO3-N/L. Levels of Nitrates entering and leaving the City of London in the Thames River are higher than the CCME surface water quality guideline. The acute toxicity level for nitrates at the 5 th percentile is 61 mg NO3 N/L indicating that acute toxicity is not an issue in the Thames River. The long term impact data is based on the Maximum Acceptable Toxicant Concentration (MATC). The MATC for lake trout is 3.1 mg NO3-N/L due to delay of sac fry to the swim-up stage. Lake trout are found in cold deep lakes and rarely enter rivers. Levels of nitrate in Lake Huron and Lake Erie range from 0.2 to 0.8 mg NO3-N/L based on City of London water supply data. This indicates that nitrates would not be an issue in Lake Huron or Lake Erie for lake trout. The MATC for Rainbow trout is 8.6 mg NO3-N/L due to delay of sac fry to the swim-up stage. Rainbow trout are found in lakes, and move to rivers and streams in the spring and fall. Steelhead trout (type of rainbow trout) are found in London streams and on the North branch up to Fanshawe Dam and downstream of London. The average concentration of nitrates in the spring and fall between 2013 and 2017 inclusive is less than 5.4 mg NO3-N/L in the Thames River entering or leaving the City of London. The next lowest MATC is 30 mg NO3-N/L for the water flea which would not be an issue in the Thames River. Bypasses and Combined Sewer Overflows to the Thames River Bypasses at Wastewater Treatment Plants Wastewater Treatment Plants effectively treat raw sewage, however; during rain events, flows exceed capacity of the treatment plants. The City's long term strategy is to reduce overflows; however, the challenge is the significant variability in the flows. The City of London (City) initiated a Pollution Prevention and Control Plan (PPCP) in 2012 as part of its ongoing efforts to improve the performance of the City s sanitary and storm sewer infrastructure. SSOs and other bypasses from sanitary pumping stations and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) that exist in the system were originally built to protect homes from basement flooding caused by the inflow and infiltration of excessive amounts of storm water. The discharge from these SSOs and bypasses was directed to receiving water bodies including the Thames River, Dingman Creek, Medway Creek, Pottersburg Creek, and the Coves. The primary objective of this PPCP is to develop an implementation plan for a long-term solution that will limit the volume and frequency of untreated wastewater discharges to the receiving streams from various SSOs and bypasses throughout the City, while maintaining an acceptable level of service and protection against basement flooding.

7 The PPCP is being implemented in three phases. Phase 1 was completed in 2014 and included background review and an inventory of existing SSOs and water quality data. Phase 2 was completed in 2017 and included benthic and water quality characterization of the Thames River, as well as twelve hydrologic and hydraulic modelling assignments to determine the frequency and annual overflow volume of each SSO. A prioritized list of six pumping station bypasses and six groups of SSOs was identified as part of Phase 2 of the PPCP. Phase 3 of the PPCP is currently being finalized and involves a review of alternative strategies to mitigate the prioritized pumping stations and SSOs. An implementation plan will be developed as part of Phase 3, including costs and schedule for the recommended projects and mitigation strategies. The Phase 3 of the PPCP was completed in March The Notice of completion for submission of comments was June 14, The PPCP will be updated every five to ten years in accordance with the Municipal Engineers Association Municipal Class Environmental Assessment document (as amended in 2015), for Master Plans. Summary 1. Public information on the impacts of daily activities on the quality of the Thames River can be seen on the City of London web site. 2. Phosphorous, Aluminum and Bacteriological quality are the parameters that exceed surface water criteria in the Thames River. 3. The CCME surface water criterion for nitrates is not being met in the Thames River. Acknowledgements This report was prepared by Anthony Van Rossum, Environmental Services Engineer, Wastewater Treatment Operations, with data obtained by the City Monitoring Program, the MOE/UTRCA monitoring and river flow data from UTRCA/Environment Canada.

8 Table 1 Bypass and overflow summary for wastewater treatment plants and pumping stations Year Treated Wastewater in Million litres Raw bypass in million litres Number of raw bypass or overflow occurrences Secondary bypass in million litres Number of secondary bypass or overflow occurrences Percent of raw bypass or overflow to treated flow Annual rainfall in millimeters , % , % , % , % , % 1, , % , , % 1, , % , % , , % 1, , % , % 1, , % , % , % , % 914 Average No Data No Data No Data

9 Appendix A Annual averages of water quality in milligrams per litre (mg/l) in the Thames River for Upstream (average of Clarke & Whites) and Komoka bridges are as follow in the table below: Parameter Moe Surface Water Criterion Upstream 2017 Upstream 3 Year average Downstream (Komoka Bridge) 2017 Downstream (Komoka Bridge) 3 Year average Average Met Objective Suspended No Data No Data Solids BOD Y Dissolved Y Oxygen Total N Phosphorous Ortho No Data Phosphorous Un-ionized Y Ammonia Nitrates** N Total 1,000 6,900 8,500 13,200 10,500 N Coliforms *xx E. Coli *xx N Iron Y Manganese Y Aluminum N Cadmium L L L L Y Chromium L0.001 L0.001 L0.001 L0.001 Y Copper Y Nickel Y Lead L0.002 L0.002 L0.002 L0.002 Y Zinc Y * Results during Disinfection Season (April 1 to September 30) - units are defined as most probable number (MPN) per 100 mls. ** There is no MOE surface water criterion but the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) has a criterion of 2.9 mg/l Nitrate as N. L in the table means less than xx The 2017 weighted geometric mean for the wastewater treatment plants effluent for the disinfection period was 629 most probable number (MPN) per 100 mls. for Total Coliforms and 63 most probable number (MPN) per 100 mls. for E. Coli.

10 Denotes monitoring site on the Thames River Denotes monitoring site on a creek