Water terrorism among ambitious range of topics presented at BCWWA conference

At the opening session of the British Columbia Water & Waste Association conference, Vicky Husband, Sierra Club of BC, focused on the need for strong drinking water legislation that protected sources, as well as water. She said there was a need for transparency, a need for groundwater legislation, a need to look at all contaminants, and a move away from chlorine because of its damaging effect on the environment. She said that BCWWA should get a higher public profile and that its members should speak out more, for example, criticizing the serious downsizing of BC's Water, Land and Air Ministry's staff, as they will not be able to do an adequate job with reduced staff, and that is very serious. Also, if we are serious about water conservation, low flush or dual flush toilets should be mandatory in all new developments, along with incentives to replace old toilets.

Terrorist threats

Potential water terrorism was a highly topical subject following September 11, 2001. Richard Lancaster-Brooks, Khafra Engineering Consultants, spoke on terrorism, sabotage, water, wastewater, security, threats and vandalism. He said that historically, North America has never had to consider potential sabotage to its water and wastewater systems. "We have been amongst the most fortunate continents on the planet in that we have taken safe and sustainable drinking water for granted. Today, sabotage has to be considered not only as viable, but plausible. It is important that cities, counties, provinces and private companies, who own and/or operate water and wastewater systems, consider what weaknesses may exist throughout their systems, and what measures should be taken to prevent future acts of sabotage, vandalism or terrorism.

"There are two types of sabotage, vandalism, or terrorism that need to be considered with regard to water systems: acts that interrupt the supply of water and result in a lack of quantity and acts that contaminate the water and result in a lack of quality," he said.

Supply interruptions include the destruction of, or interference with reservoir dams, water towers, pumping stations, intakes, treatment plants, infrastructure, fire hydrants. These can be caused by any number of acts, including physical destruction, SCADA system interruptions and as an indirect result of contamination. They also include any other acts that could reduce the water pressure in the lines to zero, thereby denying the population drinking water. As drinking water is an essential element of human life, denying it for any period of time, could cause panic and disruption.

"In order to secure a water system against these possible threats, security has to be looked at with renewed vigour. Employee background checks should be standard; alarms, locks and barricades should be in place to guard against physical intrusion to treatment plants; cameras may need to be placed at strategic locations, for example, near intakes and dams; reservoir dams and water towers should be sealed off from public access; old groundwater wells should be capped and cemented shut; monitoring for contaminants should be done at the reservoir and at the treatment plant, possibly using sensitive fish species to test for acute contaminants or Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP); all fire and utility vehicles should be accounted for at all times; greater use of system interconnects should be given strong consideration. There are many other overt and covert security measures for utilities to consider, depending on their current state of readiness, but the key is to be as prepared as possible, assume the worst, and be ready with an active and effective response plan.

"With regard to wastewater systems, proximity or access to critical buildings is the main problem. Sewers that run beneath or near airports, critical structures or Federal facilities could allow explosives or other energetics/combustibles to be detonated in close enough proximity to create mass destruction. Utilities need to inventory their wastewater assets and evaluate their locations," he said. Mr. Lancaster-Brooks' paper was a timely review of the water treatment industry's latest challenge.

Leak detection

Mike Darbyshire and Colin Kristiansen presented a review of the City of Surrey's Water System Audit and Leak Detection Program, which has four phases:

• Water system audit,
• Zone flow measurement,
• Focussed leak detection,
• Leak repair.

The City of Surrey purchases its water in bulk from the Greater Vancouver Regional District. The GVRD has a series of bulk meters at various points in its trunk system. The City has about 70,000 water connections on its distribution system and meters all industrial, commercial and institutional customers.

With water costs expected to rise in the Greater Vancouver Regional District, a key element of any water conservation program is for municipalities to audit their own water use and look for opportunities to reduce consumption. Eliminating wasteful water uses is one component of the City's Demand Management Program. Through corporate leadership, public education, metering, rate setting and conservation measures, the City will reduce its burden on the regional water system.

Biosolids, trees and turf

Biosolids are increasingly in the news. Glenn Dunville, and Joe Vurzinger, of the J.A.M.E.S Pollution Control Centre, Matsqui, BC, discussed alternative uses for biosolids residuals, a problem experienced by most producers. Limiting regulations and public acceptance issues have been the primary hurdle for most facilities.

Using small biosolids projects as venues for the public and private industry to witness, may be the answer to a more widespread market. They outlined the Joint-Abbotsford Mission Environmental System (J.A.M.E.S) Water Pollution Control Centre, which currently services a population of approximately 160,000, with the capacity to service 240,000. The plant produces a pasteurized biosolids product which meets the Organic Matter Recycling Regulations for Class A Biosolids, produced by an aerobic pre-pasteurization process followed by anaerobic digestion.

In 1998, the J.A.M.E.S Pollution Control Centre received approval to apply Class A biosolids to a 1.25 hectare plot at an agronomic rate of 1000 kg TKN per hectare. In 2000, a second approval was received for a four hectare plot with the same agronomic rate of 1000 kg TKN per hectare. Hybrid poplars (TXD 49-177) were then planted 4.2 metres apart in a selective pattern. The trees will be pruned and will reach harvest maturity in 10 to 12 years with an approximate growth height of 18 metres. Both sites are located on J.A.M.E.S Plant property which illustrates a direct link between biosolids reuse and where biosolids originate. The primary objective of these plantations is to support biosolids reuse and to showcase the benefits associated with this renewable resource.

Turf farm production in the lower mainland is a strong industry, with some producers looking for innovative methods to grow a healthier and stronger turf with limited costs. The J.A.M.E.S. Plant and BOS SOD Farms collaborated on a project to apply Class A biosolids to a plot of established turf. The Plant acted as the agent for BOS SOD Farms and received the necessary approval. The loading rate was 140 kg dry weight per 100 square metres with the agronomic rate calculated at 6.90 dry kg TKN per 100 square metres. The total volume of biosolids used was 24 cubic metres at approximately 20% solids.

Pre and post application soil chemistry was performed with the data suggesting little, if any movement of metals through to the subsoil. The plot that received biosolids was part of a larger area of the same turf that was used as the control for comparison. Two weeks after the initial application of biosolids the visual improvement compared to the control was very evident. The biosolids applied turf was a dark green with a definite line between applied and non-applied biosolids. Continued analysis of the subsoil is planned before harvesting. Turf root mass will also be analyzed and compared to the control.

African viewpoint

A presentation from another continent, Pollution control in Zimbabwe: A case of Mazowe catchment, was given by Ms. Inviolata Vhevha, Water Quality Scientist, Harare, Zimbabwe.

Decline in water quality due to waste disposal systems has long been recognized in Zimbabwe. However, it was not until 1976 that an act which recognized this threat was passed. Even then, many fish deaths were observed in one of the big dams close to the capital city indicating that the control systems that were in place were not minimizing pollution from waste. In 1998 a Water Act that adequately addressed the protection of water resources was passed. The responsibility of waste management and protection of water resources lies with the Water Quality Section that is part of the newly formed parastal (ZINWA) (similar to BC's crown corporations).

The major pillars of the new system are the polluter pay principle and stakeholder participation. The polluter pay principle is being implemented using a statutory instrument that proposes a waste disposal system that recognizes the type, quality and quantity of waste being disposed. Stakeholders are being involved at the official levels which are dictated by the drainage basins and in line with the ZINWA Act. The implementation of the system is conducted by officers in each of the seven catchments with coordination from a central office.

Advanced clarification

Francis Bordeleau, of John Meunier, discussed ACTIFLO, an advanced clarification process that relies on microsand ballasted flocculation and settling. Its ability to produce a highly clarified effluent (normally less than 1 NTU) at very high and variable solids and hydraulic loadings makes it especially suitable for combined sewer overflow treatment.

He said the process is well recognized, with over 150 installations worldwide, including 43 in Canada.

First Nations

Risk Assessments of First Nations Water & Wastewater Systems was presented by Dennis Mitchell, UMA Engineering Ltd. and Natahalie Lapierre, Public Works Canada.

National and international attention have been focused on the water supply industry over the past few years as a result of contamination incidents such as Walkerton, Ontario, and North Battleford, Saskatchewan. These experiences have focused on the importance of high degrees of operator skill and utility management practices required in the prevention of illness outbreaks. In addition a careful assessment of a utility's infrastructure can assist in mitigating risks.

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) through Pubic Works Canada (PWC), have initiated Risk Assessment studies of all water and wastewater services on First Nations communities. Water treatment, storage and distribution systems and sewage collection, pumping and treatment plants were inspected and analyzed against a prescribed questionnaire. Senior engineers conducted the assessments and interviewed operating staff to determine a risk profile for the community.

BC represents a unique challenge for this initiative as the size, number and complexity of the systems being analyzed varies as widely as the geography they are located within. Each assessment brought new challenges, allowing the assessors to conduct comparisons between the systems being examined.

Awards

Several awards were presented at the BCWWA conference:

George Fuller - Bob Jones

Stanley S. Koop - Jack Bryck

Victor M. Terry (operators) - James L. McQuarrie

Kenneth Miller (Water For the People) - Leon Cake

Corporate Recognition - Regional District of Nanaimo

Personal Recognition - Don Degen, Kevin Ramsay, Leo Albrecht

Student - Jianpeng Zhou, Ahren Britton

The 5S awardees for 2002 were: Don Enns of Cantest, Barry Biddle of IPEX, and Chris Johnson of Kerr Wood Leidal & Associates.

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