ENVIRONMENTAL
Science & Engineering Focussing on industrial/municipal wastewaters - hazardous wastes - air pollution & drinking water treatment
Canada's top award-winning environmental magazine
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June 1999
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m Environment - a growing priority for Canadian P&P industry Major CSO project to clean up Toronto beaches Y2K and the wastewater treatment industry Treatment of sludge and filter wash-water Water metering solution for Niagara Falls A breakthrough in RGB destruction Evaluating global water resources
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Contents
1SSN-0835-605X
June/July'99 Vol.12 No. 3 Issued June, 1999
m
Major dewatering and tunnelling project - See page 56
Deadly toxins released on Ontario highway - See page 36
Departments
Editorial
8
Feedback
7
Editorial Comment by Tom Davey
44-49
Industry Update
10
Ladies dominate OWWA/OWMA program
44-49
Professional Cards
14
Water resources are a global concern
50
Classifieds
20
BCWWA Conference Report
51-55
Product Review
20
Canada well represented at No Dig '99
57
Literature Reviews
22
Cover story - Env. Issues a growing priority for Canadian pulp & paper Industry
26
Major CSQ system underway In Toronto
30
Treatment of sludge and filter wash-water
32
Requirements for stormwater monitoring
34
A breakthrough In PCB destruction
36
Deadly toxins released on Ontario highway
38
Reducing toxic substance emissions
39
MOE releases Waste Study Report
40
Water metering solution for Niagara Falls
42
Sensor catches both low and high flows
56
Major dewatering and tunnelling project
58
New methods for neutralizing odours
60
Hawaiian water reclamation project
61
Y2K and the wastewater Industry
President
Sales Manager
Publisher TOM DAVEY
STEVE DAVEY
PENNY DAVEY
Managing Editor
Sales Representative
SANDRA DAVEY
DEMISE SIMPSON
Circuiation Manager
Publisher's Assistant
VIRGINIA MEYER
KATHLEEN GARIGNAN
Technical Advisory Board Robert B. Baker, M.A.Sc., P.Eng.
Jim Bishop
Totten Sims Hubicki Associates
Beak International Inc.
Alan Churcti, C.Chem., QEP. Church & Troughl Inc.
George V. Crawford, P.Eng., IW.A.Sc.
Dr. Howard Goodfellow
Rod Holme, P.Eng.
CH2M Gore & Storrle Limited
Goodfellow Consultants Ltd.
Proctor & Redfern Ltd.
Barry Loescher, Pli.D. Philip Analytical
Peter Laughton, IVi.Eng., P.Eng., DEE R.V. Anderson Associates
Environmental Science & Engineering is a bi-monthly business publication of Envi ronmental Science & Engineering Publications Inc. An all Canadian publication, ES&E provides authoritative editorial coverage of Canada's municipal and Industrial environmental control systems and drinking water treatment and distribution. ES&E's readers Include consulting engineers, Industrial plant managers and engi neers, key provincial and federal environmental officials, water and wastewater treat ment plant operators and contractors. Canadian Publications Mali Sales
Second Class Mali
Product Agreement No. 181897 Registration No. 7750 Printed In Canada. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without written permission of the publisher. Yearly subscription rates: Canada $45.00 for one year. (G.S.T. extra) All advertising space orders, copy, artwork, film, proofs, etc., should be sent to: Environmental Science & Engineering, 220 industrial Pkwy. S., Unit 30, Aurora, Ontario, Canada, L4G 3V6, Tel:(905)727-4666, Fax:(905) 841-7271, E-mail: esemag@istar.ca. Web site: http://www.esemag.com
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Editorial Comment
Now even our trees are under fire "Cut me down before I kill again"
Trees have long been an
icon of environmental purity, taking in carbon dioxide and exchanging it for life-sustain ing oxygen. But nothing is sacred these days. Our forests might actually be emit ting air pollutants according to an Oregon professor. Dr. Reinold Rasmussen, a 62 year old geologist turned botanist. He embarked on a decades-long study of trees and their emissions and felt that
his suspicions were confirmed after studying the blue hazes which begat the names of Virginia's Blue Ridge Moun tains and Uganda's Blue Valleys. Conventional wisdom held that trees
were not believed to emit significant amounts of hydrocarbons. Indeed, many scientists have long been dismissive of
lakes, forests and the purity of its air. Goldie Hawn,Kurt Russell,Steven Spiel berg, Martin Short and Arnold Schwarzenneger, are among the celebrities who have been drawn to this area to escape the smog of Los Angeles.
While the manufacture of chlorofluorocarbons has been banned for
But even in this veritable Eden of
years, they are probably the most ubiq uitous atmospheric chemical on our planet and the main culprit of ozone depletion in the stratosphere. Indeed,
forests and lakes, calibration of the air
some scientists estimate that one CFC
monitoring equipment proved difficult. Terpenes, isoprenes and other chemical emissions from the abundant forests reg
molecule can destroy as many as 100,000 ozone molecules. While a sig nificant minority of scientists remain
istered on the TAGA's sensitive instru
unconvinced about the seriousness of
ments like an atmospheric seismograph. So, perhaps Dr. Rasmussen's work did
global warming, virtually none will dis pute the fact that ozone depletion is ex tremely dangerous to humans, animal life and certain crops. In his quest for Freon-free air. Dr.
not deserve his detractors' scorn.
He is certainly an interesting charac ter. A devotee of Charles Darwin, he
But even in this veritable Eden of forests and
Dr. Rasmussen's claims that some trees
might actually be contributors to the smog problem. Environmental scien tists have always concentrated on indus try and auto emissions as smog sources.
earlier under the trade name Freon.
lakes, calibration of the air monitoring equipment proved difficult.
But I checked around with a few learned
people recently, and found that, yes, trees do give off isoprenes, terpenes and other hydrocarbons. My sources stressed while all plant life imbibes CO,and emits oxygen,trees are unmatched botanical mechanisms
for performing this life-sustaining mira cle. But, it should be noted, even oxy gen is toxic in certain dosages. So much for the childlike mantra environment
friendly. (Surely in physics the ideal should be environment neutral).
One amusing story emerged from discussions on the validity of Dr. Rasmussen's thesis. The Ontario Min
istry of Environment once had a sophis ticated but portable air pollution moni toring vehicle named TAGA (Trace At mospheric Gas Analyzer). They tried to calibrate it at the MOE labs in Rexdale
and in other Toronto-area locations, but
took heart from the fact that his hero had
also inspired disdain and abuse for his findings on evolution. Darwin had been reluctant to publish his findings for many years, probably because he feared the ire of church officials. He acted only after being spurred on by the fact that Wallace, another Englishman, was about to publish his findings on his evo lutionary research in South America. Only then did Darwin publish his Ori gin ofSpecie.s, many years after his his toric voyage on The Beagle. Abuse from many sides was heaped upon Darwin before he rightfully took his place among the greatest scientists of all time. In his experiments with trees. Dr. Rasmussen wrapped certain branches with plastic bags and claimed to capture significant amounts of isoprene and other hydrocarbons- major contributors
the ambient air pollu
to the chemical conditions which cause
tion in the area made
smog. Even when he published his first findings three decades ago, few scien
calibration difficult.
Rasmussen went to heroic lengths to find, then sample,'antique air', such as air which had been trapped in old Japa nese glass floats used by fishermen and so was free from the CFC contamina
tion. Even old wines, where air had been
trapped between the wine and the corks, attracted his attention.
Dr. Rasmussen's work on the smogcreating chemicals from trees has re cently attracted notice in such serious papers as the Wall Street Journal and the Globe & Mail. After literally and figu ratively working in the wilderness for decades, his research is now said to be
impacting on US federal air pollution policies. But air pollution from trees is not exactly a new idea in Washington cir cles. President Reagan, famous for his off-hand comment "if you've seen one redwood, you've seen them all", had once said that trees might emit forms of air pollution. His remark - made many years ago - was dismissed as the rav ings of an industry-driven, anti-environ
The TAGA vehicle was then driven to
tists took notice.
Dorset, a lovely area in Ontario's cottage country,famed for its
sues, he embarked on travels around the
mentalist President.
world. In his quest to curb air pollution he enthusiastically focused on CFCs,the chlorofluorocarbons, which had satu
sponded with a theatre of the absurd, by demonstrating while decked out as trees, each carrying signs which pleaded with
rated the atmosphere ever since they had
the President: Cut me down now -
been introduced some seven decades
before I kill again! â?&#x2013;
By Tom Davey
Diverted into other air pollution is
Environmental Science & Engineering, June 1999
Protesters re
Feedback
Dear Mr. Davey: RE: Odour and Odour Control article
by Dr. Tahir Khan, published in the May 1999 issue ofES&E. I would like to address several mis
An overview of odour regulations in North America indicates that these regu lations are either nuisance based regu lations, complaint based regulations or ambient odour standard regulations.
represented issues in the above noted
TWAEV standards, on the other hand,
article.
are long term exposure, health based
The author states that "the Ministry of Labour... by setting TWAEV at levels orders of magnitude higher than the odour threshold, is encouraging the public to
standards. I can't see how the TWAEV
and odour threshold levels can be com
work in an environment with levels much
pared in the fashion that the author has proceeded to do. In fact it just proves that our olfactory system detects the
higher than those shown to be injurious
odour at levels much lower than the lev
to health..." The odour threshold value
els associated with adverse health ef
of a compound (unit missing in the ta ble, ppm?)indicates the concentration at which it is detected by the human olfac tory system. By no means does this value represent the concentration at which re
fects. In simple terms, next time you are driving by a farm which has just spread manure, don't hold your breath. It won't kill you! The author offers ten steps for odour control techniques (incidently this ten step method is a classical textbook ex ample of solving ANY problem), with emphasis on determining the composi
lated adverse health effects are observed.
Correction In the article "Odour and odour con
tion of the odour stream. However, ex
trol" on page 48 of our May issue, there is an error in Table 1 - mg/m3 should have appeared under Odour
cept for rare instances in which odours from all sources in a factory are caused by one or two compounds, determining the composition of the odorous emis sions is not helpful and is cost prohibi-
Threshold not M.W.
tive. Often in waste processing facili ties, landfills, sewage treatment plants or manufacturing facilities with several processes, the odorous emissions are what is commonly referred to as a chemical soup with a highly variable composition. Our knowledge of the olfactory in teraction and prediction of the odour properties of a complex mixture is at its infancy. Combined action of many chemicals present even below their de tection threshold may still generate an olfactory perception with an unknown characteristic odour. In other words,one
could spend thousands of dollars and map the chemical composition of the odorous emissions, eliminate one
chemical in the composition and end up with an emission that smells even worse!
More and more experts dealing with odour issues are stepping away from chemical analysis. Last but not least, it is not clear how the author concludes that the increased
number of odour complaints in a study in New Jersey can be related to the in creased health effects. Among several other factors, frequent exposure often creates a sensitized population with de creased annoyance threshold levels and thus more complaints! Nafiseh Pourhassani, P.Eng.
Dear Tom:
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To paraphrase Samuel Johnson's famous letter to his former patron, Lord Ches terfield, these thanks, had they been more timely, had been perhaps better appreciated (I'm not sure why he was so fond of the pluperfect). I did want to write and thank you and Sandra, however tardily, for featuring our Bayview Glen tunnel-in-tunnel project as the cover story in the May is sue of Environmental Science & Engi neering. The editing and layout flattered
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worthy project through your respected publication. My only regret is that we don't do more of these!
I also enjoyed reading your excellent piece on The Invisible Engineers includ ing Dr. Berry's enormous contributions to public health through water treatment projects he directed. Peter Overton, Marshall Macklin Mona^han Limited
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Convention Report
Ladies dominate OWWA/OMWA program Last conference before the millennium
In their last conference before the new millennium, women domi
nated the Ontario Water Works
Association/Ontario Municipal Water Association annual meeting in Ottawa. Margaret Trudeau Kemper cap tivated the audience with her fascinat
ing recounting of her life, before giving a moving account of her late son Michel's impact on her determination to provide safe drinking water in the Third World.
ing much deeper wells. When someone enquired if the pumps used electricity or gasoline engines to draw the well water, she broke
up the audience by energetically leaping off the podium and per forming some quite vigorous comedic miming of the manual pumping systems in Ugandan vil lages. She praised Watercan's efforts to provide safe drinking water in
This is a lady who has traveled the world in luxury, meeting world leaders
Third World countries before
when she was the wife of Canadian
counts of the brutal treatment of
Prime Minister, Pieire Elliot Trudeau,
many village women. Some Judy MacDonald, outgoing 0\NWA Chair, women must cook meals, then enjoys the ever popular Casino Night spon serve their men, often compelled sored by the Ontario Water Works Equipment to approach the table on their Association. ES&E photo. knees As a final humiliation, they are son Michel was swept into a lake by an avalanche late last year while skiing in not allowed to sit at the table with their British Columbia. A mountain climber husbands or sons after cooking and serv ing the meals. Moreover, if the food is herself, she spoke of being with her son not served to the men's satisfaction, the earlier on the stunningly beautiful women servers are often rewarded by a Blackcomb mountain. "Michel," she said, "expansively gestured at the vista swift kick or other violent actions. When a questioner asked about the and said: I'm a Quebecker; why would anyone want to give all this up?" use of birth control measures to control Now, seemingly close to tears, but still populations, she replied sharply that in Uganda, AIDs was a relentless form of controlled, she spoke of her plan to cre ate and dedicate a diinking water well in birth control. She spoke of soldiers rou tinely raping village women,"leaving a Uganda in memory of her son. A more fitting memorial could not be imagined trail of AIDs in their wake". She was not afraid to confront the by this audience whose work had, long awful tragedy in her own life when her ago in Canada, wiped out endemic kill ers such as typhoid and cholera. Some of the papers presented at the
yet repeatedly she has been willing to live under canvas in Ugandan villages in order to build wells in primitive vil lage conditions. This is a most volatile lady who can swiftly change from pa thos to comedy. She spoke movingly of seeing children hideously ravaged by parasites from unsafe drinking water. Quite often,she said,the problems could be remedied simply by drilling deeper wells to prevent contamination of water supplies. Unfortunately, this could not be achieved within their village cultures until Westem technology was brought in. Canadian technical assistance had
proved effective in this regard by drillBy Tom Davey
shocking the audience with her ac
technical sessions, however, left no one
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Environmental Science & Engineering, June 1999
Convention Report Shortly after Margaret Trudeau Kemper's talk, Maude Barlow gave a brilliant, if dismaying overview of im pending water shortages and problems facing us as we head into the new mil lennium. As Chair of the 65,000 mem ber Council of Canadians,she reviewed
not only existing global freshwater re sources, but also presented an overview of some of the existing and proposed threats to resources around the world,
some in the form of large dams. She cited the Aral Sea basin, shared
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ample of severely depleted and polluted natural water resources.
She also
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which will displace millions of Chinese when constructed. Constantly and vig orously, she opposed all and any pro posals for Canadians to sell fresh water, be it bottled, shipped, diverted, or sent by pipeline. An abridged version of her Continued overleaf
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Convention Report presentation is contained elsewhere in this issue. While her data gave an illuminat ing and comprehensive picture ofshrink ing and damaged water resources, I will argue the economic rationale of her
f
paper in a subsequent issue of ES&E. The OWWA/OMWA are to be con
gratulated in bringing two eloquent so cial activists into their often staid annual
meetings. Perhaps this is reflected in the changing composition of OWWA leadership, which, so long a male bas tion, changed radically in recent years. The 1998/1999 Chair was Judy MacDonald, who incidently, took over from Patricia Lachmaniuk. Addressing the an nual dinner on behalf of the Ontario Wa
ter Works Equipment Association was Laurie Lotimer of Lotowater. This speaks volumes of the industiy's willingness to adopt changes. It was appropriate that the last major Ontario water conference in this millennium ended with a surge of activ ism. ES&E plans to publish selected tech nical papers in future issues. OWWA/OMWA 2000 conference
The 2000 joint annual conference will be held in Windsor, Ontario, May 6-10. Contact AWWA at: (416) 252-
'4 Fuller Award winner Howard Shrlmpton (left), Is congratulated by Eric MacDonald, President ofMacVIro, Immediately after the presentation in Ottawa. OWWA 1999 Awards George Warren Fuller Award - Howard Shrimpton, V.P., MacViro; Operator's Meritorious Service Award - Alex
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amusement piers. It is now one of the finest resorts on America's west coast.
For years its famous "Muscle Beach" has attracted well-known body builders, like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jack La Lane. It still remains a very popular mecca for fitness buffs today. In its early
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OWWA/OMWA Report
Will there be a private drain from public water? An activist speaks out at meeting
Worldwide,the consump tion of fresh water is dou
bling every 20 years more than twice the rate
of the increase in human population. This consumption is placing enormous pressures on aquatic ecosystems. To day, 31 countries are facing water stress and scarcity and over a billion people lack adequate access to clean drinking water. By the year 2025, as much as twothirds of the world's population - predicted to have expanded by an additional 2.6 billion people - will be living in conditions of serious water shortage and onethird will be living in conditions of absolute water scarcity. The UN and the World Bank predict that if we do not change our pat tern of water waste, by 2025 the
near future, water bankruptcy will re sult. In addition to depleting supplies, groundwater mining causes salt water to invade freshwater aquifers, destroy ing them. In some cases, groundwater mining actually permanently reduces the earth's capacity to store water through compaction. In 1998, California's De-
rado River in America are just some of the major rivers that are so dammed, diverted, or overtapped that little or no fresh water reaches its final destination
for significant stretches of time. In fact, the Colorado is so oversubscribed on its
journey through seven US states that there is virtually nothing left to go out to sea.
As well as creating major en vironmental problems, includ ing salinization, overtapping of groundwater and rivers is exac erbating another potential crisis - world food security. Irriga tion for crop production claims 65 percent of all water used by humans; the annual rise in pop ulation means that more water
is needed every year for grain production, a highly water in tensive activity. But the world's burgeoning cities and industries are demanding and taking more
demand for fresh water will rise
by 56 percent more than is cur rently available. Groundwater overpumping and aquifer depletion are now a serious problem in the world's most intensive agricultural ar eas and water is being depleted many times faster than nature can replenish it. In Mexico City, pumping exceeds natural recharge by almost 80 percent every year; at the current rate of extraction, Saudi Arabia will
and more of the water ear
marked for agriculture every year. Eventually, some dry ar eas will not be able to serve both
the needs of farming and those of the ballooning cities. All through Latin America and Asia, massive industrializa
tion is affecting the balance be tween humans and nature in
run out of water in 50 years; current depletion of Africa's nonrecharging aquifers is estimated at 10 billion cubic metres a year; water tables are falling everywhere throughout India; the water table beneath Beijing, the Chi nese capital, has dropped 37 metres over the last four decades; and land beneath
Bangkok has sunk with the massive oveipumping of un derground systems. This means that,
instead of living on water income, we are
irreversibly dimin ishing water capital. At some time in the
By Maude Barlow, The Council of Canadians
partment of Water Resources announced that by 2020, if more supplies are not found, the state will face a shortfall of
water nearly as great as all its towns and cities together use today. Further, the global expansion in min ing and manufacturing is increasing the threat of pollution of these underground water supplies. As developing countries are undergoing rapid industrialization, heavy metals, acids and persistent or ganic pollutants are contaminating the aquifers which provide more than 50 percent of domestic supplies in most Asian countries.
At the same time, overexploitation of the planet's major river systems is threat ening another finite source of water. The Nile in Egypt,the Ganges in South Asia, the Yellow River in China,and the Colo
14
rural communities. Agribusi ness growing crops for export is claiming more and more of the water once used by family and peas antfarmers for food self-sufficiency, and industry is creeping up the major water systems, drinking them dry as they go. There are over 500 free trade zones op erating in the developing world, claim ing local water sources for the assem bly lines that produce goods for the
Canada's water has been described as 'liquid gold'-but should a renewable resource be hoarded or sold? Photo - Tom Davey
world's consumer elite. Clean water in
the Maquiladora zones of Mexico is so scarce, babies and children drink Coca
Cola and Pepsi instead. During a drought crisis in northern Mexico in 1995,the government cut water supplies to local farmers while ensuring emer gency supplies to the mostly foreigncontrolled industries of the region. The story is perhaps most stark in China where severe grain shortages are Continued overleaf
Environmental Science & Engineering, June 1999
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OWWA/OMWA Report expected in the near future because of water depletion and the current shift of limited water resources from agriculture to industry and cities. The resulting de mand for grain in China could exceed the world's available exportable sup plies. While China might be able to sur vive this for a time because of its boom
ing economy and huge trade surpluses, the resulting higher grain prices will cre ate social and political upheaval in most major Third World cities and shake food security of the whole world. Already, as big industrial wells probe the ground ever deeper to tap the remain ing water, millions of Chinese
sphere, we have harnessed and tamed three-quarters of the flow from the world's major rivers to power our cit ies. The world's waterways are also struggling with the full range of mod ern industrial toxic pollution problems. Ninety percent of the developing world's wastewater is still discharged untreated
has been "catastrophic loss of biologi cal diversity" in the Great Lakes of North America, possibly the world's largest freshwater system, according to the Nature Conservancy. (Lake Biakal in Siberia may hold larger volumes of
into local rivers and streams.
All but one of England's 33 major rivers are suffering; some are now less than a third of their original depth. The Thames is threatening to run dry and already larger ships down river are hav ing to restrict their movements to high tides. Development has cut the Rhine River in Europe off from 90 percent of its origi nal flood plains, and over the last 25 years, the Danube's phosphate and nitrate concen
The US, where only two percent of the country's rivers and streams remain free-flowing and undeveloped, has lost over 50 percent of its wetlands and its population of migratory birds and water-
farmers have found their wells
pumped dry. Three hundred Chinese cities are already fac ing severe water shortage. This shortage comes at a
water than the Great Lakes combined -
editor.)
trations have increased so
badly, the region's fisheries have been all but destroyed.
time when China will see a
population increase in the next 30 years greater than the en tire population of the United
Three-fourths of Poland's riv
States; when conservative es
ers are so contaminated by chemicals, sewage, and agri
timates predict that annual in
cultural runoff that their wa
dustrial water use in China
ter is unfit even for industrial
could grow from 52 billion tons (sic) to 269 billion tons in the same period; and when rising incomes are allowing
use.
millions of Chinese to install
indoor plumbing with show
Eighty percent of China's major rivers are so degraded, they no longer support fish. The number of large dams worldwide has climbed from just xhe building of Egypt's As over 5,000 In 1950 to 38,000 today. wan Dam in 1970 caused the
ers and flush toilets. The World Watch
fowl has been decimated. One billion
Institute predicts that China will be the first country in the world that will have to literally restructure its economy to re spond to water scarcity.
pounds of weed and bug killers are used throughout the United States every year, and much of it runs off into the country's water systems. Nearly 40 percent of US rivers and streams are too dangerous for fishing,swimming or drinking. "We have crashing ecosystems in every river basin in the West," says the Sierra Club.
Around the world, the answer to the increase in water demand is to build more dams and river diversions. Even
the earliest civilizations, from the
Roman to the Mayan, built aqueducts and irrigation schemes. But we are now facing water manipulation on a scale that is totally unsustainable. The number of large dams world wide has climbed from just over 5,000 in 1950 to 38,000 today and the number of waterways altered for navigation has grown from fewer than 9,000 in 1900 to almost 500,000. In the northern hemi-
In Canada, wetland loss includes 65
percent of Atlantic coastal marshes, 70 percent of Southern Ontario wetlands, 71 percent of Prairie wetlands, and 80 percent of the Eraser River Delta in Brit ish Columbia. Most major river systems
number of commercially harvested fish to drop by almost two-thirds. After the Pak Mun Dam was built in Thailand, all
150 fish species that had inhabited the Mun River virtually disappeared. Intro duction of non-native species to Victo ria Lake in Africa has all but destroyed the native species population, already imperilled by the dumping of millions of litres of untreated sewage and indus trial waste from the surrounding coun tries.
flows are diverted out of their basins of
Nearly half of the water and sewage treatment systems in Moscow are inef fective or malfunctioning and, accord ing to the Russian Security Council, 75 percent of the Republic's lake and river
origin than in any other country in the world by a considerable margin. There
basin, shared by Afghanistan, Iran, and
have been dammed and more stream
water is unsafe to drink. The Aral Sea five countries of the former Soviet Un
The Aral Sea basin, shared by Afghanistan, Iran, and five countries of the former Soviet Union, was once the world's
fourth largest lake. Excessive river diversions have caused it to lose half its area and three fourths of its volume, while
its surrounding wetlands have shrunk by 85 percent. 16
ion, was once the world's fourth largest lake. Excessive river diversions have caused it to lose half its area and three
fourths of its volume, while its surround
ing wetlands have shrunk by 85 percent. The Aral Sea is one of the planet's great est environmental tragedies; almost all fish and waterfowl species have been Continued overleaf
Environmental Science & Engineering. June 1999
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OWWA/OMWA Report decimated and the fisheries have col
lapsed entirely. Millions of "ecological refugees" have fled the area. There is simply no way to overstate the water crisis of the planet today. The World Bank predicts that the wars of the next century will be over water. No piecemeal solution is going to prevent the collapse of whole societies and eco systems. A radical rethinking of our values, priorities and political systems is urgent and still possible. Yet there are forces at work in the world today that, unless challenged, would move the world almost inexorably into a water scarce future.
A striking feature of economic glo balization is the creation of dramatic
inequality; an entrenched underclass is being created between regions and within every society in the world. This deep inequality is dramatically affect ing access of the world's poor to water, the most basic of life's rights. The United Nations says that fully threequarters of the population living under conditions of water stress - amounting to 26 percent of the total world popula tion - are located in developing coun tries. By 2025, low-income countries
Europeans spend $2 billion more on ice cream every year than the estimated total money needed to provide clean water and safe sewage systems
for the world's population. experiencing water stress will amount to 47 percent of the total world population. The differences in quality of life for the people involved on both sides of the water gap are striking. Europeans spend $2 billion more on ice cream every year than the estimated total money needed to provide clean water and safe sewage systems for the world's population. More than five million people, most of them children, die every year from illnesses caused by drinking poor quality water. The global trade in water The water privateers have now set their sights on the mass export of bulk water, by diversion and by supertanker. Turkey's Water Company is construct ing a pipeline that would divert water to the Mediterranean Sea where it would
be sold to Cyprus, Malta, Libya, Israel,
Greece and Egypt. The Nordic Water Company supplies water from Norway to continental Europe by sea in huge floating plastic bags. To deal with droughts in southern European coun tries, the European Commission is look ing into the possibility of tapping into the sources of water-rich countries like
Austria. If its plans to establish a Euro pean Water Network are realized, then Alpine water could be flowing into Spain or Greece rather than Vienna's reservoirs within a decade.
To address England's growing water crisis, some political and corporate lead ers are calling for large-scale exports of water from Scotland, by tanker and pipe line. Already, several English compa nies are exploring the possibility of wa ter exports and Scotland's water author-
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18
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Environmental Science & Engineering, June 1999
OWWA/OMWA Report ity has recently sounded out a plan to sell surplus water to Spain, Morocco and the Middle East. In Australia, United
Water International has been given the contract to run the water system of Ad elaide and to develop a 15-year plan to export South Australia's water for com puter software production and irrigation. But nowhere are corporations lining up to trade in water as they are in North America. Several are directly involved with plans to divert massive amounts of Canadian water to water-scarce areas of
Their work proves beyond all doubt that water is not'wasted' by running into the sea. It suggests that the cumulative ef fects of removing water from lakes, riv ers and streams for export by tanker could have large-scale impacts on the coastal and marine environment.
Says respected Canadian water ex pert, Richard Bocking, "We strike a Faustian bargain when moving largescale amounts of water. For power gen eration or irrigation today, we exchange much of the life of a river, its valley and
biological systems, and the way of life of people who are in the way. As the cost of the last 50 years of dam building becomes evident, we can no longer plead that we don't know the conse quences of treating rivers and lakes as plumbing systems." Excerptedfrom an address, given to the Annual Conference of the Ontario Water Works Association/Ontario
Municipal Water Association in Ottawa, May 17. 1999. ES&E will debate the sale of water in subsequent issues.
the United States, Asia and the Middle
Bast by tanker, pipeline, or rerouting of natural river systems. One of the largest proposed diversion projects back on the table for discussion is the Grand Canal - the Great Recy cling and Northern Development Canal which calls for the building of a dike across James Bay at the mouth of Hud son Bay(both of which now flow North) to create a giant freshwater reservoir out ofJames Bay and the twenty rivers flow ing into it. A massive series of dikes, canals, dams, power plants and locks
r///SGM55 SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT THIS TANK.
would divert this water down a canal to
Georgian Bay, where it would be flushed through the Great Lakes and taken to the US sunbelt.
There are now many scientific stud ies that show that large-scale water re moval affects not just the immediate systems, but ecosystems far beyond.
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The Region of Ottawa-Carleton used a very creative PR device when they
water. And bolted construction is
handed out 500 m/L bottles of water on
cost effective,while eliminating the
the Companions'Tours during the 1999
environmental problems of field-
Annual Conference in Ottawa.
Bilingual labels reminded thirsty guests that for one cent, consumers could refill the bottle 40 times with tap
welding and painting. Clearly,you should contact your Aquastore dealer for full infomnation on sales, installation and service.
water treated at the Brittania treatment
plant. The estimates were at current rates.
We recalled this ploy when watch ing baseball at the SkyDome three
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being sold for well over $2 a bottle. After comparing the two prices, we feel
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the Ottawa bottled water is practically a steal. In fact, at over two bucks for 500
m/L, it might be cheaper to drink beer or wine at home - that is the very place where the "one cent bottled water" is
delivered - at no extra charge! TD Environmental Science & Engineering, June 1999
flOUnsSTORE' Tanks
For more information, circle reply card No. 113 (See page 25)
19
BCWWA Report
Safety competition attracts media coverage 600 delegates attend Vernon meeting
The 1999 British Columbia Water & Waste Asso
ciation Conference in Vernon attracted some 600
delegates as well as 120 attendees to the Technol ogy Transfer meeting held in conjunction with the conference. There were 115 tradeshow booths.
The Safety Competition was the best ever with six teams competing; Coquitlam emerged as the winner. Incoming President, Bob Jones, noted in his report that the event was reported in local newspapers as well as media in the tri-cities area of the lower mainland. He said this coverage not only gave the competitors much needed recognition, it helped raise the profile of the association in the communities. After paying tribute to outgoing President Neal Carley, he Standing (left to right): Phil Wong, WEF Trustee;Inder Singh, Treasurer; Murray McLeod, MSG Director; Doug Neden, AWWA Director; Frank Belfry, WEF Director; and Rick
s
Corbett, Vice President.
Sitting (left to right): Kevin Ramsay, President-Elect; Bob Jones, President; and Neal Carley, Past-President.
a
said the BCWWA had launched two major initiatives: the de velopment of a training package for small water system op erators, and the coordination and delivery of BC's water con servation strategy. He also noted the UBC operator school had been scheduled for the week of May 17-21,2000. Awards
Dennis Mitchell (left) receiving the A\N\NA George Fuller Award fromAWWA President Elect, Stephen Garden.
AWWA George Fuller Award BCWWA Victor M. Terry Award BCWWA Stanley S. Copp Award
Dennis Mitchell David Sivyer Peter Turgoose
Canada weil represented at No Dig'99 To upgrade Canada's sewers could cost $45 billion
Canada'strenchles technology
industry was well represented at No Dig '99 in Orlando, with representatives from the Uni versity of Waterloo and the University ofWestem Ontario both accepting 1998 Paper of the Fear Awards. During the opening session, delegates were told that trenchless technology is not a new concept. Brunei's shield tunneling machine in the mid 1800s and pipe jacking in the late 1800s were cited as early examples of TT application. NASST chair,Trent Ralston lamented
that surveys show that TT is not univer sally held in high regard. He believes that bad experiences with some trenchless remediation projects may have soured the
Report by Steve Davey, President, ES&E
20
perception of some potential customers. To ameliorate this, Mr. Ralston called for
better training of crews and further edu cation of contractors, designers and own ers. As well, he stressed the need to in
crease efforts at public education. Underground pipe maintenance is a huge expense, according to Bob Woodhouse, of CH2M Hill, with a 250 ft.
length costing on average $50,000.00 over 50 years. Sunil Sinha, of the Uni versity of Waterloo, estimated that the total cost to simply upgrade Canada's sewers is a staggering $45 billion. Pipelines have a fairly defined lifespan, delegates were told. At 25 years, spot repairs will be required. (Accord ing to one speaker, surveys show that after only 30 years, a mere 15% of pipes remain intact). At 50 years, relining is needed. At 125 years, the pipeline will need to be replaced. The average age of
America's pipe infrastructure is 42 years. As well as case history reviews,tech nical sessions introduced delegates to such high tech applications as digitally enhanced imaging. For example, until now, reports on internal pipe conditions have relied on operators often spending months re viewing video footage. Quite often, poor lighting or obstructions made it hard to determine whether the operator was seeing actual cracks or other dam age. In short, by relying on only visual interpretation, too many false alarms are raised. To speed up and make the proc ess more effective, researchers are devel
oping software which will digitally analyze the video images taken and show only real cracks and other damage. No Dig 2000 will be held April 9 12, in Anaheim, California. Call (703) 351-5252 for details.
Environmental Science & Engineering, June 1999
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Cover Story
Environmental Issues - a growing priority In Canadian pulp and paper Industry
ThePulp and Paper industry in
Canada is very big business. With over 130 mills across the
nation,from the isolated com
munity of Taylor in northern British Columbia to the village of Liverpool on the eastern shores of Nova Scotia, the
Canadian forest industry remains the largest employer in rural areas of the country. Current statistics suggest that some 320 Canadian towns are largely dependent upon the forest industry (Stats Canada,1997), and Canada produces fully one half and one third, respectively, of the world's newsprint and market pulp. But while the direct and spin-off eco
i
nomic benefits are vital to the commu
nities and suiTounding areas in which mills are found, these benefits have not come without environmental cost. For
example, decades of virtually untreated effluent discharge into rivers and lakes, extensive log-booming activities, and landfilling of wood wastes created both aesthetic impairment and significant aquatic losses. During the 1960s and 1970s,the rec ognition that changes were required was plainly evident but political reluctance to impose environmental constraints on a key employer made strict enforcement of even the (by comparison) relatively lax regulations of the day less than a main priority. The visions of ugly, float ing mats of dissolved wood fibre, tow ers of foam,and decaying bark deposits on stream and lake beds were not helped by a forest industry that seemed unre sponsive to increasing calls for environ mental change. But significant attention to environ mental issues has occurred in the last 20
years and real, substantive changes are taking place in the health of aquatic communities around mill sites. And
these large steps will continue to occur during the coming years. In this article, we briefly highlight some of the mile stone environmental changes that have taken place in the forest industry and the types of environmental monitoring pro grams that are becoming commonplace
By Rick Hubbard B.Sc., Beak International Incorporated 22
Upcoming air quaiity reguiations will focus on limiting fine particulate matter.
in the industry. In subsequent articles, we will profile specific pieces of legis lation or environmental initiatives that
should have positive influence on envi ronmental protection. Overview of impacts from the forest industry Environmental effects from forest
activities can occur at two locations;
firstly, in the vast tracts of timber hold ings where the trees are harvested, and secondly, at the mill where the process ing takes place. In terms of the wood
secondary priority relative to effluent discharge. So let's briefly review the milestone improvements which have occurred in the forest industry and highlight some emerging issues and trends, a) Effluent treatment Ask the average person to conjure up a picture of a pulp and paper mill and it might well include some of the images described earlier in this article: foam
the removal of large blocks of timber and creation of logging roads, causing wildlife displacement and disturbance,
ing, discoloured effluent, wood chips, and a receiving environment supporting little aquatic life. The fact is that water use is a key requirement of pulp and paper mills and virtually all mills share the common factor that they are found
erosion and siltation of streams and riv
on the shores of rivers, lakes, estuaries
ers, and loss of aesthetic enjoyment for tourists and others confronted by exten
or oceans. Although water conservation measures are being implemented at most
lands, the most obvious effects relate to
mills, water use will continue to be an
sive areas of clear cuts.
At the mill, the effects of untreated
effluent discharge to local waterbodies created several problems: high levels of BOD. (biochemical oxygen demand) lowered dissolved oxygen to critical lev els over large areas; high suspended sol ids loads blanketed stream and lake bot toms and the communities of benthic in
vertebrates were severely impaired. As well, the use of toxic compounds such as dioxins became a major (largely po litical) concern. Pulp and paper mills also create another discharge - air emis sions, which have generally ranked as a
important part of pulp and paper pro duction.
Several advancements have taken
place in terms of effluent treatment. Perhaps the most significant change oc curred in the early 1990s with the fed eral requirement that all mills apply sec ondary treatiuent prior to effluent dis charge. While some mills in Canada had moved forward to secondary treatment in the 1980s, the broad federal regula tion meant that, as of January 1995, all Canadian mills had built activated
sludge basins (ASBs) to provide ex-
Eiivironineiual Science & Engineering, June 1999
Pulp and Paper industry tended treatment of effluent.
Most ASBs include several basic
components including primary clarifiers, secondary clarifiers to encourage biological activity and baffles for foam control. Almost to a mill, secondary treatment has dramatically improved effluent quality by reducing levels of total suspended solids(TSS), biochemi cal oxygen demand (BOD),and colour. Another important change has been the progression of the industry to a Total Chlorine Free (TCP) or Elemen
tal Chlorine Free(ECF)bleaching proc ess. The significant reductions in chlo rine use, which began in the 1980s, are generally having positive results in re ducing dioxin levels in fish. At most mills, dioxin levels in downstream fish are at "non-detectable" amounts, and
when found, are within guidelines es tablished by Health Canada. Monitoring requirements and new trends
At the same time as the requirement for secondaiy treatment was established. Environment Canada, in concert with
the forest products industry, created the Environmental Effects Monitoring pro gram(EEM). The EEM program is prin
cipally a description of the biological quality of the mill's receiving environ ment. The objective of the program is to assess the adequacy of effluent regu lations for protecting fish, fish habitat,
controlled for many years at Canadian mills. Today, fine particles which are less than or equal to 2.5 microns in size (termed PM2.5 - i.e., paniculate matter
and the beneficial uses of fisheries re
ject of new regulations in the US and Canada, which may ultimately lead to additional air emission control require ments for the industry. Two standards are being considered:
sources in the receiving environment. Under this program, all Canadian mills are to monitor both the receiving environment and a background refer ence area every three years; we are now in the middle of Cycle 2 of the program (field work was undertaken either in 1998 or will be done in 1999), with re
ports to be submitted to the government by April 1st, 2000. The program also includes effluent toxicity testing (both acute and sublethal)on fish and daphnia. b)Air emissions In the past 20 years, the industry has significantly reduced its air emissions of greenhouse gases (CO,) total reduced sulphur compounds (TRS), particulates and others. This has been mainly due to improvements in equipment design (i.e., boilers), the increased use of wood waste and biosolids as fuel, and the installation
of pollution control equipment. Particulates
Emissions of particulates have been
of size 2.5) in ambient air are the sub
1) A reference level above which there are demonstrated effects on human
health and/or the environment; and
2)An air quality objective which repre sents the air quality management goal for the protection of the general public and the environment in Canada.
The timing for these changes is not clear but what is evident is that the ad
ditional control of particulates could rep resent a significant and costly engineer ing effort for mills. The phase-in pe riod would likely be over years (for ex ample, in the case of secondary effluent treatment, Environment Canada allowed
a three-year compliance period). It is also not clear whether the new air emis
sion controls will be identical from mill-
to-mill, or whether site-specific limits Continued overleaf
"Re-user friendly." It's simple. Just slide Aquamine together and insert a locking spline to restrain the joint. No special tools required. You'll find Aquamine is lightweight for easy handling and is made from tough, impact-resistant PVC piping. Its low cost, ready availability and reusability makes it a smart economic choice. There's even the technical and customer service only
a leader like Victaulic can give you. To get your hands on all the information you'll need on Aquamine, call 1-800-637-0117 or fax 423-652-7338.
For more information write: Aquamine, LLC, 247-A Vance Tank Rd., Bristol, TN 37620.
PVC piping made simple.
aquamine;LLC A Victaulic' Company
m
Environmental Science <& Engineering, June 1999
For more information, circie repiy card No. 115 (See page 25)
23
Pulp and Paper Industry
From the manufacturer
of the Step Screen™...
might be imposed to address local con
Canada has focused to date on the pipe
ditions.
line industry, these developments raise the possibility that other resource sec tors such as forestry and mining may
the Huber Rotamat®
Screening in pumping stations
Greenhouse gases
At the Kyoto Conference held in December 1997, Canada agreed to re duce greenhouse gas emissions by 6% relative to 1990 levels by the first budget
period (2008-2012). The use of cogeneration at a growing number of mills is a positive step to reducing reli ance upon fossil fuels, and savings in CO, emissions should continue to in crease. As a general statement, the greenhouse gas issue should not repre sent an onerous task for the forest in
dustry since SO^ and NOx emissions do not pose a serious environmental issue relative to other sources,
The screenings are separated by a cylindrical basket and are conveyed by a vertical screw upwards to a discharge point above, whilst taking up very little area and saving space.
Advantages: • Continuous removal and
cleaning of screenings
• Preventing clogging of pumps and minimizing wear • Completely odour free and automatic operation
• Ensuring operational safety and economical operation of ttie pumping system
c) Woodlands management The management of the hundreds of millions of square kilometres of forest across Canada is another key area of change. There is currently a strong move to utilize an Ecosystem Approach to planning in these areas. A relatively new term "Sustainable Forest Manage ment"(SFM)is being used to describe the approach taken by many forest cor
porations to plan their harvesting and reforestation activities. A large number of forest companies throughout Canada are either considering, or are actively undertaking ISO 14001 certification on their woodland holdings. This progression towards sustainable forest management will result in com prehensive, long-term strategies for not only ensuring constant timber supply,
but also protection of fish and wildlife resources in harvesting areas. On this note, it is interesting that changes to the federal Migratory Birds Convention Act may have implications on the harvest ing schedules in Canada. This Act, which is intended to pro tect most bird species and their nests, stipulates that individuals ai'e prohibited from destroying or disturbing birds with out a permit. Permits are normally is sued for:
a) hunting of migratory game birds (waterfowl); b) scientific studies; and/or c) nuisance birds. In 1997, Environment Canada Contact:
Dagex Inc. 4141 Yonge Street, Suite 307 North York, Ontario, M2P 2A8
Tel:(416)250-7111, 1-800-665-7136 Fax:(416) 250-8111 E-mail: dagex@istar.ca For more information,
circle reply card No. 116
(Ontario Region) for the first time re quired timing restrictions for pipeline construction - construction activities
were not peimitted between May 1 st and July 31 St. In 1998, we saw Environment Canada invoke similar restrictions on
pipeline construction in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. While Environment
soon face similar restrictions.
Things to look for in the coming years On the effluent treatment side, it is
likely that, since the advent of second ary treatment, the industry will be in a monitoring mode for the next several years to assess and evaluate the changes in the receiving environments. The en vironmental effects monitoring program will be the main vehicle for doing this. The "next thing" on the water side would be moving to tertiary treatment and/or
other process changes but these would represent fairly significant investment. In the case of tertiary treatment, the main improvements would occur with nutrients such as phosphorus and, while site-specific situations may benefitfrom such reductions, a close examination of
cost-benefit of implementing tertiary treatment across the nation would cer
tainly be warranted.
It is likely that, since the advent of secondary treatment, the industry will be in a monitoring mode for the next several years... The regulations concerning air emis sions, and specifically the regulations governing particulates, will the "next big thing" for the industry across Canada. Though the timelines for compliance and the specific limits have not been established,the PM 2.5 and PMIO regu lations (intended to limit release of fine particulate matter), will represent for air quality what secondary treatment did for effluent quality. Mills are now gearing up for these regulations, beginning with updated air emission inventories. On the woodlands management side, it is likely that the next five years or so will see continued progress on the con cepts of sustainable forest management, with special attention on developing optimal harvesting patterns to reduce the effects of forest fragmentation in the boreal mixed wood forest, reducing both the direct and indirect effects of logging roads, and on the large issue of incorpo rating meaningful participation of Abo riginal peoples in the industry. For more information, circle reply card No. 117
Environmental Science & Engineering, June 1999
Ad Index
Company
Page
Reader Service No.
Company
Page
Reader Service No. 189
ABS Pumps
50.
162
KMK Gonsultants
40
AGFA
64.
156
KSB Pumps
27
118
Anthrafliter
50.
160
MacVIro
59
168
57 17 58 59
187
A.O. Smith
19.
113
Aquablast
50.
163
Armour Valve
62.
. 165
BNA Bonflglioli
13.
, 262
Makloc Buildings Marsh McBlrney McTlghe MSU MIsslssauga
CAEAL
35.
, 147
Munro
11
178
8.
, 105
Neo Valves
13
261
63
. 150-155
Cancoppas GH2M Gore & Storrie
33.
, 146
Nortech GSI
Golgate-Palmolive Dagex
18. 24.
. 112
Ozonia
, 116
Davidson
50.
Davis Gontrols
37.
Denso
41.
Derrick
Ill 148 167
9
106
Parkson
57
183
, 164
Peacock
60
143
, 174
Pollutec
31
123
, 133
R'2000
39
166
43.
, 136
10 6
173
Eckel
58.
, 157
Seepex Stormceptor
Ecodyne Ford Hall Gompany
40. 29.
, 134
Summa
12
. 237-240
, 120
Terratec
50
161
Frontenac
38.
, 175
Twin Bridges
29
Fryston Gorman-Rupp
56. 21.
, 126
USABIueBook
5
103
, 114
UV Systems Technology
28
119
Greatarlo
39.
. 171
VIctaullc
23.
115
Harold Marcus Ltd
38.
, 149
Waterloo Barrier
35.
188
104
Hoffman
31.
. 145
WEF
15.
110
ITT Flygt Japan External Trade
3. 33.
. 102
Wilier
37.
190
. 125
XGG
35
JWG
11.
. 177
Zenon Env.
KMK Gonsultants
60.
. 141
2.
101
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Environmental Science & Engineering, June 1999
322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338
25
Special ES&E Report
Major CSO project to clean up Toronto beaches Concept of Storing sewage flows proven in other cities
Environmentaldejavu? Almost
the Windy City's famed Tunnel And
two decades ago Toronto
Reservoir Plan. TARP has 160 km of
beaches were closed to swim
deep underground tunnels and three
mers as temperatures soared in the nineties. I responded with an article for The Toronto Sun at the request of editor Barbara Amiel, now the wife of Conrad Black. I wrote: "The
massive reservoirs, which can contain
as much as 40 billion gallons without having to discharge into a river or lake. Chicago's beaches, needless to say, re mained open July 4,
Sewer Overflow (CSO) system which should help clean up Toronto's beaches is well underway. The concept of storing sewage flows for subsequent treatment is well proven and has been utilized by many other cit ies in Europe and North America. Ear lier, storage facilities (detention tanks)
hottest summer in 30 years had
which were constructed in
resulted in ideal conditions for
The
1989 and 1994 at Toronto's
bacterial growth along the vari ous shorelines, where pockets of stagnant water have accumu
damaged
Eastern Beaches, did result
children of Hare *1^ Krishna
lated."
New contest today!
The more things change the more they stay the same. As of July 4, ten of Toronto's 19 beaches were closed at some
time. The worst hit, those closest to the Humber River in
the City's West End and High land Creek in the City's East End, had been closed since
June 11, up to 70% of the time.
In response, The Toronto Sun has produced a masterly review of the beach pollution which has closed the major ity of the City's beaches. This comprehensive cover age must have surprised those who think The Sun is
in reasonable improvements in water quality.
SPOltrsm
win cash and
The under-construction
system runs along the Toronto lakefront from Parkside east to Strachan
Avenue. The entire system will ultimately have an over all capacity of 85,000 cubic metres for storage which al
HOW TO OPEN OUR
lows for the retention of stormwater and combined
sewer overflows up to the twoyear storm level. Hydraulically, the system will be able to handle flows up to a fiveyear storm event but the in creased flow would be released to the lake at three locations
■ What Ifamiltoii and
instead of the original ten. These discharges will be at the location of the large shafts, two
Chicago did: Pages 4-S ■ VVhat wciil wrong and lheS2 5ii fix: Pages 25-30 ■ 11 s liino to clean up uui
act; Editorial, Comment not a serious paper. Unlike much newspaper coverage of environmental issues. The Sun's July 4 spread contained some serious tech when America celebrated its national nical data on E. coll, a refreshing change holiday, while many Torontonians had from sensational headlines, which often to celebrate their Canada Day three days earlier on signposted beaches. lack scientific substance. Sun writers included a review of Chicago's environ But the Mega City technical staff mental progress, which described TARP, have not been idle. A huae Combined
of which are east of the beach
area. The smaller existing sew ers are directed to discharge into the tunnel through a series of drop shafts at each intercept location. Existing outfalls at these locations will normally be closed off. They can be re-opened and flows isolated from the tunnel if
maintenance of the tunnel is required.
The project at a glance This CSO storage tunnel was approved in 1992 and is on target to reduce clo sures of West End beaches by 75% by the year 2001. The massive project involves an in frastructure system to intercept some 2.9 million cubic metres of sewage a year
constructed to direct water from exist
ing sewer systems into a storage tunnel 4.0 kilometres long, and drilled three metres in diameter in shale rock about
nel for at least 10 hours to allow solids
50 metres below ground. Three combination storage/intercep
to settle before being pumped through the UV facility before discharge into
tion shafts, some 30 metres in diameter,
Lake Ontario.
from 10 storm and combined sewer out
are being constructed at Battery Park,
lets running from High Park to Exhibi
Cowan Avenue and Glendale Avenue.
tion Place.
An ultraviolet disinfection facility is designed to eliminate bacteria contami
Seven interception shafts are being 26
nation. The tunnel system will have a storage capacity of85,000 cubic metres. Sewage will be detained in the tun
The tunnel will be flushed and the
water pumped into the main sewage treatment plant at Ashbridges Bay for full treatment.
Environmental Science & Engineering, June 1999
Special ES&E Report Pumping Systems All flows which enter the system will be collected within the tunnel and large shafts up to the two-year storm as noted previously. Following storm events, the quiescence within the system will allow sediments to settle, separating sus pended solids from clearer liquid. Then, following a period of approximately 810 hours, pumping from the system will
Interceptor Sewer ..
Queen St. W.
start. Legend # Drop Shaft
As the solids are expected to collect at the lower extremities of the Strachan
Storage Shaft
shaft, these will be pumped first through
□ Storage Shaft and Pump Station Existing Outfall Sewer Inteicepted
a forcemain which follows a box cul
Flow Direction
vert from Strachan and Lakeshore to
Strachan and King Street. At this loca tion, the forcemain will discharge into the mid-Toronto interceptor (MTI) sewer from where gravity flow exists to the Main Treatment Plant (MTP) at Ashbridges Bay. Because of limitations on the capacity of the MTP influent works, the rate of flow for discharge to the plant will be restricted to 3001/s. The underground pumping station will use two submersible 250 hp pumps supplied
By Tom Davey, Publisher
mmt
Lake Ontano
Tunnel
Ontano
by KSB Pumps. The variable speed pumps are controlled to maintain spe cific flows.
As pumping continues, online sen sors (turbidity and suspended-solids meters) on the pump discharge piping will determine that clearer water is
being pumped and this will initiate a
change in the pump discharge location. Clearer liquid can be discharged back to Lake Ontario as long as it meets spe cific criteria and as long as it is disin fected during the summer bathing period from May to September. To provide disinfection, the pumpConlinued overleaf
KSB Submersible Pumps and Mixers Quality Engineered Machines. Reiiable, Low Maintenance • Sewage and Wastewater transportation and purification • Irrigation and Drainage stations
•Water supply and cooling water pumping stations • Flood control and Storm water handling
Special Material and Construction for highly abrasive and corrosive media
KSB
S
KSB Pumps Inc.
65 Queen Street West, suite 405 Toronto ON
Canada M5H 2M5
Tel.: (416) 868- 9049 • Fax: (416) 868-9406 Environmental Science & Engineering, June 1999
For more information, circle reply card No. 118 (See page 25)
27
Special ES&E Report ing station has a UV disinfection cham ber. The proposed supplier of the sys tem is UltraGuard from British Colum
bia. During non-bathing periods,treated discharges can go to the lake without disinfection. During periods oflake dis charge, the maximum flow rate will be increased to 500 1/s.
Complexities of the design of the pumping system relate to the substan tial range in possible heads which each pump will see during the emptying proc ess. Assuming that the system is full,
the pumps will initially start and dis charge through the forcemain to the MTI. Total system head at this time will be less than 10 metres, made up of ap proximately 5 metres of static lift and 5 metres of friction head. If the system is full, and discharge is made to the lake, total head drops to less than 5 metres and, even at minimum speeds, there would be concern over pump run-out. As the Certificate of Approval(C of A) is very stringent on maximum dis charge rates to either the lake or the MTI,
Ultra SGuard UV POWER DISINFECTION
Advancements in UV lamp and System Design mean significant benefits for the user: More Efficient High-Intensity UV Lamp • Peipetiial plasma ready state means instant response to 'flow surge' events. • Power use reduced by 85% compared to High-Intensity Med-Pressure Lamps. • Infinitely variable UV Lamp and Power Controller.
• More germicidal UV output per kW. • Fewer UV lamps needed.
Patented reactor chamber surrounds each lamp • Delivers the more intense UV light more effectively by bringing
the control offlow with head using vari
able speed is the predominant control requirement. Even with one pump run ning, there is difficulty in controlling the discharge to the MTI,although it is now estimated that one pump can be re stricted to an output of 240 1/s as com pared to the maximum of 300 1/s. As levels drop in the shaft, which re flects diminishing levels in the three large shafts, the first duty pump speed will be regulated so that the discharge does not exceed 300 1/s. By the time the system has dropped 10 metres and assuming that discharge is still to the MTI, the second pump can start. Lim ited information suggests that, by the time the level is lowered even a small
amount,the liquid will clarify to a point where lake discharge is possible. As discharge valves close to the forcemain and open for lake discharge in response to turbidity measurement on the discharge, the control system will
adjust the rate of flow and pump speed. It is now expected that the shaft system will be drained substantially in the lake discharge mode until the levels get down to close to the tunnel level, at which
point, solids may migrate along the tun nel requiring changes back and forth be tween the two discharge points. As the system is emptied, assuming solids are being pumped to the MTI,the maximum head on the pumps will have increased to 65 metres, of which close to 50 metres are within the shafts as
static lift. Again at the bottom, it may
the contaminants to the UV source.
• Reactor induced turbulence ensures more partiele surface area exposure to germicidal UV. • Reactor Chamber delivers higher quality disinfection (even in murky fluids with higher solids loading) System Features. • Patented Flow Balanced Weir/Lower Hydraulic Headloss/ Even Velocity Profile throughout channel. • Automated Dose Pacing to suit varying flow/waste characteristics.
By The Numbers Toronto's system of managing wastewater involves some mind-boggling statistics:
•475 billion litres treated annually •9.5 billion litres stormwater untreated
•4.5 billion litres partially treated •4 treatment plants •45 pumping stations •5 detention tunnels/tanks
• Automated cleaning/
•36 stormwater ponds •463,300 service connections • 120,000 maintenance fioles •4,143 km sanitary sewer lines •4,533 km storm sewer lines
Less maintenance. • Environment/
operator friendly. • Smaller footprint.
• 1,301 km combined sewers • 2,632 storm sewer outfalls •79 combined sewer outfalls • 371 km watercourses
UV Systems Technology Inc.
2800 Ingleton Avenue, Burnaby, B.C., Canada V5C 6C7 Tel:(604)451-1069, Fax:(604)451-1072
Web Site: http://www.ultraguard.com • E-mail: info@ultraguard.com
28
For more information, circie reply card No. 119 (See page 25)
•$151 million 1999 operating costs •$182 million 1999 capital costs • 1,071 full-time employees Source: Toronto Sun
Environmental Science & Engineering, June 1999
Special ES&E Report not be possible to sustain the maximum rate of flow. Treatment System Effluent discharges during the bathing season will be disinfected with ultraviolet light. With regard to the design parameters of the UV, considerable discussion occurred. Limited sampling revealed that existing outfalls had limited solids levels and there was not a substantial
amount of organic matter included in the waste. Even af ter 15 days, a sample had not gone septic. Sampling also showed that the solids settled quickly and the resultant transmissivity of UV light through the liquid was relatively high, i.e., between 30 and 50. To be conservative,the UV system was selected to meet a maximum TSS level of 50 mgl while providing for an effluent E. coli level of <1000/100 ml. The design is based on transmissivity levels of 30 but the selected system will allow for reduced UV intensity when transmission oflight is determined by sensors to be better than 30. Until 1998, the Mega City was called Metropolitan Toronto and comprised six cities and boroughs. There were many predictions that amalgamation would be disastrous but Mel Eastman,it is generally conceded,has done a great job as the first Mega City Mayor. Technical engineering staff, too, have generally adapted well to the complex chal lenges posed by amalgamation such as the huge CSO project. ❖
Revolutionary Brush System Prevents Algae Build-Up in Clarifiers Called Algae Sweep
makes it durable and
Automation (ASA), this patented system of
system is backed by a five-
spring-loaded brushes is in
year warranty on parts,
continual use at WWTPs
except for brushes, and a one-year warranty on labor.
throughout the nation. Developed and manufac tured by the Ford Hall Company, the ASA system
Environmental Business
Opportunities Conference Toronto, September 9, 1999 Meet "one on one" with Mayors, Deputy Mayors and Environment Department Heads from 13 Chinese cities with opportunities in 20 specific environmental projects involving:
attaches to the skimmer arms of circular clarifiers.
fiers, but many engineers
Its brushes provide over 50 points of flexibility and adjustment to ensure thorough cleaning of even the most irregular of tank surfaces. When engaged— minutes to engage the system—ASA totally elim
•
Dust and SO^ emission control
•
Solid waste treatment
costs by removing normal algae build-up from all
•
Wastewater treatment
effluent surfaces.
For detailed information or to identify your Chinese counterpart, please contact: Twin Bridges Inc. Tel:(416) 369-9125
have found that it is more efficient and cost-effective
to design them into new or expansion projects. Free Video Demo
it takes less than two
Atmospheric monitoring
Pre-registered trade attendance only.
Customer satisfaction is
guaranteed 100 percent. ASA systems can be installed on existing clari
•
Opportunity to choose your meeting partner among the key decision makers prior to the conference. Conference is co-sponsored by the Chinese Mayors'Association. Presentation on government loans and support will be featured at lunch time.
maintenance free. And each
inates labor and chemical
To receive a free demon stration video of the
ASA system and a list of references, please give us a call at 1 800 928-2070.
Consequently, the average ASA system pays for itself in less than two
years while optimizing clarifier performance and making WWTPs safer places to work. Each ASA system is custom designed for its installation and constructed
of stainless steel, which
Ford Hall Company, Inc. http;//www.fordhall.com P.O. Box 54312
Lexington, Kentucky 40555 1 800 928-2070
E-mail: tbi@idirect.com
Environmental Science & Engineering, June 1999
For more information, circle reply card No. 120 (See page 25)
Drinking Water Quality
Treatment of sludge and filter wash-water Removing the threat of recycling cysts
Surface water often contains pathogenic bacteria that
may be harmful to human health. In North America, more and more microorganisms are being found Giardia cysts and Cryptosporidium,for example. We still remember widespread contaminations such as the one that
Figure 2
occurred in Milwaukee in 1993 when 400,000 cases of infec
tion were reported. More recently, there have been cases re ported in Sydney, Australia. Surface water, therefore, requires multi-stage treatment starting with coagulation-flocculation and sedimentation,fol lowed by filtration using dual- or even multi-media filters, and finally disinfection, in order to satisfy officially-control
Legend: 1. Raw water; 2. Reactor; 3. Modules; 4. Troughs; 5. Treated water; 6. Scraper; 7. Sludge recycling; 8. Sludge extraction
led health standards.
Today, the target standards require a reduction of at least four log(99.99%)in the treatment of surface water before it is distributed into the drinking water system of urban communi ties, but these targets may be revised upwards. However,even ifthe multi-stage treatment ofsurface water produces adequate drinking water,a major problem still remains-the final desti nation of the sludge and thefilter wash-water. In large and medium-sized urban centres, conventional treatment of the sludge by thickening (if the water is too di luted) and dewatering reduces its volume prior to discharge. Filter wash-water, however,can no longer be sent to the head end without treatment because of the danger of recycling the cysts trapped in the filters and concentrated in the washwater.
So water must be collected in an intermediate tank which
must be equipped with a clarifier to separate the recirculated "clarified water", possibly after being disinfected, from the bottom sludge which is sent to the thickener. This solution requires the construction and management of large, complex tanks. (Figure 1)
ener and the sludge is more concentrated. (Figure 2) In addi tion, the tank used to store the filter wash-water can be re
duced to the size needed for storage purposes and does not require a special shape. This solution has been chosen by various water treatment companies in the UK. The Purton Water Treatment Works in
Bristol treats 173,000 mVday(45 MOD)and is comprised of a pre-ozonation step,followed by coagulation-sedimentation, sand filtration, post-ozonation, filtration through activated charcoal and post-chlorination. Wash-water from the sand and activated charcoal filters is
collected in three storage/agitator tanks with a capacity of875
m^ and later shows an average concentration of less than I gr/ L of suspended matter. It is then pumped by three pumps,each with a capacity of 110 m%our (two in operation plus one on standby), into a Densadeg with a lamellar surface of 15 m^. When it exits the Densadeg, the thickened sludge has a weight concentration of4-6% and the clarified water contains less than 10 mg/L of suspended matter (turbidity <5 NTU). This water is then retumed to the plant head-end to minimize the amount dischaiged into the receiving water. (Figure 3).
Figure 1 - tank with a surface intake device
Figure 3
DENSADEG COMMISSIONING (PURTON,UK)
--J- . Supernatant Wash-water
I
-
Sludge
h
Depending on the type of sludge leaving the clarifier, it can be sent either to a storage tank (i.e. sludge from a flotation unit or a Densadeg)or to a wash-water collecting tank where it is mixed with the wash-water and sent to a Densadeg thick ener. This last solution has the added advantage of reducing the size of the tank that stores the sludge prior to dewatering, because the sludge exiting the Densadeg can reach 4-6% con
Vd
V
I H)
1 ; â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Turbidity(NTU) | .
I
.
Ai
\
l\/\
A N 11
January 1995
centration instead of the 2-3% obtained with a conventional thickener.
The Densadeg offers an innovative solution to the treat ment of the wash-water. By combining a reactor "enriched" by recirculation with a sludge thickening zone and a lameller sedimentation and supernatant water collection zone, it pro vides significant savings in investment costs and safer opera tion; the clarified water is clearer than in a traditional thick-
By Jacques Moles, Degremont S.A. and Jean-Yves Sergei, Degremont infiico, Canada 30
The thickened sludge is then dehydrated in filter presses prior to burial.
In addition to being a more ecologically sound solution for the combined treatment of the sludge and filter wash-water in a drinking water treatment plant, this altemative solution has significant advantages in terms of the amount of land used (it is more compact and saves space), capital costs and opera tions management. It also reduces the danger of discharging sludge that contains harmful microorganisms into the receiv ing water. For more information, circle reply card No. 122 Environmental Science & Engineering, June 1999
HOFFMAN Centrifugal Air/Gas Compressors & Exhausters Hoffman Multi-stage Centrifugal Compressors & Exhausters are available for requirements to 45,000 CFM, at discharge pressures to 25 psig or 19" Hg vacuum for air & gas service. Hoffman centrifugals have been operating with utmost reliability and efficiency in many diverse applications such as
TriTTT KMJJ
sewage aeration, combustion, drying, agitation, fluidizing, oxidation, vacuum cleaning, cooling and pneumatic conveying among others for more than 90 years.
Si'BTR Environmental
.O.
HOFFMAN Industries of Canada Limited
58 Bertal Road, Toronto, Ontario, MBM 4M4, Tel(416)763-4681 Fax:(416)763-0440 email: hoffman.can@btrinc.com, website: www.hoffmanair.com
For more information, circle reply card No. 145(See page 25)
15 â&#x2013;ĄF
International Exhibition ENVIRDNIvlENTAL
1M1, Miller Freeman â&#x20AC;˘ a Cuiied tvews & Media ciiinpnny
EQUIPMENT,
In association with:
TECHNOLOGY AND SERVICES FOR INDUSTRY
ADEME
Energies 99
An official Canadian pavilion will be organised once again. Be there !
CH I consider exhibiting and wish to receive an exhibitor fiie. Name:
CH I wish to visit the exhibition and to receive an invitation. |P9/120| First name:
Company:
Activity:
Address:
.Town;
Zip code:. ,
Country: Fax:
Tel.: Exhibitors:
Visitors:
Rosemarle Ojaivo Tel: (519) 433 0531 - Fax: (519) 433 C811 e-mail: ro@ocimktg,com
Promosalons Canada
Environmental Science & Engineering, June 1999
Tel: (416) 929 25 62 - Fax: (416) 929 25 64 e-mail: info@promosalons.com
For more Information, circle reply card No. 123 (See page 25)
31
Stormwater
Testing requirements forstormwater monitoring A review of Best Management Practices
Therehas been much discussion
lately about the need for test ing and verification of storm water Best Management Prac tices (BMPs). Numerous testing and verification programs have evolved in recent years throughout North America. These include Environmental Technol
ogy Verification, Environmental Tech nology Evaluation Center, and Strategic Envirotechnology Partnership. These programs are a direct result of the prolif eration of new environmental technolo
gies which naturally raises questions re garding their performance. This has, in turn,led to greater scrutiny ofstormwater monitoring in general. The issues being debated include the validity of field testing, laboratory testing, and the need for "independ ent" field monitoring. Eield monitoring has drawbacks. Some automatic
operate under anything but controlled conditions. Accordingly,field perform ance varies based on numerous factors
pended Solids removal) without any supporting information regarding land use, pollutant loading, and site condi
including climate, site conditions, land
tions. These factors directly influence
use, water temperature, interaction of pollutants, particle size distribution and
the performance of a BMP and must be
variability of particle size distribution with rainfall intensity and flocculation. None of these can be properly accounted for in laboratory testing. Similarly, stormwater related engi neering calculations and computer modeling are based on numerous as sumptions that over-simplify the pollut ant removal process (e.g. discrete parti cle settling). Computer modeling is ex-
effectiveness. These factors must also
taken into account when reporting the be considered when determining the usefulness of a BMP for water quality enhancement and when comparing dif ferent BMP technologies. In a sense, it
is important to normalize the results based on site-specific conditions in or der to compare apples to apples. Another issue that is commonly de bated is the need for independent moni toring. Independent moni toring refers to third party monitoring that is not paid for directly by the manufacturer or proponent of the BMP. Many proponents of pro prietary BMPs choose con sultants to perform field monitoring to determine per
samplers are less than ideal formance estimates. Con since they may be prone to sultant monitoring that is failure or may not take rep paid for by the proponent is resentative samples due to Testing and verification programs are necessary to properly seen to be less credible than equipment limitations and understand the function of innovative technologies. agency testing. While it can pollutant characteristics (oil coating, composition alterations). tremely useful in assessing the hydro- not be contested that there are good con Manual sampling is expensive, requires logical factors for design and provides sultants and bad consultants, this atti planning level performance estimates tude perpetuates a negative opinion experience and still requires an estima about engineering consultants in gen tion of flowrate. Strecker(1998) noted for BMPs. These performance esti eral. A preferable solution would be to a study in Wisconsin which determined mates, however, are limited by the un that the error in flow measurements us derlying assumptions in each model/ accredit consultants to perform field monitoring and provide a list of approved ing 23 different techniques was easily calculation. Eield monitoring can be used to aug consultants who may be retained for pro in the order of+25% over a range of 50 storms(Waschbusch and Owens, 1998) ment laboratory testing and engineering ponent testing. It is apparent that there are many pit compared to a calibrated Palmer-Bowlus calculations. If the field monitoring in flume. The error for individual storms dicates better or worse performance than falls associated with performance test ing and the reporting of performance was even greater. laboratory testing and theoretical calcu lations, then this data must be given con results. Accordingly, an independent Although field monitoring is prob lematic, it is a necessary part of the siderable weight because it represents evaluation of a technology must be con evaluation process. The alternative "real world" conditions. There are many ducted, that considers all relevant data would be to accept laboratory testing or site-specific variables which will affect concerning that technology (field moni engineering calculations/computer the results of a single field study. There toring, laboratory testing, computer fore, numerous field studies must be modeling), in order to provide a fair as modeling alone. Both of these alterna tives, while useful, provide limited data conducted under different climate, land sessment of performance. upon which to make a decision. usage, and pollutant loading conditions This four-step process (laboratory, theoretical/computer, field monitoring, Laboratory testing provides initial to determine the full range of BMP per independent evaluations), provides de performance results under controlled formance. This underscores a prevalent problem signers and regulators alike with a level conditions. Actual BMP installations with the current way in which field tests of confidence to appropriately apply a given technology for stormwater quality. are summarized. Typically, BMP per By Graham Bryant, P.Eng. For more information, formance is provided in the form of a Stormceptor Canada Inc. summary number (e.g. % Total Sus circle reply card No. 124 32
Environmental Science & Engineering, June 1999
CH2M Gore & Storrie Limited
Environmental engineers, planners and scientists Water Supply and Distribution
Tunnels and Underground Works
Solid Waste Management
Water Resources Engineering
Residuals Management
Systems Analysis Modelling
Process Control
Air Management
Industrial Services
Environmental Planning
Energy Management
Environmental Laboratory
Wastewater Collection, Treatment and Disposal
Environmental Site Characterization/Reconciliation
Waterloo
Toronto
180 King Street South, Suite 600 Waterloo, Ontario N2J 1P8 tel: (519) 579-3500 fax;(519) 579-8986 direct dial: (519) 579-3501 + ext.
255 Consumers Road
555 - 4th Avenue SW, Suite 1500
North York, Ontario M2J 5B6
Calgary, Alberta T2P 3E7 tel: (403) 237-9300 fax: (403)237-7715 direct dial: (403) 237-5691 +ext.
Barrie
Calgary
tel:(416)499-9000 fax:(416)499-4687 direct dial:(416)499-0090 + ext. London • Ottawa • Thorold
Vancouver
For more information, circle reply card No. 146(See page 25)
INTEX Osaka, Japan • October 20-23, 1999 • Over 60,
ATTENDANCE
JEIEO Japan External Trade Organization
www.environmentjapan.org ,
Exhibiting at this show is your chance to meet buyers and importers of environmental products in Japan, one of the
r'/ world's largest and fastest growing eco-business markets.
'^WlWELCOHEiUPPLIffiOf: - Environmental protection and pollution abatement ^■
' - Energy conservation and new-energy products -Waste treatment and recycling
Jetro Toronto
Jetro Montreal
Contact: Christine Huang
Contact: Marina Brzeski
Contact: Gayle Oyama
Tel: (416) 861-0000 x231
Tel: (514) 879-5617 x231
Tel: (604) 684-4147
Fax:(416) 861-9666
Fax:(514) 879-5618
Fax:(604) 684-6877
huangc@toronto.jetro.org
mbrzeskl@mlink.net
jetrovan@canadex.com
Environmental Science & Engineering, June 1999
Jetro Vancouver
For more information, circle reply card No. 142 See page 25)
33
PCB Update
Breakthrough in PCB destruction? An outline of a biochemical option
An integrated biochemical process has been developed for the biological destruc
tion of 1260/1254 Aroclor
PCBs and other chlorinated organics. It involves the use and application of surfactants, enzyme augmentation and bacterial and fungi bioaugmentation. The process, developed by HobbsMiller-Maat Inc.(HMM), microbiolo-
gists, chemists and engineers, during the last three years, has now been success fully implemented at pilot and full scale for the biological destruction of PCBs (Aroclor 1260/1254)in soils and in PCB contaminated oils.
Biological treatment of soils con taminated with organic compounds is a technology that has been developed and commercialized in the last 10 years. Biological treatment has been achieved using indigenous bacteria (those found in the soil) and has been augmented with the addition of specifically cultured bac teria strains by techniques commonly referred to as bioaugmentation. These approaches have proven to be successful in many cases, especially in the degradation of short to medium chain hydrocarbons. Use of these tech niques for longer chain hydrocarbons and/or chlorinated organics was severely limited due to the inability of the con taminates to hydrolyze and penetrate the bacteria cell wall and undergo metabolization by intracellular enzymes pro duced by bacteria. The biological mech anism responsible for the degradation of the contaminants using fungi was found to be substantially different than that of bacteria as earlier described.
Fungi produce enzymes, which break down the chemical bonds in an organic molecule, but with an important differ ence. Fungal enzymes may be both non specific and extra cellular.
Because
they are non-spe cific, they work to break up a wide range of bonds, in cluding complex, non repeating, or-
By Derk Maat, M.Eng., P.Eng. Chief Engineer, Hobbs-Miiler-Maat Inc.
34
Installation of 60 mil liner, drainage layer, and forced air aeration system In engi neered bioplle. ganic structures. Because the enzymes are extra cellular, the fungi need only be in close proximity to the contaminant to be effective.
The ability of fungi to break down complex organics has been understood for centuries. In the 1970s significant studies were conducted in conjunction with coal liquification research to un derstand the mechanisms by which fungi degrade PCBs and coal tars. For more than a decade,fungi have also been stud ied as highly potent agents for the remediation of contaminated soils. HMM has combined the scientific
knowledge base for bacteria enzymes and fungi into an integrated biotreatment process for the biodegradation of PCBs and other chlorinated organics. The first stage of treatment in the process is the application of the HMM developed surfactants to pretreat the soil. The team of bio experts has developed hydrocarbon specific proprietary biode gradable organic non-solvent based surfactants that are used to "prepare" the soils for enzyme and microbial treat ment. The surfactants begin to break the absorptive bond between the soil parti cles and contaminant molecules,thereby allowing the contaminant to emulsify into the water added as part of the sur factant solution. The development of expertise in the extraction of bacterial and fungal enzymes has led HMM to
select, extract concentrates and apply enzymes to contaminated soils. The enzymes used as part of the sec ond stage treatment process are ex tracted from a wide range of bacteria and fungi known to degrade long chain hy drocarbons and chlorinated organics. The enzymes are produced in biofermentation reactions, using 27 different fungi strains and 25 different bacterial strains. The enzymes are extracted by means of an automatic biochemical
process. This process dissolves the bac terial cell wall and cytoplasmic mem branes in fungi, thereby releasing the enzymes.
The enzymes classed as oxygenesses utilize oxygen to break the long chain bonds in hydrocarbon based chlorinated organic molecules. The resulting shorter chain molecules are then degraded and mineralized by the multi strain bacteria and fungi that HMM has selected to com plete the biodegradation process. The enzymes act as a "key" to unlock the chlo rinated organic degradation process. The third stage of the treatment proc ess involves the application of selected bacterial and fungi strains to the soil to complete the degradation and minerali zation of the PCBs to carbon dioxide, water, and chlorides.
HMM microbiologist Leo Sanders and Dr. Clarence Bough have a combined 60 years of experience in the field of bac-
Environmental Science & Engineering, June 1999
PCB Update terial and fungal strain selection and culturing. They have developed a combi nation of 50 bacterial and fungal strains which co-metabolize, degrade and min eralize targeted contaminants, PCBs in this case, to their final end products. Both macronutrients, N (P) and micronutrients (amino acids, vitamins)
Announcement
biocell where soils are fully contained in lined and tarped biocells complete with forced-air piped aeration systems. The engineered biopiles are designed and constructed to facilitate repeat in oculations of HMM bioproducts, with out biocell disruption. Process control of and monitoring of internal biocell reactions is achieved via off gas moni toring and internal probes to increase temperature and moisture to ensure op biocell leachate and off gases are col
XCG is pleased to announce that Rob Booth, M.Eng., P.Eng., has joined the com pany as Associate and Director of Site Assessment, Auditing and Remediation. Rob has overtwentyyears of environmen tal engineering experience in contami nated groundwater, domestic water and
mediate metabolites are found which
lected, contained, monitored and recir
wastewater treatment, contaminated soil
may increase soil toxicity.
culated for treatment if necessary. The complete engineered biochemi cal system, including the bioproducts, bioaugmentation process and engi neered biocell protocols, is now known as the HMM "Engineered Microzyme Process". The process has been specifi cally developed for the biological deg radation of PCBs pesticides and other recalcitrant toxic organic compounds listed in Time magazine as the globe's "Dirty Dozen" of organic toxic com pounds. For more information, circle reply card No. 169
remediation, technology research and de velopment and technology evaluation. His expertise wi l l complement the site remediation scientists and engineers in our offices in Kitchener, Mississauga, Kingston, Vancouver, the USA and Spain. XCG is an environmental engineering specialty company focusing on site as
are also added in repeat applications to the process to catalyze and stimulate the biological degradation mechanisms. The addition of significant dosages of micro organisms ensures that no inter
The use of the HMM surfactants, en
zymes and micro organisms using both selected strains of bacteria and fungi, has enabled HMM to treat not only soil but also "free product" hydrocarbon oils and solvents containing PCBs and other chlorinated organics. The application protocols for biologi cal processes developed by HMM for PCBs and other chlorinated compounds have been engineered by HMM's found ing partner Derk Z. Maat. The application protocol for PCB biodegradation utilizes engineered
_
CAEAL
timum conditions at all times. All
sessment, remediation, brownfields devel
opment, risk assessment, hydrogeological investigations, groundwater modelling, treatment plant operations, industrial and municipal wastewater treatment, and watershed and stormwater management. Rob is located in our Kitchener office
and can be reached at: (519) 741-5774, or E-mail: robbooth@xcg.com.
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or call us at:(613)233-5300 Quality Assurance For Environmental Laboratories
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(with accreditation by the Standards Council of Canada) The Canadian Association for
Environmental Analytical Laboratories For more information, circle reply card No. 147 (See page 25)
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For more information, circle reply card No. 188 (See page 25)
Hazardous Wastes
Deadly toxins released on Hwy. 403 Teams battle extreme heat for 15 hours fully loaded tractor-trailer
A
from the US was involved
in a multiple vehicle acci dent on Ontario's 403 High way, June 8th at about 7:30 a.m. The truck appeared to be no different from any of the other thousands of trucks that travel the 403 each day. The fact that this unit had several warning placards properly placed on the truck concerned officials.
ammonium hydroxide, batteries, sodium nitrate, ethanol, chloroform, ethylene oxide, pyridine, and pentachlorophenol, werejust some of the materials on board. Given the information derived from
the shipping papers it was determined that reaction and Lower Explosive Lim its(LEL) were the main concerns. The condition of the drums was unknown.
tainer for decontamination.
The Initial Entry Crew de parted the scene and entered
The
trailer had 40 placard holders and some 20 actual placards in place.
the decontamination unit. The
digital disk was printed off in colour. Police,fire, and insur
Ontario Provincial Police
ance personnel viewed the photos and a plan of attack
were on site within minutes of
the five vehicle pile up. The rig was upright and moder ately out of position on the highway but several pools of liquid were forming beneath the truck. Some approaching
was formed.
The Burlington Fire De partment stood down their HazMat Teams and became
support services to the private HazMat Team. Safety Kleen was contacted to bring a 3,500-gallon vac truck to the site to pump the decontamina tion water and any firefight ers' runoff. Halton Regional
OPP officers were overcome
by fumes or vapours and sub sequently sent to the local hos pital. Burlington Fire Depart ment(BFD)Hazardous Mate
rials Crews were dispatched to the site and set up for a Haz
Police issued an evacuation to
nearby businesses as the situ
ardous Materials Incident.
The
OPP
ward, causing several drums to be com pressed, thus losing their lids. Three large cardboard type totes were also shifted from their containment pallets. One of the large totes had lost its integ rity and allowed a white powder to es cape its confines. Several shots were taken using the digital camera and the disk was placed into a Tupperware con
Dangerous
ation was still unstable and
Goods Officers then made the
great potential for reaction was still present. Wearing Level A suits, the
decision to close the highway in both directions for what
would be approximately 9.5 hrs, a major decision as this highway is a main route be tween such major cities as Are your sewers protected against this? Hamilton and Toronto. Also of concern was the fact that large OPP also called in TEAM-1 Environ
mental who responded with a six man crew and Ontario's only privately oper ated Mobile Decontamination Unit.
Upon arrival(17 minutes from OPP call in) TEAM-1 replaced the Fire Service two pool decontamination system with their fully contained Decon trailer. Shipping papers were accessed and studied by all parties. The concern was the mixed load of toxic waste bound for
a disposal site. Some of the contents read like a recipe for disaster had they mixed together. Mercury, sulfuric acid,
By Mitchell Gibbs, Manager, Emergency Services, TEAM-1 Environmental 36
sacs of oxidizers were also on board.
Using a Sony digital camera and other devices such as photo ionization, LEL meters and O, meters, the BFD HazMat crew approached the rear of the trailer. A support crew from the BFD was stationed 35 feet away upwind, wearing chemical protective clothing, supplied by TEAM-1, and manning an attack line for fire suppression. The rear door was opened a 1/4 inch to allow in sertion of the air monitoring probes. The explosive atmosphere had a reading of 5% and the volatile organic vapours were at 60 ppm. This illustrated that some form of release had taken place. The doors were then fully opened to reveal that the entire load had shifted for
team re-entered the trailer. It
was determined that this op eration would be a lengthy one. Each of the 64 drums on
board had to be handled and inspected for integrity. Several had their lids popped off and their contents exposed. The OPP would not allow the trailer to
be moved until all spillage and other related issues had been dealt with.
As the temperature on the highway reached 103°E,it was apparent that many relief shifts would be required. The Burlington Fire Department brought in a canteen truck with plenty of food and liquids. Ambulance personnel were sta tioned nearby and put into action as clean-up personnel required attention due to heat stress. It was estimated that
the trailer temperature would be in the 130° range. When combined with gastight, fully encapsulated level A suits, the discomfort levels were acute. Nor-
Environmental Science & Engineering, June 1999
Hazardous Wastes
mally the crew looks to the decontami nation trailer as a place to cool down. Instead they found 18 engineered showerheads were discharging 160° water because the hoses had been lying on hot pavement. A flat bed tow truck was brought in to facilitate the unloading of the sacs of oxidizer, thus allowing some room to deal with the drums. The levels of danger dropped as the job progressed. Once the readings of air quality and product famil
•r
X
iarization became comfortable, the lev
els of protection were dropped to Level B. Later, arrangements were made with Safety Kleen to complete the recovery op eration at their secure location in Halton. Once the site was determined to be
safe and secure, the investigation and recovery of the other damaged vehicles took place. OPP heavy truck officers investigated and assessed the damage to the tractor and trailer. The tractor alone
sustained some $20,000 damage. The load was secured under the di
rection of the OPP Dangerous Goods Officers and other officials. TEAM-1
contacted the Ontario MOE to get a "Directors Order" to allow the transport by the non-approved vehicles carrying waste to the secure site. Under the direction and escort of the
OPP and the Halton Regional police, the convoy of response vehicles was taken to the secure site for unloading. Once the load was positioned at the Safety Kleen licensed hazardous waste
TEAM-1 relief crew gets briefed on progress by initial entry crew members.
processing facility it was discovered that a substantial amount of mercury had spilled. TEAM-1 crew entered the trailer and transferred the contents drum by drum to another trailer. Using special ized vacuums, the mercury was recov ered and repacked into approved contain
was completed at 11 p.m. the same day. OPP,Transport Canada and the MOE are continuing their respective investiga tions on the Dangerous Goods transport ing of this load oftoxic waste. The driver was charged with careless driving. For more information,
ers. Given the heat of the trailer it was
circie reply card No. 170
necessary that SCBA be used again. The trailer was washed out using Mercon mercury treatment solutions and dried. The oxidizer powder was also re packed and placed onto the second trailer for transport to a waste disposal facility. The project, which began at 7:30 a.m..
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Z
Hazardous Wastes
HAROLD MARCUS
ARET achieves reductions
but more action urged
TANK TRUCK SERVICE
A RET,introduced in 1994, is a voluntary program to re
substances including lead, arsenic and benzene. But voluntary efforts have fallen short for other substances such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs).
duce or eliminate releases of Today, Harold Marcus Ltd. is toxic substances. Partici pleased to service a wide variety of Under the new Canadian Environ your waste transportation require pants in ARET (Accelerated Reduction and Elimination of Toxics) represent mental Protection Act(CEPA),the Gov ments throughout Canada and the ernment of Canada will have two years nine major industry sectors and govern USA. This growth can be attributed ment. The goal is a 90% reduction of to develop control measures for toxic
to our commitment to performance,
30 persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic
substances and eighteen months to im
expertise and dependability.
(PBT)substances, and a 50% reduction of another 87 toxic substances by the year 2000. The 1997 results in the report Envi ronmental Leaders3(ELS), show that the 303 facilities participating in ARET have
plement them. This means companies will be required to act more quickly
reduced their overall toxic substance
emissions by 24,090 tonnes, a 64% de crease from base-year levels. Participants
since deadlines for taking action to pre vent pollution from toxic substances are included in the Bill. It will also be easier
...the 303 facilities
participating in ARET
have committed to a further reduction of
5,172 tonnes by the year 2000.
With a strong emphasis on mainte nance and cleanliness, our custom
ers are assured of having the most modem "user friendly" fleet of stain less, fiberglass tankers, Vac tankers,
Ofthe 303 participating facilities, 118 reached or surpasses their reduction goals three years ahead of schedule. Overall reduction targets have been met for 50
have reduced their overall toxic substance
emissions by 24,090 tonnes, a 64% decrease
vans, dumps, roll-offs, pneumatics and walking floors the industry has
from base-year levels.
to offer. to access relevant environmental infor
From maintenance to safety and training,from operations to manage ment, the Marcus team of experi
enced professionals looks forward to meeting your present and future waste transportation requirements.
FRONTENAC
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mation through a new environmental registry available on the Internet. Other measures, such as making the National Pollutant Release Inventory mandatory, will ensure Canadians have access to upto-date information about pollution in their communities so they can make in formed environmental choices.
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R.R. #3
ARET and similar programs have shown that in many cases,reducing pol lution can be achieved more quickly through voluntary measures than through regulations. In some sectors, however, regulation is more effective because it ensures full compliance and a level playing field for all companies. The Government of Canada is cur
rently developing a policy framework for future voluntary environmental agreements. It will include specific de sign criteria, and consequences for not meeting targets and timelines. The policy framework will also ensure that there is public participation, and verifi cation of results.
The EL3 report is available on the Green Lane, Environment Canada's Internet site at: www.ec.gc.ca/aret/el3.
Bothwell, Ontario NOP ICO For more information,
For more information,
circle reply card No. 149
circle reply card No. 175
Hazardous Wastes
MOE releases Waste Study Report
A report profiling Ontario's waste management industry was recently released by the MOE's Green Industry
Office. Economic and MarketAssessment
ofthe Ontario Waste Management Indus try, was prepared for the Ministry in No vember, 1998 by TCI Convergence Lim ited. It deals primarily with industrial and hazardous waste management. It provides a general overview of the size and struc ture of the industry and an overview of opportunities for Ontario-based firms in both domestic and international markets.
Highlights • The Ontario waste management in dustry earned $1.28 billion in 1995(43% of total Canadian waste management industry revenues). There were 385 Ontario companies in this subsector in 1995,employing 6,624 people. The vast majority of companies in this sector (81%)are small and medium sized, with less than 65 employees. • The report includes information on domestic market opportunities in indus trial waste streams, with key stakeholders that waste companies could contact ifthey wish to pursue these opportunities. In general, mai'ket opportunities exist where problematic waste streams are found,and where waste streams have been tradition
ally dealt with off-site. • International market opportunities for Ontario waste companies are strong in South America and Asia (China, India). The US remains the most promising mar
R'2000 Recovery • Recycling • Re-integration 5th World Congress and Trade Show
ket for environmental products and serv ices, including waste management com panies. Small companies in paiticular are experiencing difficulty in capitalizing fully on export market opportunities due to specific barriers to entry. • There has been a trend to industry
June 5-9, 2000 Toronto Convention Centre •Toronto • Canada
consolidation, and a shift from end-of-
pipe treatment to pollution prevention. The sector will continue to be comprised of a few very large companies and many smaller firms with niche products and services; medium sized companies will be acquisition targets. Companies need to develop closer relationships with cus tomers,and position themselves as add ing value through innovative methods of waste prevention or re-use. Environ mental success stories are not well
known and the general public has a poor perception of this sector of the environ ment industry. • Major challenges facing the industry include: accessing investment and loan funds, especially smaller companies who report difficulty raising capital for start-up or expansion; low investment in R&D for new technologies; lack of
The
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RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
to iDe held for the
sufficient waste in some markets for use
as raw material; lack of business exper tise and experience; and the fragmented nature of the industry. For further information on the report or to obtain a copy,contact Nora Curland, Creen Industry Office, Tel: (416) 3147912, Fax:(416) 314-7919, or E-mail: gurlanno@ene.gov.on.ca.
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For more information, circle reply card No. 171 (See page 25)
For more information, circle reply card No. 166
Hazardous Wastes
Fibrous material used to clean up oil spills A chemically treated fibrous ma terial that removes oil from water
has been developed at the Univer sity of Wales' award-winning BioComposites Centre in Bangor, Wales. The photo shows a small sample (one gram) of softwood fibre during laboratory tests. The
I?
beaker of water had contained 25 millilitres of coloured oil that were
removed by the fibre.
herbicides then enter the atmosphere, and can come back to earth in various forms of precipitation. Environment Canada scientists have been studying the entry of herbicides into the atmosphere, seeking ways to prevent it. At a site in southern Alberta, researchers from the Na
tional Water Research Institute, and Agriculture and AgriFood Canada, tested six herbicides commonly used in prai rie agriculture: two were soil-incorporated herbicides and four had been applied directly to the crop. They found that losses to the atmosphere ranged from 1.5 percent for the soil-incorporated style, and about 4.5% for those applied directly to the crop.
The treated fibre, based on Photo - Mike Pattison
wood or plant fibre (both welltried oil absorbers), has the ca-
pacity to take up at least 25 times its own weight in oil,
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
although, in their natural state the fibres are not selective and will readily pick up both oil and water. The selectivity of the fibre is important; even small traces of oil in large volumes of water can be detected and removed.
KMK CONSULTANTS LIMITED Consulting Engineers, Project Managers
Tests have shown that the new material cleans up sea water so
Design Building of Municipal and Industrial Infrastructure
w
mmm
Ecological Planners, Landscape Architects
KMK DESIGN BUILD LTD.
Brampton Pickering
(905)459-4780 (905)837-0314 Kitchener (519)743-6111 London (519)659-4465 Cobait (705)679-5979 E-mail: kmk@kmk.on.ca
well that no oil content can be detected afterwards. Unlike untreated fibre, the treated fibre never sinks in water which
helps its use and recovery. It can be made for approximately $1,200 a tonne, considerably less than the cost of synthetic alternatives. Contact: www.bc.bango.ac.uk
Pollution Is just blowing In the wind
CELEBRATING 40 YEARS
When the prairie wind picks up upper layers of dusty soil and cairies it off, it also carries away some herbicides. These
For more information, circle reply card No. 189
Potable water.
Portable plant. Ecodyne Monoplants are pre-engineered and pre-assembled into self-contained water treatment units easily transported and quickly installed. Seventeen standard sizes are available to treat from 20
gpm to 500 gpm,for municipal plants and wherever additional or improved water is needed. Each Monopiant contains clarification, filtration, chemical feed and gravity backwash systems. *. Conservatively designed, the Monopiant produces water with an effluent turbidity of less than 1 JTU.
For complete information, contact: Ecodyne Limited 4475 Corporate Drive Burlington, Ontario L7L 5T9 Telephone:(905)332-1404 Toll Free: 1-888-ECODYNE
Fax:(905) 332-6726 Internet: info@ecodyne.com
ft.A member of The Marmon Group of companies
40
For more information, circle reply card No. 134 (See page 25)
WE MAKE WATER WORK WORLDWIDE
Environmental Science & Engineering, June 1999
Water Meters
Turnkey water metering solution for Niagara Falls Canada's largest single water metering installation project to date
The City of Niagara Falls, Ontario,
has
awarded
Schlumberger Resource Management Services a ma jor contract to supply and install a largescale water metering management so lution. This project will include the in stallation of 24,500 water meters with
remote-read capabilities. The focus of the program will be on the installation of water meters in residential homes,
with some changeouts occurring in the commercial and industrial sector. The
project began in June and is expected to be completed by the end of 1999. It could be the largest single-order water meter installation contract in Canadian history. As part of its Water Wise water effi ciency program, the City of Niagara Falls has been considering the issue of residential metering for a number of years, both as a means of ensuring fair and equitable billing, and as a tool for using water resources more efficiently. Continuing with the Canada-wide trend of integrated supply and installation projects, the City sought responses from bidders in March of this year, and Schlumberger Resource Management Services won the project. The contract calls for the company to handle all aspects of the project; this includes meter sizing, selection, supply and installation; recruitment and train
ing of field technicians and service per sonnel; plus all customer contact and ap-
A field technician safely installs aT-10 ProRead water meter in a household in the
City of Niagara Fails. pointment administration. During the installation and commissioning phase, the company will also assume responsi bility for the collection and validation of all billing information. For all residential applications in the City of Niagara Falls, Schlumberger in tends fitting its latest-generation T-10 ProRead water meters in the basements
of customers' premises, with an associ ated remote-read device placed on the outside of the premises. Meter readers will subsequently be able to obtain wa ter consumption data without inconven
iencing customers, simply by interrogat ing the remote-read device with a hand held computer. The handheld comput ers are PC9300 units, which have been
jointly developed by Schlumberger and DAP Technologies of Canada, specifi cally for walk-by meter reading appli cations in cold climates. The entire me
ter reading process, including the pro cessing of all billing information and the assignation of walk-by routes, will be managed by Schlumberger's EZ RouteMAPS software.
Circle reply card No. 158
■ Densoclad and Densopol Bitumen Tapes Cold applied tapes ranging from 20 mils up to 80 mils in thickness.
■ Denso Protal 7000 Liquid Epoxies
A wide range of brush and spray applied epoxies for pipeline applications, Brush application on tie-in with Protal 7000
■ Denso Petrolatum Tapes Gold applied tapes for protection of pipe, valves and fittings. ■ Densotherm Bitumen Tape Hot applied for above or below ground pipeline protection. Find Out More
With over 110 years of experience, Denso Is known around the world for quality products and sen/Ice. Contact Denso North America Inc. at(905)940-8255 for a complete literature package or a no-cost on-slte evaluation of your application.
Environmental Science & Engineering, June 1999
Cold applied Densopol 60 Bitumen Tape. DENSO NORTH AMERICA INC. Toronto:
Edmonton:
75 Shields Court, Unit 3
15 Woodstock Drive
- Markham, ON, Canada, L3R 914
Tel: (905) 940-8255, Fax:(905) 940-8258
Sherwood Park, AB, Canada, T8A 4C4
Tel: (403)910-1717, Fax:(403) 449-5300
www.densona.com
A Member of Winn & Coales International
For more information, circle reply card No. 133 (See page 25)
41
Flow Monitoring
Sensor catches both low and high flows Radar enters the open channel marketplace
Monitoring volumetric flow in conduits that are less
than full - open channel flow - has always been difficult. Throw municipal or industrial waste into the mix and measurement
hence, loss of important data. Our company has now developed a revolutionary means of measuring ve locity in open channels. The new non-
flowmeter marketplace to provide accu
contact radar flowmeter,Flo-Dar, meas
on the material's dielectric constant.
ures both the velocity and level of the media from a single sensor mounted
Any material that has a dielectric con stant greater than two, such as water, crude oil, or ammonia will easily reflect radar signals. The higher the dielectric constant of the material, the more sig
becomes even more problematic. The two most popular techniques to measure open channel flow are:
above the flow.
1) Mechanical restrictions.
"Radio Detection and Raneins" (Gen-
Radar is an acronym for the phrase
2) Area/Velocity.
rate, non-contact flow measurement. A
basic principle of radar is its ability to reflect off the surface of materials based
nal that is reflected and avail
able for processing. On the other hand, radar signals tend to pass through materials that
The nature of a flow-meas
uring restriction - usually a flume or weir - only allows the flow rate to be measured
have a dielectric constant less
over a narrow band of flow
than two, such as air, vapour, certain gases, or foam.
rates. Storm flows or low-
flow conditions usually fall outside the measuring range of a typical flume. The cost of the civil work to build large flumes during plant construc tion can be high and retrofit ting flow-monitoring equip
Radar flowmeters deter
mine the velocity of the flow in a manner similar to the way police radar guns measure the velocity of an automobile. A radar beam is transmitted from the sensor's "horn" to a
ment to such sites is even
known location on the flow
more expensive.
surface. This transmitted beam interacts with the fluid
The most versatile tech
and reflects back a portion of the transmitted signal. The portion of the signal that is reflected back is at a slightly different frequency than that
nique for calculating volumet ric flow (Q)is to use the 'sim ple' equation Flow (Q) = Cross-Sectional Area (A) x
Mean Velocity(V). To get the values for A and V, however,
which was transmitted. For
is not so simple. The crosssectional area depends on an accurate knowledge of the level of the media, usually de termined by a pressure sensor or by a non-contact ultrasonic A revolutionary way of measuring veiocity and levei.
instance, the frequency is slightly higher if the flow is coming toward the beam and slightly lower if the flow is going away from the beam. The reflected signals that re turn to the radar horn are de
level.
Within the last 20 years, technology has improved and an active measure ment of velocity is now possible using a variety of submerged sensors: electro magnetic, ultrasonic Doppler and ultra sonic transit time, to name the more
popular ones. Unfortunately, using sub merged sensors in sanitary or industrial sewers creates many problems. Instal lation is difficult, dirty and dangerous; and even when successfully completed, there is the likelihood of 'ragging' and
By Lawrence B. Marsh, President and CEO
Marsh-McBlrney, Inc. 42
erally credited to Sir Robert WatsonWatt). Originally developed for mili tary use just prior to World War II, ra dar devices are rapidly becoming part of our everyday lives. Examples include Doppler radar weather forecasting, re mote security devices, and radar guns used by the police to measure an auto mobile's speed. Over the next several years, it is expected that collision-avoid ance radar devices will be standard
equipment in most automobiles. In recent years, radar has seen tre mendous growth in industrial applica tions where precise level measurement is required. Today, radar-based flow sensors are entering the open channel
tected and compared with the transmit ted frequency. The resulting frequency shift is a direct measure of both the ve
locity and direction of the flow particles from which the signal was reflected. In all open channels, the flow veloc ity varies throughout the cross-section. These "velocity contour lines" extend to the surface of the flow. In other words,
a fingerprint of the flow profile exists on the flow surface itself. By measur ing a portion of this fingerprint, and ap plying a rather complex algorithm, the radar flowmeter can determine the av
erage velocity of the flow stream to an accuracy ofÂą5% or better. Like all flow measuring devices, the highest accuracy
Environmental Science & Engineering, June 1999
Flow Monitoring is achieved when the flow is stable and
unaffected by bends and obstructions. The non-contact nature of the radar
even when completely flooded, utiliz ing an on-board pressure sensor that
tion are controlled by government regu latory bodies such as the FCC in the United States and Industry Canada in
takes over from the ultrasonic level sen
flow medium. Also, radar flowmeters
sor during submergence. A patented method of allowing the radar horn to continue measuring the velocity while submerged is under development. Industrial radar devices are just as
can operate from above existing chan
safe in the hands of consumers as such
C&M Environmental is the Canadian
nels without the need for flumes or
everyday devices as televisions, micro wave ovens, and cellular phones. All
distributor of Marsh-McBirney, Inc.
open channel flowmeter is attractive to new users. The user no longer has to worry about periodic maintenance,sen sor fouling or the caustic nature of the
weirs, and without any limitation on the minimum or maximum flow range. Accurate signals can be detected over a wide range of distances and Flo-Dar is capable of measuring flow velocities with only a minimum amount of surface disturbance.
Canada. Manufacturers of industrial radar devices obtain a license for their
manufacture and use, thereby eliminat ing the need for individual users to ob tain licenses.
For more information,
circle reply card No. 159
devices that emit electromaanetic radia
THE FUTURE OF
DERRICK
WASTE WATER SCREENING
CORPORATION
Radar flowmeters can
operate from above existing channels without the need for *>, <ir
flumes or weirs, and
without any limitation aste water slurry being fed into a errick Flo-Line screening machine.
DERRICK
on the flow range.... A
FLO-LINE'^ SCREENING MACHINE
patented method of allowing the radar horn
emands <-wlTrch ^^are on corporati
to continue measuring
control
and) discharge
the velocity while
nt-costs, have
OF-efficientp^S
submerged is under
ent to ^ -
=-a-was
ion, witnover 40 l.ÂĽ,iO'.43M
development.
xperience, is nov^? I.,!.. -â&#x2013;
IS equif:meM,techM
Flo-Dar's non-contact nature gives it great versatility; it can be used for vari ous measuring applications including industrial effluents, raw sewage or in fluent to treatment plants, all of which can be too harsh or dangerous for close work in confined spaces or deep man holes. Once installed, the sensor can be removed from the surface without en
tering the manhole. Low flow conditions are well suited
for Flo-Dar, as it can 'see' and measure
THURSTON MACHINE INC.
DAGEX INC.
the movement of surface water as shal
1 586 Griffiths Place
4141 Yonge St., Suite 307 North York, Ontario M2P 2A8
low as 2mm (0.1 inch).
Surcharging will not harm the Flo-
Kelowna, British Columbia V1Z2T7 Phone: 604-769-3848 Fax: 604-769-5859
Phone: 416-250-7111 or 1-800-665-7136 Fax:416-250-8111
Dar sensor; and it will continue to work Environmental Science & Engineering, June 1999
For more Information, circle reply card No. 136 (See page 25)
43
Industry Update Bulletins available on
Ainley & Associates Limited
m
Landfill Gas Utilization Canada currently has 33 landfill sites with gas recovery capturing systems that are destroying over 6 Mt of carbon di
Consulting Engineers and Planners
Water Supply and Sewage Treatment Environmental Assessments - Roads and Bridges Structural Engineering - Land Use Planning
oxide(CO^)equivalent annually. Of the
Oi/r expertise co\rers a// aspects of CMi Manicpai and
33 landfill sites, 13 utilize the gas for electricity generation or direct heating. Currently, over 82 MW of electricity is produced from landfill gas in Canada, which is enough electrical power to meet
Enwronmentai Engineer/ng and Land Use P/anning COLU/X^WOOD (70SJ 44S-S4Sf
BeLLÂŁV/LLÂŁ
OTTAm
(8W 966-4843
FAX (rosj 445-0968
rSfSJ 388-n>S9 FAX (6f3J 883- rsr3
mx f6/3J 966-rf63
ALTECH ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING LTD.
the needs of over 50,000 homes.
Six of these facilities are highlighted
Environmental and OHS professionals providing quality consulting, scientific & engineering services
in a series of technical bulletins from Environment Canada:
engineering and scientific studies
225 Sheppard Ave. W.
management systems and audit capability Pfiase I & II investigations and remediation
North York, Ont. M2N 1N2
Tel;(416) 226-0148 Fax:(416)226-2931
CREATIVITY
PRODUCTIVITY
EXCELLENCE
R.V. Anderson Associates Limited
Clover Bar Landfill Gas to Energy Project, Edmonton,Alberta. Here,land fill gas is fed to an existing electrical generating station providing 0.9% of the fuel and producing about 6 MW of elec tricity. (Annual greenhouse gas reduc
tion: 182,0001 CO,equivalent). Lachenaie Landfill Gas to Energy
consulting engineers, architects, technology managers
Water, Wastewater, Transportation, Urban Development and Telecommunication Technologies
Project, Lachenaie, Quebec. The
landfill gas from a private iandflii is used to produce 4 MW of electricity. (An nual GHG reduction: 250,000 t CO, equivalent). Complexe Environnemental de SaintMichel Landfill Gas to Energy Project, Montreal, Quebec. This project pro duces 25 MW of electricity from a
For employment and project development opportunities visit our web site: www.rvanderson.com
Toronto(416)497-8600 E-mail: Toronto@RVAnderson.com Wetland Ottawa Sudbuty London Moncton Fredericton Charlottetown Bombay. India
Environmental professionals working with industry to improve water quality
ticSciencesInc.
landfill in the centre of urban Montreal.
(Annual GHG reduction: i.i million Biology
Aquatic Contaminant Remediation
Environmental Audits
Sewer Use Bylaw Consulting Water and Wastewater Engineering
Toxicity Testing
tonnes CO,equivalent). Keele Valley Landfill Gas to Energy Project, Toronto, Ontario. The largest landfill gas utilization facility in Canada produces 30 MW of electricity for the
Environmental Engineering Stormwoter Management impact Assessments
PO Box 2205,250 Marlindaie Road, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada L2R 7R8
Ph: (905)641-0941
Fax; (905)641-1825
www.aquatic.com
Branch Office: PO Box 86, Sarnia, Ontario, Canada N7T7H8 Ph:(519) 383-7822
Environmental, Transportation & Industrial Engineering Creating Value through Service and innovation Vancouver
Edmonton
604.293.1411
780.451.7666 www.ae.ca
Calgary
Saskatoon
Toronto
403-262-4500
306.653.4969
416.622.9502
. ASSOCIATED
^ENGINEERING
C.C. TATHAM & ASSOCIATES LTD. CONSULTING ENGINEERS - SITE PLANNERS - LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
Specialists in a comprehensive range of Environmental and Munloipal Engineering Colllngwood Tel.(705)444.2565 EMail; lnfo@cctatham.com
Orillia Tel.(705)325-1753
Bracebridge Tel.(705) 645-7756
City of Toronto using a combined-cy cle process. (Annual CHC reduction: over 1 million tonne CO,equivalent). Jackman Landfill Site, Langley, EC. In this innovative installation, landfill gas feeds a boiler to generate heat for a greenhouse during the winter and cool summer evenings while the carbon di oxide generated in the boiler is used to enhance plant growth. (Annual GHC reduction: 18,0001 CO,equivalent). Port Mann Landfill Gas to Energy Project, Surrey, EC. Landfill gas is uti lized as fuel for waiiboard manufactur
ing at Georgia Pacific Canada Inc. (Annual CHC reduction: 40,000 t CO, equivalent). To obtain a copy of the six bulletins, please contact Environment Canada's Enquiry Centre at: 1-800-668-6767, or
Web: www.cctatham.com
visit Environment Canada's Green Lane:
www.ee.go.ca/nopp/ifg/buiietin 44
Environmental Science & Engineering, June 1999
Industry Update
Three government levels commit funding to clean up Sydney Tar Ponds
• Human Hcdth and Ecdogicd Ste SpeaficR)Sk Assessment iSSRAi
The Government of Canada, the Prov
• Envircrmentd FdeandFood Chan
Modelling •Toxicology Evduaion'Ha:ardAssessnait
• OaermniisticandProbabilisticiMonteCado)
Ri^ Assessment Modelling • im^rated Ri^ Management • Development of Ste Specific Ranecfcal Criteria for^ceoficChemtcalsandCcmplerChemiCcI Mixtures
ince of Nova Scotia and the Cape Breton Regional Municipality reaffirmed in May,their commitment to cleaning up the toxic Sydney Tar Ponds and Coke Oven sites. The three levels of government
• Environments Impact and RemediationAnefyss • Soentific fter Reviav
• Risk Communicaion/Expert Testimony
CANTOX ENVIRONMENTAL INC.
2233 Argentla Road,Suite 308, MiSGlSBauga, ON LSN 2X7,Tel;(905)542-2900 Fax:(905)542-1011 E-mail: e9gal@cailoxenvironmenlal.com Interna. hl(p:/Awvw.can!oxenvironmentd.com • Vancouver • Cdgay • Missssaiga • Haifa • Nev Jersey
announced that $62 million has been set aside for the start of remediation and the
work of the Joint Action Group (JAG). The announcement was made by
^ CG&S CH2M Gore & Storrie Limited
Christine S. Stewart, Federal Minister of the Environment, Clifford Fluskilson,
Environmental Engineers, Planners and Scientists 255 Consumers Road, North York, Ontario M2J 5B6
Nova Scotia Minister of Transportation and Public Works and CBRM Mayor
phone(416)499-9000 fax (416)499-4687 direct dial (416)499-0090 + ext.
David Muise.
The $37.9 million federal portion of
Barrie • Calgary • London • Ottawa • Thorold
this funding allocation follows the suc cessful conclusion of cost-share nego tiations amongst the three levels of gov ernment for a three-year funding for mula. It outlines how the activities and
projects already recommended by JAG will be supported.
Toronto • Vancouver • Waterloo
Consolidated Giroux Environment Inc.
e
Dredging (since 1971)
• Dewatering • Pumping • Weed Harvester • Tailings relocation • Hazardous Waste Reduction
The Province of Nova Scotia is com
mitting $21.4 million in funding over the next three years. Cape Breton Regional Municipality will work towards the remediation of the Muggah Creek site and ridding the Sydney area of ongoing negativity. They will participate in the
•High Speed Decanter Centrifuges
Tel: (506) 684-5821 E-mail: cgiroux@nb.sympatico.ca
Fax:(506) 684-1915 Web site: www.GIROUXING.com
Toronto • Ottawa
landfill leachate containment and sewer
□ELCAN
collector projects.
ENVIRONMENTAL DIVISION
London • Hamilton Vancouver • Victoria
JAG volunteers have donated more
than 35,000 hours since 1996.
Specializing in;
• Drainage Planning
The federal-provincial-municipal funding announced will support the con tinued work of the Joint Action Group
• IVfller & Wastewater Systems
• Hydro-technical Services
Corporate Office: 133 Vl^nford Drive
• Industrial Treatment
• environmental Impact
Toronto, Ontario M3C 1K1
• Slormwaler Management
• Environmental Planning
Secretariat, further studies and assess
Tel: (416)441-4111 Fax: (416) 441-4131
ment, and early remediation work. First trees lived 370 million years ago A team of international botanists con
DILIjON
cluded the earliest known tree was an
CONSULTING
extinct plant that lived about 370 mil lion years ago. Called Archaeopteris, the plant had the same structure as mod ern trees but it took millions of years for it to evolve into the mighty giants that fill forests today. Earlier botanical evidence of the first tree was based on leaves and wood bits in fossil rocks.
In a report in the science Journal Nature, Brigitte Meyer-Berthaud of the University of Montpellier in France and colleagues in the United States and Ger many, described how they found 150 fossilized examples of the extinct plant in three locations in Morocco.
Environmental Science & Engineering, June 1999
• Infrastructure
• Communities
• Environment
• Facilities
Vancourer • Yellowknife • Calgary • Winnipeg • Windsor Chatham • Ijondon • Cambridge • Toronto • Ottawa • Icjaluit Fredericton • Halt/ax • Port Hawikesbuiy • Sydney • International 100 Sheppard Avenue Hast, Toronto, Ontario A/2A' 6i\5 (416) 229-4646
Lea Associates
Transportation and Environmental
Consultants www.lea.ca
❖ Transportation Planning ❖ Traffic Engineering Environmental Planning Municipal Engineering Road & Bridge Design loronto
Vancouver
Tei: (4161490-8887
Tel: (604)654-1945 Fax: (604)654-1551
Fax:(4161490-8376
45
Industry Update ACPA names new officers
Duke Engineering &Services(Canada),Inc.
ft
for 1999
A Duke Energy Company Ottawa
• Environmental Audits/Site Assessments
(613) 232-2525
• Fractured Rock Hydrogeology • Environmental Management and Compliance • Hydrogeologic/Performance Assessment Modeling
(905) 513-9400
• Site Remediation
Toronto
Calgary (403) 262-4885
• Risk Assessment
ASBESTOS & LEAD ANALYSIS SINCE 1981
.
AlHA-AIHAELLAP- NVLAP
Jk
NY ELAP - CA ELAP - TEXAS DOH AIR - BULK - DUST - SOIL - WATER
▼
A ^
1-800-220-3675
—
Larry Johnson, president of JohnsonBateman Company,has been named the new chairman of the board of the Ameri
can Concrete Pipe Association(ACPA). Johnson assumed the fiscal 1999 chair
TEM - PLM - PCM - SEM - Flame AA - Graphite Furnace
manship at ACPA's 91 st annual conven tion in Amelia Island, Florida, March 22-25, 1999. Three other officers were
GAP EnviroMicrobial Services Inc.
Microbiology Laboratory & Consulting ATP" Wces
also appointed at the meeting: • Adrian Driver, CSR Hydro Conduit Corporation, Houston,Texas(vice chair
Microbial Training Consulting Services
* Cryptosporidium & Giardia * Microorganism Identification * Rapid E.coli recreational water
man of the board).
Respirometry
• Vince Bussio, Geneva Pipe Company,
1020 Hargrieve Road, London, Ontario. N6E1P5 Telephone: 519-681 -0571 Fax: 519-681-7150
Orem, Utah (treasurer).
• William T. "Pete" DeLay, ShermanDixie Concrete Products, Nashville,
Tennessee (secretary). Mr. Johnson succeeds William L.
...linking our health
CANTOX GARTNER LEE
Quinien, president of Choctaw, Inc., Memphis,Tennessee, as the head of the 92-year old association. As chainnan, Johnson is following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Elmer Johnson, who
with how we manage
ALLIANCE
_
our environment.
AN INTEGRATED RISK MANAGEMENT APPROACH
was ACPA chairman in 1947.
www.cantoxgartnerlee.com Markham
St. Catharines
Bracebridge
Yeiiowknife
Calgary
Halifax
Vancouver
Burnaby
Bridgewater NJ
Could solvents pose a
danger to the unborn? Geomatrix Cansult;ant:s Engineers, Geologists,and Environmental Scientists We have moved!
I Industrial Water/Wostewater Treatment
Our new address is:
■ Wasfe /vl/nim/zaf/on/Wosfewafer Reuse/Recycle ■ Treofment System Upgrade/Optimization
Suite No. 1\465 Phillip Street
■ Treatment System Design and Construction
Waterloo, Ontario N2L 6C7
Tel:(519)886•7500 Fox:(519)886•7419
■ ISO 14000- Environmental Management Systems
www.geomatrix.com
GOODFELLOW CONSULTANTS INC.
...solutions through clean air technology Tel: (905) 858-4424 Fax:(905) 858-4426 E-mail: info@goodfell.com
7070 Mississauga Road, Suite 160 Mississauga, Ontario, L5N 7G2, Canada Website: www.goodfell.com
• Air Pollution Control
• Cccupational Health and Safety • Indoor Air Quality • HS&E Compliance Audits
• Clean Air Tectinologies
• EMS Audits
• Environmental Engineering • Ventilation Assessment & Design
46
Pregnant photo developers, hair dress ers, medical lab technicians and graphic artists exposed to organic solvents in their workplace are four times more likely to give birth to babies with major birth defects, according to a new study. Researchers at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children, reported that pregnant women in a number of other occupations which expose them to such chemicals also face increased risk of miscarriages. They are also more likely to give birth to premature babies or children with low birth weight. Considered far more serious than
smoking or drinking for pregnant women, the findings appear as a main research piece in The Journal of the American Medical Association. It is
believed to be the first study to prove Environmental Science & Engineering. June 1999
Industry Update expectant women are adversely affected by workplace solvents. The study examined 250 pregnant women employed as factory workers, lab technicians, professional artists or graphic designers, printing industry workers, chemists, painters, veterinary technicians, dry cleaning workers or funeral home employees,over a ten year period. "The most important woman-domi nated occupations with potential chemi cal exposures are health care, clothing and textile industries," says Dr. Sohail Khattak, of the hospital's clinical phar macology and toxicology division. The organic solvents women are commonly exposed to include more than 150 types of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, phenols, trichloroethylene, xylene, vinyl
Noise Vibration and Acoustics ENGINEERING Noise Vibration Acoustics
Howe Gastmeier Chapnik
2000 Argentia Road, Plaza 1, Suite 203 Mississauga, Ontario L5N1P7 (905)826-4044, Fax 826-4940 www.hgcengineering.com LIMITED
Experts at wastewater process audits, process optimization, and process design
Hydromantis,Inc. Consulting Engineers 1685 Main Street West, Suite 302, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 1G5
Tel:(905)522-0012 Fax:(905)522-0031
info@hydromantis.com
chloride, acetone, and related com
pounds. They are found in paint and paint thinners, lab chemicals, industrial glues, hair sprays and hair dyes, clean ing fluids and inks. "Smoking, though found to be asso ciated with low birth weight, has not been linked to miscarriage or birth de
Consulting Engineers, Planners and Scientists, Specializing in the Environment
fects," said Dr. Khattak.
MacViro Consultants inc. 90 Allstate Parkway, Suite 600, Markham, Ontario L3R 6H3 (905)475-7270 • Fax:(905)475-5994 E-Mail: 103700.2767@compuserve.com
$1.4 million Reseach Chair studies environment A new $1.4 million Industrial Research
'environmental site assessments
Chair has been established at Trent Uni
versity in Peterborough. The chairholder, Dr. Peter Dillon, will study the effects of acid gas emissions and the
MALROZ
•risk assessment/management
Engineering Inc.
•site remediation
influence of climate stresses on water
Kingston Ottawa
sheds.
•waste management
(613)548-3446 (613)521-8258
•hydrogeology
Ontario Power Generation has com
mitted $540,000 over the next three
years, with an option for two more years, for a possible total of $884,000. The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada(NSERC) will provide matching support. Four key areas will be studied: • Historical data will be analyzed to es
k
Marshall Macklin
Monaghan
CONSULTING ENGINEERS > SURVEYORS • PLANNERS
Specialists in Environmental Planning and Engineering, Hydrogeology, Waste Management and Water Resources Toronto, Calgary, Mississauga, Whitby
tablish a baseline from which to detect
80 Commerce Valley Drive East, Thornhill, ON L3T 7N4
the impacts of current and future emis
Telephone: 905-882-1100 FAX: 905-882-0055
E-mail: mmm@mmm.ca
http://www.mmm.ca
sions.
• Representative lakes and rivers in cen tral Ontario will be sampled to identify
chemical and biological changes over the three to five year study period. • The influence on water quality of pe
M a xxa m
riodic climate events such as El Nino will be studied.
• Dissolved organic carbon(DOC)lev els will be studied.
Contact: Trent University,(705)7481303.
Environmental Science & Engineering, June 1999
ly 1 1 cs
Comprehensive Environmental Testing National Service
Certified/Accredited Source Emissions
Occupational Health^
Rush Analysis
A Chemex Labs Alberta / Novamann International Partnership Calgary
Ontario 5540 McAdam Road
2021-41 Avenue N.E.
Mississauga. ON L4Z IPI Te!:(905)890-2555 Fax:(905)890-0370
Calgary. AB T2E 6P2 Tel :(403)291-3077
.
Fax 1(403)291-9468
Quebec
Edmonton
9420 Cflte de Lresse
9331 -48th Street Edmonton, AB T6B2R4
Lachine.QC H8TIA1
Tel:(514)636-6218
Fax;(514)63l-98I4
=■
Tel; (403)465-9877
Fax:(403)466-3332
Toll Free: East fSOO) 563 -6266
West (800) 386-7247
A1
Industry Update Environment Canada
ONTARIO • BRITISH COLUMBIA • QUEBEC • NOVA SCOTIA PENNSYLVANIA • NEWFOUNDLAND • ALBERTA
technology licensed to Japan PHILIP SERVICES
^iik(me the' the mo4i kH(Uidedc^eaMe ialeA^ teami- Ut the mdiiAi/uf: IQK kiCfU qi4aidif^ and cudiamen' de/iiUc&. Valerie Geldart, Sales Manager 1-800-263-9040 ext.275 or valerle_geldart@phllip-serv.coni Internet: www.philipanalytical.com
Creative. Innovative.
^Svther
ented Microwave-Assisted Process
(MAP'^'^).
Responsive.
CONSULTING ENGINEERING
MAP,developed by Canadian scien tist Dr. Jocelyn Pare, uses microwaves to enhance biological, chemical, and physical processes. Conventional tech nologies used for gas-phase extraction are based upon chemical equilibrium
WORLDWIDE
A Pollution Control
Tel: (403) 254-3301
A Wastewater Treatment
Fax: (403) 254-3333
A technology transfer agreement has been announced by Environment Canada and Shimadzu Corporation of Japan. A license agreement provides Shimadzu Corp., a leader in innovative laboratory analytical instruments, the rights to internationally manufacture and market equipment using revolutionary gas-phase extraction technology devel oped at Environment Canada - the pat
A Water Treatment
www.reid-crowther.com
CIVIL/ ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
processes that require long periods of
CONSULTANTS
time and significant amounts of energy.
WATER SUPPLY • POLLUTION CONTROL • DRAINAGE SCADA • ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES • ENERGY AUDITS
The MAP process is a new method of gas-phase extraction that reduces the extraction time to as little as a few sec
onds, and is chai-acterized by the fact that SIMCOE ENGINEERING GRGUP LIMITED
Consulting Engineers & Architect
This agreement will make soivent-
1815 Ironstone Monor, Suite #10. Pickering, Ont. L1W 3W9 • Tel: 905-831-1715 Fox: 905-831-0531
Environment Canada has been licens
automation solutions to our customers."
ing MAP technology in a number ofcoun tries, including Canada,the United States, France, Japan and China, and continues to actively solicit new licensees. Contact
We offer a complete range of products & services In the areas of: •Systems Integration • Process Instrumentation • Control Panels • Programmable Logic Controllers • MMI/SCADA • Computer/Network Services •Service Summa Engineering Limited 6423 Northam Drive, Mississauga, OI\l L4V 1J2
Summa Enterprises, Place Griili, 3539 Blvd. St. Charles, #350, Kirkland, QC H9H 589
Tei: (905) 678-3388, Fax:(905) 678-0444
Tei:(514) 591-5748, Fax:(514) 455-3587
iate matter and ozone are more worri
.Supervisory Control & Data Acquisition Systems
Environmental Audits
.Instrumentation & Controls
Water Pollution Control
some than first thought. Particuiate matter, the tiny particles suspended in the air, are smaller than the eye can see and can go deep into our lungs. Along with ground-level ozone, particuiate matter is a key component of smog. Under the auspices of the Canadian
Water Resources
Water Supply
BURLINGTON: (905)634-9494
engineers
(416) 361-6135
Dr. Pare, Tei:(613)990-9122.
Standards for cleaner air Health effects associated with particu-
THORBURN PENNY Consulting Engineers
TORONTO:
iess determination of volatile and semi-
volatile organic compounds in solid and water samples readily available to any analytical laboratory around the world.
"A leader \r\ providing innovative
• Environmental Planning
no toxic solvents are used.
OTTAWA: (613)247-0111
Council of the Ministers of the Environ
COMPLETE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE
arcfiitects
planners
ment(CCME), a process is underway to set standards for particuiate matter and ozone. A document prepared for consul tation will help focus discussions on pro posals for these Canada-wide Standards. The discussion document was distributed to stakeholders for feedback at a work
t o 11 e n
48
sims h u bicki
TEL:(905)668-9363•WHITBY•Fax:(905)668-0221
associates
COBOURG • TORONTO • KINGSTON • WATERLOO • BRAGEBRIDGE GHAWA•SAULT STE. MARIE•ST, CATHARINES•LONDON • ELLiOn LAKE
shop held in May 1999. Their input will he considered by the Development Com mittee in preparing its recommendation to the Council of Ministers.
Environmental Science & Engineering, June 1999
Industry Update New CEO Chairman
supports Value Based Selection Mark Mitchell, P.Eng., Vice-President of Keen Engineering Co. Ltd., was elected to a one-year term as Chairman of the Consulting Engineers of Ontario (CEO), May 20, 1999. Addressing the CEO Annual Confer ence, he said: "Endorsement of the re
cently published CEO consultant selec
piloting airplanes and almost three times as dangerous as driving a cab, the Mi
tional pollutants, including 20 toxic sub stances. Anyone can access the infor mation from NPRI yearly reports and in
ami researchers found.
Solid-waste workers are also injured at a rate five to seven times higher than the average of other types of work, with
electronic format such as an on-line
query of the database. From now on, these reports will in clude information on a total of 246 sub
stances that are released into air, water and land, as well as those that are trans-
feiTed for disposal, treatment and recy cling. NPRI will be expanded again next year to include reporting of persistent,
52.7 injuries for every 100 workers, most frequently back injuries and lacerations. The only riskier jobs are fishing, with 178 deaths for every 100,000 workers, and timber cutting, with 156 per 100,000.
tion document will be our number one
bio-accumulative and toxic substances
focus. Within this publication, CEO
of concern such as dioxins and furans.
supports,for the first time, Value Based
NPRI can be accessed through: www.
held over the summer of 1998 show that
Selection(VBS)which recognizes price
npri-inrp.com or contact Francois
as an element in the selection criteria, but
Lavallee,(819)994-4073.
23.6 percent of all vehicles undergoing a simple idle emissions test exceeded the limits of either hydrocarbon or carbon
strongly emphasizes that price should not dominate the selection process." Other members elected to the execu
tive were: Vice-Chairman, Robert M.
Martin, P.Eng.; Treasurer, Norm
Huggins, P.Eng.; and Secretary, David Wills, P.Eng.
Garbage poses high risks
monoxide emissions. The results also
to collectors University of Miami researchers have found that solid-waste workers in
reveal that 9.7 percent of vehicles showed visible signs of tampering with emissions control systems. The figures
Florida hold the third riskiest job in the
are similar to those from previous years.
The British Columbia Water and Waste
Association (BCWWA) presented its 1999 Industrial Waste Award to Lafarge
stopped or slow-moving garbage trucks make garbage collection riskier than
Waste Award
The 1998 summer was the most suc
United States. Their data includes 90
deaths for every 100,000 garbage work ers a year, nearly twice the national av erage for workers. Impatient motorists who dash around
Lafarge receives Industrial
Emissions clinics' results Vehicle emissions inspection clinics
cessful year in the 13-year Environment Canada clinics program, where vehicle owners can have emissions tested with "no fees and no fines". Over 4,600 ve hicles were tested last summer in clin ics held all across Canada.
Canada Inc.'s Construction Materials
Group, BC Division, during the 27th ENVIRONMENTAL DIVISION
Annual Conference of the BCWWA in
Vemon, BC on April 26, 1999. Lafarge's ready mix concrete opera
• Environmental Engineering • Water & Wastewater Engineering
Ontario Manitoba
tions in the BC Division earned this award for enhancements for the Kent Avenue Concrete Plant in Vancouver,
Saskatchewan
• Site Assessment & Remediation
• Hydrogeology
Alberta British Columbia
including: the development of a stormwater management plan for the plant site, improved installations for collect ing stormwater, and specialized on-site treatment of collected process water. The ready mix concrete trucks sta
• Waste Management • Urban Drainage
Northern Territories
& Internationally Visit our website at www.umagroutt.com
T-4 Years of
\WRDROP Engineering Inc.
tioned at the Kent Avenue Plant also
Winnipeg•Toronto•Soskotoon•Thuniler Boy•Asia•Africa
Engineering
have the Lafarge-developed "EnviroTank" installed. The "EnviroTank" is a
portable system that allows the truck op erator to collect wash out water at job sites where a government approved wash out area is not available. When in
use, the "EnviroTank" will eliminate
Excellence
A multidisciplinary Engineering, Environmental and Information Technologies firm, offering expertise In: .Environttienfal Assesstiient
> Chemical and Process Engineering
.Site Remediation
> Nydroiogy and Hydrogeolagy • Municipai and Industrial Water
.Soiid Waste Manogement
ond Waste Water Treatment
.Asbestos Abatement
• Air Quolity
> Infrostructure Renewol
Phone:(204)956-0980 Fox:(204)957-5389
E-mail: winnipeg@wardrop.com Web SHe: www.wardrop.com
wash out water releases to storm and sewer drains. The collected wash out ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING SPECIALISTS
water is returned for reuse or treatment
• Industrial/Municipal Wastewater Management
at the plant site. XCG CONSULTANTS LTD.
Accessing pollutant data Canadians will be able to get even more
information about pollution with the
expansion of the National Pollutant Re lease Inventory (NPRI), as companies are now required to report on 73 addi
• Watershed and Stormwater Management
• Drinking Water Quality and Treatment Vancouver Kitchener Toronto area Kingston www.xcg.com
Environmental Science & Engineering, June 1999
(604) 990-0582 (519)741-5774 (905) 891-2400 (613)542-5888 mail@xcg,com
• Hydrogeology Investigation /Modelling • Environmental Site Assessment/Auditing • Remediation and Decommissioning
• Environmental Management Systems
Industry Update
Bottled water not always as clean as advertised A US study released in March, 1999, indicated that bottled water is not nec
essarily any healthier than most water taken directly from household taps. The Natural Resources Defense Council
(NRDC)study examined 103 brands of domestic and imported bottled water available in the United States. It found
that in at least one sample, 33 percent
purity guidelines used by the industry, state-purity standards, or, in some cases,
25 and 40 percent of bottled waters are repackaged municipal tap water which may or may not have been subjected to
both.
additional treatment.
of the tested brands exceeded bacterial-
The NRDC said sales of bottled
water have tripled in the last 10 years in the US,in part due to some advertising that hinted, sometimes misleadingly, that the water comes from pure sources such as springs. In fact, the study shows that between
"People can drink what they want, but if they are going to spend up to 10,000 times more per (US) gallon for bottled water as opposed to what comes from the tap, they have a right to know what is in the water, where it is from, and that it is absolutely pure," said Erik Olson, NRDC's senior attorney and the report's lead author. The International Bottled Water
—
FILTER MEDIA
'
—
ANTHRACITE
Association (IBWA), representing an in dustry that sells Americans an estimated 3.4 billion US gallons (12.8 billion li tres) of bottled water each year, dis missed the NRDC report as an attempt
ENVIRONMENTAL LTD. ENVIR
^ Biosolids and Waste Utilization
QUALITY FILTER SAND & GRAVEL CARBON - GARNET - ILMENITE
• Liquid and Dewatered Application. • Digester and Lagoon Cleaning. • Contract Facility Operations. • Spills Response & Industrial Wastes.
REMOVAL & INSTALLATION
6
nthrafilter
to "scare consumers".
Oakvllle, Ontario L6M 3H2
"For the past 37 years, there have been no confirmed reports in the US of
Location — W.A. Johnson Resource
illness or disease linked to bottled
Media & Coal Ltd. Mail — P.O. Box 60069
20 SHARP ROAD, R.R.#6, BRANTFORD, ONTARIO N3T5L8
V
TEL:(519)751-1080 FAX:(519)751-0617
J
water," the IBWA said in a statement,
Management Centre 4449 Hwy #25, Oakvllle, Ont. L9T 2X5
For more information, circle reply card No. 160
Phone:(905) 878-2800/Fax: (905) 878-7332
For more information, circle reply card No. 161
"For Cost Effective Pumping' ABS has the most comprehensive range on the market.
A company in the Cardo Group
Sales & Service
• Sewage Pumps - Submersible Sl Dry Pit • Portable Dewatering Pumps • Mixers - Submersible & Conventional • Aerators - Submersible • Submersible Grinder Pumps • Effluent Pumps • Stock & Process Pumps - PPI • Chemical Pumps • Canned Motor Pumps ABS Pumps Corporation, 1215 Meyerside Drive, Unit 7, Mississauga, Ontario L5T 1H3 Phone: 1-800-988-2610 or (905)670-4677, Fax:(905) 670-3709, Web: www.abspumps.com Callfor the Representative nearest you
noting that a raft of both internal and external safeguards exist, aimed at guar anteeing product purity. The NRDC study did find that most of the water tested was relatively free of contaminants and was of high qual ity, posing no threat to healthy people. But it also found that bacteria in a small
amount of bottled water samples could prove a risk to people with weakened immune systems such as AIDS patients, the elderly, or people undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
Meteorology's top honour
For more information, circle reply card No. 162
■Acjua/Szsif'
CORP.
A
77 ORCHARD ROAD
AJAX, ONTARIO L1S6Kg
TEL: (905) 619-3009 FAX: (905) 619-3638
High Pressure Water Jetting tina Liquid/Dry Vacuum Services Waste Water Treatment
Sponge Jet Cleaning
entist at Environment Canada.
For more information, circle reply card No. 163 Davidson
rbnvironn nvironmental
ENVIRONMENTAL DRILLING SERVICES
WATER WELL DRILLING SERVICES
• Monitoring Wells • Recovery Wells
• Municipal Well Drilling
• Industrial Well Drilling • Construction Drilling
• Gas Extraction Wells
• Deep Monitoring Well Specialists
(519) 664-1422
• Well Testing and Rehabilitation 1-800-663-3849 Davidson "Since 1900"
147 North Street West
Wingham. Ontario (519) 357-1960
For more information, circle reply card No. 164 50
Cited for his involvement in educa
tion, research and groundbreaking work in boundary layer flow over topography. Dr. Taylor's research has been important to the advancement of models for wind
PROFESSIONAL DRILLING SERVICES
R.R, #I (Bast Place) Waterloo, Ontario
The Patterson Distinguished Service Medal was awarded by the Atmospheric Environment Service to Dr. Peter Taylor of York University at the recent Cana dian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society Congress in Montreal. Dr. Taylor is Professor of Atmospheric Sci ence and Applied Mathematics at York University, and a former research sci
energy and weather prediction. The Patterson Distinguished Service Medal has been presented since 1954 and is named for eminent meteorologist Dr. John Patterson. It is considered the pre eminent award recognizing outstanding contribution to work in meteorology in Canada.
Environmental Science & Engineering, June 1999
Product and Service Showcase Transportation Services
Pumps for extreme requirements
Today, Harold Marcus Ltd. is pleased to service a wide variety of your transpor tation requirements throughout Canada and the United States....a growth attrib uted to our commitment to performance, expertise and dependability. From main tenance to safety and training, from op erations to management, the team of ex perienced professionals looks forward to tneeting your present and future transpor
Circle reply card No. 191
The Amarex KRT pump meets all re quirements for the erection, replacement, or extension of pumping stations. It has been designated for wet-well installa tions. Dry-well installations can be real ized by means of the Sewatec series of fered by KSB. So, no matter which field of application, KSB will be in the posi tion to offer an optimum solution at a fair price,coupled with the most suitable sew age hydraulics. KSB Pumps Circle reply card No. 192
less money. Advancements in UV lamp and equipment design mean significant benefits for the user: More germicidal UV output, less energy consumption, fewer UV lamps needed, less maintenance, smaller footprint, automated power pac ing to suit varying flow/waste characteris tics, lower water head requirement, auto mated cleaning system, environment/op erator friendly. UV Systems Technology Circle reply card No. 193
Centrifugal blowers
Responsible waste management
Zebra Mussels
tation needs. Harold Marcus
Water/wastewater disinfection
More water/wastewater disinfection for
C lu u s. S.
BOVAR's Swan
A "SolutKHi for
H r* r irrii
Hills Treatment
ZEBRA MUSSELS
ill f fTa
Hoffman Multi-stage Centrifugal Com pressor and Exhausters are available for requirements to 45,000 CFM, at dis charge pressures to 25 psig or 19" Hg vacuum for air and gas service. Hoffman centrifugals have been operating with utmost reliability and efficiency in many diverse applications such as sewage aera tion, combustion drying, agitation, fluidizing, oxidation, vacuum cleaning, cooling and pneumatic conveying for more than 90 years. Hoffman Industries of Canada
To help control zebra mussels,
Centre is North
one solution in
America's only fully integrated
JAVEX-12 so
waste management
dium hypochlo-
volves the use of
facility. Destruc
rite, which kills
tion efficiencies
the larvae. We are
exceed 99.9999%
at its two rotai7 in cinerators which have a 43,000 tonne an
nual capacity. Upon approval, waste is transported from your site, inspected and sampled to verify conformance and treated according to physical and chemical char acteristics. Treatment residues are tested
for conformance to end disposal criteria. Bovar Waste Management
consulting with experts to estab lish dosage levels and techniques best suited to help control their spread. If you'd like to discuss this problem, or be kept informed of the latest information, please contact us. Colgate-Palmolive Canada Inc. Professional Products Division
Circle reply card No. 196
Circle reply card No. 195
Circle reply card No. 194
Noise control panel systems
Electrochemical testing
in lower wear rates and thrust loads. Also
For over four decades, Eckel has been a
Analysts looking for more dependable in strumentation for electrochemical testing
shown are close-coupled pumps and the exclusive "plug-in" drive shaft that allows for easy replacement of the pump "wet
leader in the design, development, and manufacture of high-quality, dependable sound control products and systems, in cluding: sophisticated anechoic chambers for research and product testing; noise con trol enclosures for equipment and machin ery sound isolation/modification; and preengineered, versatile, sound-absorbing panels for treating room/area acoustics.
Advantages of seepex pumps
The ADV brochure illustrates the unique geometries of seepex pumps which result
end". Other features include: sealed and
lubricated universal joints with reliable, replaceable bushings; improved rotor sur faces; harder rotor coatings; molded-tosize, shrink compensated stators; stator retensioning device and a patented run dry protection device, seepex Inc. Circle reply card No. 197
Eckel Industries
Environmental Science & Engineering, June 1999
Circle reply card No. 198
will welcome the introduction of
sensIONâ&#x201E;˘ - a brand new family of ultra-reliable, precision-engineered meters and electrodes for testing water, wastewater, ultrapure water, and aqueous solu tions. The meters, manufactured exclu
sively by Hach, are available in a variety of affordable models to accommodate pH, pH/ISE, conductivity, and dissolved oxy gen analysis. Fryston Canada Inc.
Circle reply card No. 199 51
Product and Service Showcase Self-priming centrifugal pump
Economical interface levei
Air-driven diaphragm pump
system
The Royce Model 2505 provides all the capability found on previous models in the 2500 Series. It has a digital display corresponding to the type of interface the operator has selected to monitor. This includes a variety of interfaces required in the waste treatment industry. Program ming and profile di.splay are accessible through the Royce Hand-Held Terminal. Cancoppas Limited
Circle reply card No. 200
Gorman-Rupp portable, engine-driven, self-priming centrifugal pumps are ideal for standby and emergency cleanup ap plications. Pumps can handle up to 3" diameter solids, depending on model. Pumps to suit other applications are also available. Optional wheel kit provides portability for easy access to the job site. Pumps are available with gasoline or diesel engines. Gorman-Rupp of Canada Circle reply card No. 201
New acid neutralization
Inlet StormceptorÂŽ system
Air-driven diaphragm pumps have an ex tra-thick pump casing for handling heavy sludges and solids. Pumps will handle high solids content up to 70%. Pumps are available in 1 1/2" to 4" (40 mm to
100 mm)sizes, capacities to 170 gpm (11 Ips), heads to 200'(61 m). They will han dle up to 3"(76 mm)solids. Gorman-Rupp of Canada Circle reply card No. 202
High capacity pacing valves
system The Inlet Storm
Stormceptor developed an in
ceptor System em ploys the.same prin ciples of operation
novative acid neutralization
In-line interceptors.
Canada Inc. has
as the well-known
Developed to treat
system capable of treating a continuous
stream
of
acidic wastewater with no chemical dis
runofffrom an area
W
of up to 0.20 ha, the Inlet Storm
pensing required. The system was de signed to ensure a trouble free, low main tenance operation with virtually no elec tronics. This unique process (patent pending) does not require mixing, rea gent preparation, an agitated mixing tank, or a pH controller for reagent dispens ing. Stormceptor Canada Inc. Circle reply card No. 203
ceptor has inherited the internal by-pass function, ensuring that all sediment and
M S and mercaptan scavenging
Advanced fluidized composting
oil removed from stormwater runoff re
mains trapped within the storage cham ber, even during peak flows. There are currently more than 2,500 units in place throughout North America. Stormceptor Canada Inc. Circle reply card No. 204
Recognizing the expanding needs of ever larger water/wastewater treatment centers, Chlorinators Incorporated, Stuart, Florida, introduces two new high
capacity pacing valves with 1000 or 2000 PFD capacities to supplement their fast selling REGAL'^^' SMARTVALVEâ&#x201E;˘ line. The high capacity models are avail able along witb the original model 7000 with 10 to 500 PPD.
Chlorinators Incorporated
Circle reply card No. 205
Trident water treatment
systems
ULFilter's patented AFC technology rep resents state-of-the-art wastewater treat
USFilter Gas Technology Products an nounces the release of a new hydrogen sulfide (H,S) and light mercaptan scav
enger system called Sulfur-Rite^'^'. The process employs a solid, iron-based ma terial which reacts with H,S and mer captan sulfur to form environmentally safe iron pyrite (fool's gold). The spent product may be sent to any sanitary landfill or may be applied to land as a fertilizer. USFilter
Circle reply card No. 206 52
ment. A proprietary combination of thermophilic biological treatment with a sol ids separation and chemical treatment step enables AFC to treat highly concen trated organic waste and/or sludge streams with a fraction of the residual
sludge generated in other aerobic and anaerobic biological processes. AFC ac commodates high COD loadings at el evated temperatures and maintains excel lent stability. USFilter
Circle reply card No. 207
Trident plants effectively treat a variety of source-waters. The technology re moves turbidity, suspended solids, col our, iron, manganese, odour, taste, Giardia lambia and Cryplosporidium - at a lower capital cost than conventional sys tems, in a smaller space, and at higher flow rates per unit area. Trident utilizes the Adsorption Clarifier^''' for one-step flocculation and clarification. USFilter
Circle reply card No. 208 Environmentcd Science
Engineering, June 1999
Product and Service Showcase Effective backwash process
Demand based control for wastewater disinfection
Quality pumps for municipalities 'H .
ii.
■>*V •*,-!».
The General Filter MULTIWASH® Proc ess uses sustained simultaneous air and
water backwash to keep filter media clean and eliminate fouling with biological sol ids or chemical precipitates. Vigorous
scouring action effectively cleans the full
Stranco's field-proven High Resolution Redox (HRR) technology reliably meas ures oxidative strength, which is an ac curate predictor of disinfection rate and dechlorination, and can effectively moni tor and control the anoxic zone in BNR
processes. Strantrol HRR accurately con
media bed, lengthening filter runs. Longer
trols chlorination and dechlorination to
filter runs minimize backwash water re
quirements, resulting in reduced backwash
match the ever-changing organic and am monia loads, regardless of flow.
wastewater filtration. USFilter
Indachem
Cornell Pump Company has been setting the standard for premium quality, effi cient end suction centrifugal pumps for the municipal marketplace since 1946. The products are engineered to be rug ged, durable and dependable and each Cornell pump is backed by an industry leading two-year warranty. Cornell pumps can be found hard at work for raw water intake, water processing, pressure boosting, energy recovery, wastewater process, and DAF systems. Indachem
Circle reply card No. 209
Circle reply card No. 210
Circle reply card No. 211
Tanks and silos
Internal floating covers save
Env. management tools
you money
Hydrocarbon evaporation from fixed roof storage tanks wastes your valuable product and pollutes the environment. An
years to come with the minimum of main tenance. Donson Engineering Circle reply card No. 212
exposed liquid surface is the simplest, most economical answer. The Ultraflote® Internal Cover forms a vapour-tight seal that traps a saturated layer of vapour over the surface of the liquid. A rim plate around the periphery is mechanically sealed to the deck skin and projects 4-6 inches into the liquid to positively seal and isolate the trapped vapour. Donson Engineering Circle reply card No. 213
The Envista family of products offers powerful software for environmental in formation management. Envista prod ucts are configured to fit specific work environments so operational and manage ment teams can store, track and manage information and stay on top of environ mental data and regulatory requirements. Streamlined data analysis provides the entire organization with access to timely information. Envista Technologies Circle reply card No. 214
The Con/Span Advantage
ABS expands range of
New Aquastore Brochure
internal floating For industrial and municipal waste, po table water and bulk storage, the Permastore® system has proven itself as a world beater for cost, quality and longevity. Re placing concrete and painted steel tanks as the preferred method of construction, early structures are still giving excellent service and will continue to do so for
roof to cover the
sewage pumps
Pumps for use in sewage generally have large solids passages - typi cally 80-100 mm. However, a large solids passage alone will not
• Fully engineered and custom-designed to your site requirements • Saves weeks off construction schedules
• Long life cycle and low maintenance • Carries heavy loads at low stress levels Your only precast choice for your next project. CON/SPAN CANADA
Circle reply card No. 215
ensure against blockage. The ABS CB (Contra Block) hydraulic sys tem consists of an open single or multiblade impeller which has a waved shear ing inlet together with a bottom plate on which a spiral groove is cast. This starts at the centre and runs to the outside of
the bottom plate. ABS Pumps Circle reply card No. 216
Environmental Science & Engineering, June 1999
?ySi5es6iesB25tiiel
A.O. Smith Engineered Storage Products Company offers a new eight-page bro chure on its glass-fused-to-steel Aquastore® tanks for municipal and industrial water storage. The brochure explains the manufacturing process and the advan tages of bolted assembly. Other topics include the benefits of glass coating and the company's proprietary Edgecoat™ process and Glass97™ potable water coating system. A.O. Smith Circle reply card No. 217 53
Product and Service Showcase TOP for self-cleaning pump
Ozone analyzer
stations The new TOP in
corporates a unique sump floor design, with hydraulically optimized pump discharge connec tions, to eliminate "dead zones" and
promote controlled fluid flow while pumping. TOP is available as a stand ardized, prefabricated component to sim plify construction of new or retrofit pump stations. Either way, the convergent de sign of the sump floor, reduces residual fluid volume and ensures that retained
solids are collected beneath the pumps suctions, ready to be pumped away. ITT Flygt Canada Circle reply card No. 218
Bitumen & butyl tape systems
The model 400 UV Absorption Ozone Analyzer from Advanced Pollution In strumentation(API)measures low ranges (0-100 ppb to 0-10 ppm) of ozone in ambient air. Through a valve switching mechanism, which every four seconds alternates measurement between sample stream and a sample scrubbed for ozone, an unbiased True Ozone reading is ob
MUNRO Concrete Solutions from Munro!
1-800-461-5632 www.munroconcrete.com
tained. Nortech GSI Inc.
Circle reply card No. 219
Circle reply card No. 220
Trace oxygen analyzer
Lamella clarifiers
-1
disbonding. Denso North America Inc.
Protect your boiler feed system from cor rosion with the RTT Analytical 2010 Trace Oxygen Analyzer. Automatic rang ing allows direct reading from 0 ppb to 20 ppm DO. The user friendly software offers great features such as auto calibra tion,.self-diagnostics, fault tolerance and two 4-20 mA outputs. The unique gal vanic cell of the 2010 is separated from the sample by an easy-to-replace oxygen permeable PTFE membrane. True zero readings are achieved. Nortech GSI Inc.
automated plants or in upgraded instal lations where space may not he available for a standard clarifier. Units are usually fully assembled, minimizing erection costs and time. Ecodyne Limited
Circle reply card No. 221
Circle reply card No. 222
Circle reply card No. 223
Modular headworks system
Continuous sludge dewatering
Membrane technology for
Denso's bitumen and butyl tapes are cold applied, with excellent adhesion to pipe and self. No special equipment is re quired. They meet AWWA standards and are compatible with common pipe coat ings. Their flexibility provides extra pro tection at vulnerable areas and they pro vide excellent resistance to cathodic
^ JWC Environ-
Ecodyne custom design each lamella clarifier to meet the specific service needs of their clients. Use of a lamella clarifier reduces maintenance to a minimum.
There are no moving parts. Its compact ness allows the unit to be located in new,
industrial wastewater
' ! mental's Auger Monster'^'"' modu lar
headworks
system won a WEF Innovative
Technology Award - Process
Huber-RotamatÂŽ equipment for continu
Equipment Cat egory. The tech nology combines the high flow capabili
ous dewatering offers; continuous opera tion method adjusted to suit each indi vidual sewage treatment works; no filter
ties of a traditional bar screen with the
cloths or belts but stainless steel sieve ar
capture rate of a fine screen, while leav ing essential organics in the waste stream. The new Auger Monster systems are de signed to reduce the high maintenance of bar screens while eliminating the mess of unwashed screenings. JWC Environmental
Circle reply card No. 224 54
eas which are corrosion and maintenance-
free; self-cleaning sieve areas due to the rotating operation method and automatic backwash; compact machine, little space required; discharge directly into disposal containers; slowly running machines,thus no abrasion or noise. Dagex Inc. Circle reply card No. 225
ZENON's ZenoGemÂŽ bioreactor system can retrofit any existing wastewater treat ment facility, immediately increasing capacity by up to four times. The sys tem incorporates immersed membrane technology, which assures biomass reten tion, resulting in a high quality effluent, suitable for direct reuse or discharge. ZENON Environmental Inc.
Circle reply card No. 226
Environmental Science & Engineering, June 1999
Product and Service Showcase Prevent algae build-up
The N-Pump The design of the hydraulic ends of the N-Pump im proves the flow of liquids which greatly reduces the risk of clog ging, especially when pumping liquids with high
The Algae Sweep Automation™ System (ASA)is a unique system of spring-loaded brushes that attaches to the skimmer ann of a circular ciarifer. Its brushes have over
50 points of flexibility and adjustment to ensure thorough sweeping of ail weir, baf fle, launder, and spillway surfaces. ASA virtually eliminates the labour and chemi cal costs associated with controlling algae and debris. Ford Hall Company,Inc.
Circle reply card No. 227
solids or fibrous
content, such as sewage, and, because of the high pumping efficiency, reduced maintenance costs are achieved. All
motors in the N-series pumps are squir rel cage induction units, specially de signed and manufactured by Flygt for use in submersible pumps. ITT Flygt Circle reply card No. 228
World's highest flow progressing cavity pump The
Armour Valve Ltd, treatment of water and
wastewater. Check, Con trol, Isolation Valves and Accessories. Bemiad Flow i 4
Control, Regulation and Metering; CMB Wolverine AWWA Butterfly; Polyjet Regulators and Energy Dissipaters; Stafsjo Knife pling Valves; RDC Air Cylinders; Mastergear Manual Gears; Castell Inter locks; Protego Flame Amestors and Tank Relief Valves. Armour Valve Ltd.
The new Polytron IR from Draeger is ideal for moni
toring combusti ble gases. It uses a revolutionary non-focusing op tical system in combination with many field-proven components to establish a higher level of safety for your facility. Standard features of the Polytron IR include high signal stability, optimized sensitivity towards most common hydrocarbons, bi-direc tional digital data communication via RS 485 and HART protocol(4-20 ma is also standard). Wilier Engineering Limited Circle reply card No. 229
Polymer preparation system
introduced
Moyno® IKl500progressing
A leader in valves for the
Gate Valves; SchuF Sam
newly
Lowest cost of ownership for gas detection system
4
cavity pump has the capabil ity to generate flow rates up to 4,000 gpm, making it the world's highest flow pro gressing cavity pump, ideal for high flow, positive dis placement pumping applica tions, according to Peacock, Inc. The new pump effi ciently handles abrasive flu ids, as well as solids-laden
slurries and sludges. It is an extension of Moyno's popular 2000 progressing cavity pump product line and features a crowned gear universal joint drive train for long, reliable pump life. Peacock,Inc.
ProMinent's new user-friendly .self-pro moting Ultromat plant delivers ready-touse polymer solutions automatically, safely and continuously. The powder(or liquid polymer) is first fed into a wetting assembly before entering a triple com partment tank where it is mixed,aged and stored. The Ultromat AT delivers accu
rate polymer concentrations between 0.05% to 1.0% and capacities from 400 1/h to 8,000 1/h. ProMinent
Circle reply card No. 230
Circle reply card No. 231
Circle reply card No. 232
TEnTDdR"Aluminum Domes
Compact ozone generator units
PlantPRO™ Trash Pumps
For more than thirty years Temcor has been competitively producing aluminum Domes, Roofs and Covers for Potable
Water and Wastewater applications in a wide variety of climates, successfully protecting your investment against the elements. Temcor's all aluminum prod ucts are lightweight, corrosion resistant, and maintenance free which translates to
longer life and lower maintenance costs. Aluminum doesn't rust like steel, doesn't
spall like concrete and doesn't degrade with ultraviolet light like fibreglass. Greatario Engineered Storage Systems Circle reply card No. 233
Ozonia's range of standardized compact
ozone generator units, the OZAT®, take advantage of the latest technological de velopments, including "Advanced Tech nology" dielectrics. It is a very compact unit capable of producing extremely high ozone concentrations (up to 15% from oxygen - 5% from air), and it offers cli ents inexpensive hi-tech equipment for the economical production of ozone. Ozonia
Environrnenlal Science & Engineering, June 1999
Circle reply card No. 234
PlantPRO™' Trash Pumps offer high quality, premium performance at a price that won't bust your budget! All of our pumps are made of heavy duty cast aluminum with cast iron replaceable wear parts. Both 3" and 4" models are avail able. USABlueBook
Circle reply card No. 235 55
Collection Systems
Major dewatering and tunnelling project Challenging soil and dewatering problems overcome
A four kilometre expansion
of a trunk sewer in Barrie,
Ontario, requiring both tunnelling and open cut methods, is nearing completion; sewer diameters range from 825 mm to 1200 mm. The trunk sewer will service new
development, while enabling existing subdivisions to get off septic systems. Hewitt's Creek Management Inc. and the
City of Barrie shared costs on the $5 million project, with no federal or pro vincial funding. The Atlas Corporation was the dewatering contractor and a well point system was used to draw down to six metres, with a sewer range between 1011 metres in depth. Typically,there were 2-3 metres between well points in a staged system (stepped). Due to native soil conditions, well points were run on both sides of the valley to drain off water in some areas.
An Atlas Corporation eductor system was also used to dewater a tunnel run
ning under the road,70 feet below grade. The whole project had to be dewatered due to the depth of the valley and the close proximity to Lake Simcoe. Andy
By Kathleen Carignan
Environmental considerations were a major factor in the project which required tunnelling and open cut. Photo - Mark Munro
Ingriselli, The Atlas Corporation, said this was the most challenging project he had seen in years. Filter sand was installed with well
points to prevent removal of sand and sediment with the water, which was fur
ther pumped through enviro-bags to fil ter again before discharging into the ex isting creek.
of Tectonic Infrastructure Inc., was the
From alkalinity to zinc — HacKs direct-reading instruments, single-dose reagents, clear
contractor.
While tunnelling under a creek, soil difficulties were encountered, so the
instructions, and proven methods make water testing convenient. m Test Kits. Over 200 single- and multiple-parameter water testing kits ■ Portable and Laboratory Instruments. Reliable colorimetric, pH,ISE, and tuibidimetric instruments that provide accurate results ■ Process Systems. Complete on-line systems to monitor turbidity, pH, chloride, hardness, silica and more HACH
Fryston Canada Inc. 7370 Bramalea Road, Suite 30
IVIississauga, ON LBS 1N6 Tel:(905)612-0566 Toll Free: 1-800-387-7503
Fax:(905)612-0575 E-mail:fryston@fryston.Dom site: www.frysfon.com
Significant efforts to protect existing environmental conditions were applied throughout the project. Trees were re planted in finished areas. Seals on pumps were redesigned and oiled with purity oil (a food oil made by Petro Canada) to avoid any contamination. Bryan Richardson, P.Eng., President of Richardson Engineering Ltd. was a consultant on the project, and Guy Acri,
project required an open cut section. When tunnelling under the road at ap proximately 70 feet deep, conditions made pipejacking impossible so the con tractor had to tunnel the remaining length by rib and lag method. Since 22 m of 1200 mm jacking pipe had already been installed, 825 mm pipe with a reduced bell diameter was manufactured to fit
inside the existing pipe and the remain der of the ran was installed after tunnel
ling was completed. Munro Concrete Products responded by constructing a special pipe insert. Munro Concrete Products supplied all of the concrete pipe which ranged from 825 mm to 1200 mm with strengths from lOOD to 220D.
For more information, circle reply card No. 127 56
For more information, circle reply card No. 126 (See page 25)
Environmentat Science & Engineering, June 1999
Literature Review For information on advertising in this section call ES&E at(905)727-4666. The economic advantages of HOPE pipe
USABIueBook
Our 530 page all color mail-or der catalog, has over 12,000
The Corrugated Polyethylene Pipe Association's (GPPA) new brochure
items from more than 400 manu
focuses on the structural and cost
facturers - everything you need to keep your water and wastewater systems running smoothly. Simply pick up the phone for ex pert technical advice and same day shipping to anywhere In
savings advantages of corrugated high density polyethyiene pipe. Leading the Underground Revolution highlights current statistics and infor
Canada. USABIueBook
mation on the strength, costeffectiveness, ease of installation and adaptability of polyethylene pipe.
Circle reply card No. 180
CPPA
Circle reply card No. 181
Trash removal and dewatering
Controlling contaminated groundwater
design of steel sheet piling featuring joints that can be sealed after the
The StrainPress SludgeCleaner is the first closed system which both screens and then compacts trash from sludge. It screens trash from primary, secondary, return, waste, or digested sludge, septage, as well as
sheets have been driven into the
from concentrated scums. The re
ground. The product was developed by researchers at the University of Waterloo and has patent/patent pending status in several countries. Canadian Metal Rolling Mills as sisted in the development of the product
sulting StrainPress sludge output is cleaner and more aesthetically pleasing, and can be used for ferti lizer, composting, or soil improve ment. The screenings are dry and can also be disposed of with other plant wastes to landfills at reduced disposal costs. Parkson Circle reply card No. 183
Waterloo Barrier is a low permeabil ity cutoff wali for groundwater con tainment and control.
It is a new
'
SU^tiPQi
Waterloo Barrier Inc.
Circle reply card No. 182
Wastewater recovery and processing
ERRICK CMNWinWr
Through utilizing the Derrick "FloLine" screening unit design, high fluid capacities can be effectively handled at very fine screen mesh openings. This equates to fewer overall units required and higher solids/particulafe removal. The Derrick "Flo-Line"
WASTE WATER RBCOVIRY ft l>neCRltlNO
screening unit can also be easily in stalled into an existing facility due to the unique compact unit design. The
ECO WAÂŤTE SOLUTION
The ZENON Membrane
Technology Prize The ZENON Membrane Technology Prize is awarded in recognition of advances in understanding the use of membrane technology for the so lution of water/wastewater manage ment problems. The recipient of the award will receive US $10,000 in rec ognition of their work. For further information visit ZENON's web page at: www.zenonenv.com.
"Flo-Line" can also be custom de
ZENON Environmental Inc.
signed to meet your industry's spe cific requirements. Derrick Corporation Circle reply card No. 184
Circle reply card No. 185
Alternative combustion
Hazardous materials
technology
storage For optimum storage and con
Eco Waste Solutions'Thermal Waste
CoiKi-ilitiltni: to !-.Âťvxn-nninciM.il <.!vMuin> Throjij'.U r)i!.pns.ll id Npn-rccyclabic
The ZENQN Membrane Technology Prize
Oxidizer Units are designed to proc ess the complete disposal of all types of municipal solid waste, biomedical, industrial, pathological, and labora tory waste and by-products. The Oxidizer System uses a combustion/ oxidation process to change solid waste material into a gaseous mate rial and residual ash by-product. Metals and glass are not melted down. This ensures clean stack
emission levels and allows for recy cling. Eco Waste Solutions Circle reply card No. 186
Environmental Science & Engineering, June 1999
tainment of hazardous materi
als, the Chem-Loc Building can be an economical solution. Deal
directly with this established manufacturer and their in-house
design team for a custom de signed building. The Chem-Loc building complies with Canadian and US Building and Fire Codes and features all steel construction. Optional features range from fire suppression systems to customized door sizes, partitions and hoisting equipment. Since 1971, Chem-Loc has been chosen for reliable, eco nomical hazardous materials storage. MakLoc Buildings Inc. Circle reply card No. 187
57
Odour Control
France develops new methods for the trapping or neutralizing of odours
A number of French compa
3-D Odour Cartography
nies are now working to first identify the chemical char
qualitative and quantitative analysis of
acteristics of odours and
the diffuse odours on industrial sites. To
then to find ways of reducing or neu tralizing them. "An odour that is less intense at the
source but that lasts longer creates greater discomfort," explains Lionel
The first task of EOG is to make a
this end, an industrial site is broken up into units, and a special olfactory refer ence system is prepared. A panel of ol factory experts visits the site, unit by unit, to make their observations in ac
Pourtier, director of EOG, a French re
cordance with cument European stand
search and consultancy firm specializ ing in olfactometric studies used to con trol the propagation of unpleasant
ards(NF X 43-103 and ISO 5492).
odours.
EOG has developed a range of diag nostic and quantification techniques to be used for diffuse smells. One of these
is an olfactory impact forecast tool based on a model that shows the atmospheric dispersion of odours. This enables EOG to propose a strategy aimed at reducing the level of odorous emissions by simu lating the effects of the atmospheric
Using the same procedure, the panel of olfactory experts then studies the situ ation from outside the site premises. This allows them to identify the main units responsible for the olfactory pol lution in the locally affected environ ment, with the data collected displayed on a 3-D mapping system. The results serve as a basis on which to prepare an action plan that will eliminate the main
changes that are forecast.
sources of undesirable odours.
Using this technique,EOG has set up an environment observatory around the
wastewater treatment plant of Acheres, which handles the wastewater equiva lent of a population of 8.2 million. The activity of the plant, which is one of the largest in Europe, has been the cause of olfactory discomfort for the inhabitants of eight neighboring districts. In 1992, EOG began to collect and correlate data on the operation of the sewage plant and on the concentrations of odorous chemical compounds pro duced at source. Other studies were
conducted on the ambient meteorologi cal conditions and the olfactory discom fort suffered by the local population. A special Minitel online service and a toll-free phone number were placed at the disposal of the local population. A number of solutions were implemented as a result, with measures to optimize plant management and to modify its lay out, for example by placing a cover on a sludge treatment tank. These meas ures brought about a 30% decrease in
McTighe Industries purchased by Billion international Group
nDis[ CDDTRoi m[[ SYsnms
David Billion, native of Sioux Falls, SD and president of Billion International Group, has acquired McTlghe Indus tries as a complement to his interests In the automotive Industry. This acquisition will continue McTlghe Industries' strong presence In the oil-water separator Industry. McTlghe Industries has over 25 years of experience In the oil-water separator Industry. McTlghe has been able to remain a leader due to Its top quality product and excellent customer service.
McTlghe has built a solid reputation for providing high performance, maintenance friendly oil-water separators. McTlghe separators Incorporate proven design technology with the use of corrugated plates for coalescing oil. We also have an enhanced Petro Pak™ coalescer for obtain
ECKOUSTIC FUNCTIONAL PANELS...the
practical efficient solution to noise reduction needs. High Performance Combined with Economy • Outstanding sound absorption • Reduction of reverberation & background noise • Simple installation • Easy maintenance & durability
ECKEL INDUSTRIES OF CANADA LIMITED 15 Allison Ave., Morrlsburg, Ontario KOC 1X0
(613)543-2967 Fax;(613)543-4173 1-800-563-3574 CAN./USA Web Site: http://www.eckel.ca/eckel E-mall: eckel@eckel.ca For more information, circle reply card No. 157 (See page 25)
ing effluent qualities of 10 ppm or less. We offer separa tors for above and below grade Installations, double wall construction, automatic oil and/or water discharge systems, and three-phase separation. In addition to quality products, McTlghe Industries prides Itself on satisfying the customer-from the specifying engi neer to the maintenance personnel who work with Its equip ment.
For more Information contact: Jeremy Morrison, Engineering Sales Manager, at: 1-888-776-0581.
McTighe industries A Division of Billion International Group 2100 North KlmbalUP.O. Box 928 Mitchell, SD 57301-0928
(605) 996-1162, Toll Free: 1-888-776-0581 Fax:(605) 996-1908. Web site: www.mctlghe.com
For more information, circle reply card No. 148 (See page 25)
Odour Control
the olfactory discomfort affecting the surrounding districts. Odour Neutralization
ECU, developed by the French chemical companies Elf Atochem and Delta AIC, possesses a number of antiodour compounds that act directly on malodorous molecules via derivatives of
In the case of plants treating municipal or industrial wastewaters, unpleasant odours often come from the tanks used to treat and store
sludge. By incorporating a water-soluble compound ... with the effluent, hydrogen sulfide
undecylenic acid. Their positive impact
content is cut from 90% to 33%...
on malodorous effluents has been dem
onstrated on many occasions. Unde cylenic acid is a fatty acid with eleven carbon atoms and a terminal double
bond obtained by steam cracking castor oil. Delta AIC develops and sells a range of formulations based on this acid and
containing hydrophilic compounds that can be mixed directly with water, lipophilic compounds to be associated with emulsions, or oil-based products and industrial soaps designed to clean and deodorize floors.
For its on-site use, the French engi neering company Planiff takes over and installs the necessary equipment. To process liquid effluents, odour control products are injected using a dosimetric piston pump, which meters the quantity to be incoiporated. The treatment is ho mogenized by the natural turbulence of
the effluent.
central France, Planiff mixed ECU
For the treatment of the gas effluents, or the air in general, the deodorizing product is dispersed by means of an ul trasonic spray system which produces fine droplets of regular size (between five and ten microns in diameter), or by using a high pressure air-mist generator which disseminates particles with diam eters ranging between two and five mi
products with the organic matter that forms the compost base, and treated the gases generated at the various stages of production by air-misting. In general, the EC 11 -based system is set up in ma turing and storage areas, inside bio-reactor stacks, and near loading hoppers
crons. A crown of nozzles around a fan, for instance, will ensure concentrated
dispersion of the deodorizing products, while several sprayers distributed around the area to be treated will ensure
broad dispersion. To reduce the odours caused by the composting of domestic waste at the Montceau Creusot Recycling plant in
Access Handles
Liting Davits Vent Pipes
or shaker screens.
In the case of plants treating munici pal or industrial wastewaters, unpleas ant odours often come from the tanks
used to treat and store sludge. By in corporating a water-soluble compound from the EC 11 product range with the effluent, hydrogen sulfide content is cut from 90% to 33%, while methylmercaptan is reduced from 92% to 45%.
Circle reply card No. 176
MacViroEnergy Solutions
Designing Environmental
Access Hatches
MacViro Consultants Inc. is seeking the following
Lifting Hooks
additions to its staff: ljh7TT4l
Liquid Level Regulator Holders
I• Project Manager with a minimum of three years direct experience managing multi-discipline projects in the water and sewage fields. Must be a P.Eng.
Safety Chains Railing Systems
Satety Landings Trash Baskets
Fail Arrest Systems Ladders
Climbing Rungs
Guide Bars
!• Electrical Design Engineer with a minimum of three years experience in detailed design of electrical and mechanical systems in the water and sewage fields. Must be a P.Eng. • Project Coordinator with a minimum of five years experience managing civil and/or multi-discipline engineering projects. Must be a P.Eng. or C.E.T.
Sump Grates
RehabilitateYour Underground Economy With the Best in Safety Equipment Easy to install, corrosion resistant, maintainence free O)
safety equipment,S engineered to meet 8
your most exacting ^ requirements and
fabricated to the high. . . est .industry standards.
MacViro is a leading firm of consulting engineers specializing in environment and energy. The company offers interesting work, competitive salaries, benefits, and an opportunity for bonuses. Please send resumes to:
Mr. Eric A.D. MacDonald, President
LA Voice:905 823-4340
MacViro Consultants Inc.
? Fax; 905 823-4947
90 Ailstate Pkwy #600
I t-800-268-5336 ^ Browse our website;
Markham ON L3R 6H3
Fax: (905)475-5994
www.msumississauga.com
For more Information, circle reply card No. 167 (See page 25)
For more Information, circle reply card No. 168 (See page 25)
Wastewater and Irrigation
Hawaii chooses design - buiid Water reclamation for irrigation and industry
Sometime in the millennium
year, treated wastewater from the Honouliuli treatment plant in Hawaii will be recycled for irrigation and as high purity water for local industry. This innovative approach will be made possible by a 20-year public-pri vate partnership between the City of Honolulu and USFilter's Operating
Services group that includes designing, building, financing, owning and oper ating a 12 million (US) gallon-per-day (1890 mVh) water reclamation facility on a site adjacent to the Honouliuli plant. Says Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris: "The partnership eliminates the need for our community to spend millions of dol lars to build treatment facilities neces
sary to meet a federal consent decree; secondly, it enables us to preserve lim ited potable water resources through the stringent treatment and reuse of wastewater."
USFilter will spearhead the multifac-
eted water reclama
tion project, which in volves accepting up to 13 (US) mgd (2050
m^/h)of secondary ef fluent from the Hono
uliuli plant in order to produce 12 mgd for beneficial reuse. The
company will also be responsible for mar keting and distributing the water to the city and to commercial and industrial users.
The agreement includes a provision in which USFilter will guarantee the per formance and maintenance of the treat
ment facility and related equipment throughout the 20-year period. The new facility will utilize fine-me dia filtration, microfiltration and reverse
osmosis processes supplied to treat sec ondary effluent now discharged into the Pacific Ocean. These processes will generate two grades of water. One grade
CELEBRATING
is a high-purity water that will be sold to power and petro-refining companies at nearby Campbell Industrial Park. The other grade will be utilized for irriga tion purposes. The city will purchase
approximately (US)6 mgd (950 m-''/h) for irrigation needs, freeing up a com parable amount of potable water for resi dential needs. The agreement is valued at(US)$140 million. For more information, circle reply card No. 140
Metering Pumps For WATER OR WASTE
CANADIAN MITCHELL ASSOCIATES LIMITED
(1959 - 1970) KNOX MARTIN KRETCH LIMITED
(1970- 1992)
Call Peacock For One Of These And Relax
KMK GROUP (1992-1999)
eacock's Milton Roy* Family
KMK CONSULTANTS LIMITED Consulting Engineers, Project Managers.
expertise in metering pumps is considerable, which means we know how to
Ecological Planners, Landscape Architects
meet your needs and we have pumps in stock, , ready for delivery. To make your job easier, call
KMK DESIGN BUILD LTD. Design Building of Municipal and Industrial Infrastructure
Peacock first.
Tel-905-459-4780
E-mail-kmk(gkmk.on.ca
For more information, circle reply card No. 141 (See page 25)
Dartmouth (902) 468-5599 Montreal(514) 366-5900 Mississaugo (905) 812-7100 Edmonton (780) 438-1122 Coigory (403) 250-7000 Vancouver (604)552-3185 Fort St. John (250) 785-6627 UM-w.pcacock.ca
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS DIVISION
fPEflCOCIfi
For more information, circie reply card No. 143 (See page 25)
Wastewater Treatment
What you should know before year 2000 Potential legal liabilities examined
No one knows just exactly
how catastrophic the Year 2000("Y2K")problem will be; what is known is that the
expense will be enormous. The poten tial cost of the inability of computers and any logic imbedded device, such as memory chips, to differentiate between the Year 1900 and the Year 2000 and to
make accurate calculations is currently estimated at US $600 billion.
damage will occur that day. Over the years, some computer programmers re alized that there would be a Year 2000
problem, but still used two digit year formats and wrote additional computer code, varying with each programmer,to tell the computer or logic device to set a pivot date sometime in the next century, other than year 2000. Accordingly,com puters may treat any year up to the pivot date(estimated in the industry to be usu
While a claim in nuisance
is now statute barred, a claim
that the utility was negligent in failing to correct a Y2K prob
world wars.
After "00/00/00" is reached, no one
knows how the two digit calendar imbedded logic devices will react. Cau tion abounds; the US aviation authority is grounding all planes, about 50% of planes in America, that cannot guaran tee they are Y2K compliant. Myth: All damage will occur Jauuary1,2000 The majority of the expected dam age will occur on January 1, 2000 (known as the "pivot date") but not all
lem before "00" rolled around
arguably would not be statute ban-ed. A claimant could be ex
ally 15 to 20 years into the next cen tury) as being in the next century but once the pivot date is reached the com puter will treat that as its Year 2000 and start calculating as if it has just begun calculating from year 0, or Year 1900, all over again. Myth: Litigatiou will uot start uutil damage has heeu suffered There are already 15 reported cases in the United States dealing with Year 2000 issues. The majority are class ac tions, claiming that software designers
Willms & Shier
pected to argue that the munici pality and utility had an obliga tion to anyone accessing their systems to prevent the systems from harming others. By failing to meet that obligation,the municipality and util ity can be found liable for any damage that its customers or neighbours suffered because of a Y2K problem. In addition, there can be a claim
against the utility for a violation of the Environmental Protection Act(EPA).
and manufacturers have failed to create
The EPA prohibits all persons,includ ing corporations and municipalities in the Province of Ontario, from discharging a contaminant or causing or permitting the discharge of a contaminant into the natu ral environment that causes or is likely to
software that can accurately differenti
cause an adverse effect.
ate the Year 2000 and the Year 1900.
One case has already been decided in court and it apportioned liability against the designer of the software. What you should kuow: Claims agaiust a muuicipality Assuming that a distribution system fails because of a Y2K problem and damage occurs, can a claimant succeed in law against a municipality for result ing damage? Claims can be expected under the tort of nuisance, the tort of
By Cynthia R.C. Sefton and Murdoch R. Martyn, Outerbridge Miller Sefton
of a local boaid;
c)an officer, employee or agent of a municipality or local board.
The insurance industry esti mates that this date changeover and resulting damage will be the third most expensive event in human history after the two The technologically depend ent providers of wastewater serv ices may not be immune to the Y2K problem. With their enor mously complex distribution systems, the potential for wide spread damage and consequen tially expensive lawsuits, should the systems fail, is immense. We outline below some myths about the millennium bug and what you should know about le gal issues before 01/01/00. Myth: Damage can only affect computers Computers will not be the only af fected machines. Any logic imbedded device, such as machinery and medical equipment,can be at risk. These devices until just a few years ago invariably had internal calenders using a two digit year format; this was cheaper to make than one with a four digit year format.
limit municipal liability under the tort of nuisance for the escape of water and sewage. Section 331.2(1) of the Mu nicipal Act now states that: "No pro ceeding based on nuisance, in connec tion with the escape of water or sewage from sewage works or waterworks, shall be commenced against, a) a municipality or local board; b) a member of a municipal council or
negligence and for violation of the Environmental Protection Act for es
capes of water and sewage. Changes to the Municipal Act, pro claimed in force December 1, 1996,
Environmental Science & Engineering, June 1999
A contaminant is defined as mean
ing "any solid, liquid, gas, odour, heat, sound, vibration, radiation or combina
tion of any of them resulting directly or indirectly from human activities that may cause an adverse effect". Both water and sewage have been found to be contaminants by the Courts. Both the Province and "any other person" have the right to compensation for loss or damage incurred as a direct result of the spill of a contaminant or pollutant that causes or is likely to cause an adverse effect and this right to com pensation is from the owner of the pol lutant and the person having control of the pollutant. 61
Wastewater Treatment
The onus is then upon the owner of the contaminant/pollutant to establish that they took all reasonable steps to pre vent the spill of the pollutant or that it was caused by the direct interference of a third party. When the claim comes in: Is there
insurance coverage? The insurance industry is not address ing the Y2K issue in tandem. Many in surance companies, and certainly most reinsurance companies, are explicitly excluding coverage for damage result ing from Y2K problems. Other insurance companies, how ever, are not making the exclusions be cause they consider that the resulting damage from date problems will fall under other coverage paragraphs in the insurance policies; no one knows for certain that a Court will read a Y2K ex
clusion clause as barring all claims for insurance coverage. These insurers also see market share opportunities in the present climate of fierce inter-insurance company competition. When the claims come in, there also will be a scramble to review when and
how the system failed and when the failed computer or logic imbedded de vice was installed; it may have been in stalled early this decade, and insurance companies recognize that the insurance policies historically in place will be re lied on as a source of coverage against the insurance companies. This is much like the recent battles where historical in-
When the claims come in, there also will be a scramble to review when and how the
system failed and when the failed computer or logic imbedded device was installed. surance policies without environmental exclusions (dating back decades) were dredged up in environmental litigation. Class action lawsuits in Ontario If there is a massive failure of a waste
water system when Y2K occurs, there may very well be mass tort claims brought under Ontario's Class Proceed ings Act. This law permits one person to be a representative of all persons who were affected by the system failure. It is designed to promote efficiency by al lowing one person to bring an action on behalf of many. The law has a rarely used provision that also permits a de fendant facing multiple claims to con solidate the plaintiffs' actions into a class proceeding. Preparing for Y2K: Creating one problem but causing another? An obvious technological concern for anyone preparing for Y2K is that by solving that problem, another problem may be created. Many computer pro grams are not bought outright, rather, they are bought under licence. By
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changing the computer code without ob taining the permission of the grantor of the computer licence, the licence agree ment may be violated, exposing the util ity to claims for copyright infringement and breach of contract. A review of the
original software agreement, and any subsequent agreements,should be made prior to modifying the system's software to determine whether the original soft ware manufacturer's permission is needed prior to modification Conclusion: Protecting the municipality and utility from claims The elements of due diligence are straightforward but require commitment of time and dollars, planning and fol low-through: • Develop a Y2K policy. Ensure that it is followed.
• Write it down. Documentation is nec
essary both as a check on what has been done, and as proof in court, if necessary. Without consistent and clear documenta
tion it is difficult to prove due diligence. •If changes need to be made to the com puter systems' software, review the original software agreement, and any subsequent agreements, to determine whether the original software manufac turer's permission is needed prior to modification.
• Plan emergency response. Contin gency planning for emergencies is es sential. Everyone should know theirjob in an emergency and everyone should know how to reach someone in author
Bermad Flow Control, Regulation and Metering CMS Wolverine AWWA Butterfly Polyjet Regulators and Energy Dissipaters Stafsjo - a leader in the supply of
ity at all times. • Review the insurance policies in place over the last several years. Whenever
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based on an event which took place in the past, it is worthwhile to thoroughly ex amine any policies that may have been in effect over the lifetime of the computer chip which caused the wrong to take place. Some policies covered any event or occurrence which took place during the lifetime of the policy, and even though the policy may now be expired, the in surer may have some obligation to re spond and defend the claim. ❖
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