WEAO urged to be more proactive by keynote speaker
By Steve Davey
Geoff Scott announces the inductees into the 5S Society.
Dave Spiller receives the Hatfield Award from
WEF Vice-President Mohamed Dahab.
Huntsville was host to the
Water Environment Association of Ontario’s
34th annual symposium
and exhibition, April 17-19, 2005.
Keynote speaker Tim Lotimer, of
Lotowater Geoscience Consultants,
gave a thought-provoking presentation
on source water protection and
Ontario’s Nutrient Management Act.
He questioned certain areas of the new
Act, as related to the agricultural sector,
livestock operations having a huge
environmental impact, causing massive
pathogenic and BOD loads. He
said the Act only
applied to Ontario’s
largest 1,200 farms
when first introduced.
Now, it only
applies to some 50
large farms, as farmers
continue to split
their herds in order to
be exempt.
He also addressed
increasing public
backlash against the
land application of
municipal biosolids.
There needs to be
hard science behind
such guidelines as
setbacks from water
sources, slope grades,
weather conditions, application intervals.
He was also critical of WEAO for not
being more forthcoming about outlining
the risks associated with the land application
of biosolids.
He said that Ontario’s wastewater
treatment plants are not perfect, with a
large number of non compliance incidents
reported each year. He urged
WEAO to be more proactive in advising
governments what the problems
are, how to fix them and how much it
will cost.
He also outlined how the political
climate regarding source water protection
has evolved, particularly since the
Walkerton tainted
water tragedy. As a
very comprehensive
strategy is needed to
ensure source water
protection, Mr.
Lotimer believes
that it is vital that
the Ontario MOE
become the key
organizer of the
whole process.
Deborah Ross, of
KMK Consultants,
and a past president
of WEAO, won the
Arthur Sidney Bedell
Award. Dave Spiller,
of City of Toronto,
won the Hatfield
Award which is presented to operators of wastewater treatment
plants for outstanding performance
and professionalism.
The award for Outstanding New
Professional was given to Nancy Kim,
of KMK Consultants.
The Exemplary Biosolids Management
Award, which recognizes excellence
in the management of biosolids
in the province of Ontario, was given
to the City of Sarnia and N-Viro
Systems Canada Inc.
Tim Lotimer
Deborah Ross receives the
Bedell Award from WEF Vice-President Mohamed Dahab.
Steve Davey is Publisher of Environmental Science & Engineering Magazine.
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