De-Mystifying WSER Gordon Will, P. Eng. Outline Objective of the - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

De-Mystifying WSER

Gordon Will, P. Eng.

Outline

Objective of the presentation What is WSER? Where you should be as per WSER De-Mystify some definitions Take homes Questions

Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations

*Google – WSER Regulation

Disclaimer:

This presentation is intended to provide

guidance only by reviewing some of the

provisions of the Wastewater System Effluent

• Regulations. This presentation is not a substitute

for reading the WSER and does not in any way supersede or modify the Fisheries Act or the

• WSER. In the event of any inconsistency

between this presentation etc. etc. etc…

Objective of Presentation

Where to start and what to do to address WSER requirements

What is WSER?

Wastewater System Effluent Regulations – a ”thou shalt” for Municipal and Federal Wastewater Systems. Enacted June 29, 2012 under the Fisheries Act – been law for over 3 years. Administered by Environment Canada (EC)– through SWIM (Single Window Information

Management)

Objective: Have all WWT systems above 100 m3/d (26,400 gal or pop over 310) meet new standards.

Where is Water Security in all this?

WSER – Federal Regulation Based on CCME – MWWE work Ratified by all provinces (except Que) Harmonization (equivalency agreement) – development in progress. Using DUIS appoach

WSER System Type Categories

Intermittent discharges

Lagoons with 1 or 2 discharges per year

Continuous discharge with > 5 days retention

Aerated lagoons with continuous discharge

Continuous discharge

Mechanical plants with discharge – no storage

Monitoring and Reporting Categories Based on Flows

> 100 - < 2500 m3/d > 2500 - <17,500 m3/d

> 17,500 - < 50,000 m3/d

> 50,000 m3/d

Population ~ 300 – 7,000

Limits (Effluent Quality Standards)

Parameter Value Notes Carbonaceous Biochemical Oxygen Demand (cBOD) ≤ 25 mg/L (average) Average reported depends on effluent quantity Suspended Solids (SS) ≤ 25 mg/L (average) Average reported depends on effluent quantity (exceptions allowed during Jul - Oct) Total Residual Chlorine (TRC) ≤ 0.02 mg/L (average) January 1, 2021 for systems < 5,000 m3/d Un-ionized Ammonia (uNH3) < 1.25 mg/L (maximum) (expressed as nitrogen at 15 ºC ± 1ºC)

Effective January 1, 2015

TSS Exception

For continuous systems with HRT ≥ 5d and intermittent systems,

SS results > 25 mg/L in July, August, September and October are not to be taken into account (Subsection 6(5))

None or very little progress on WSER!

What to do now?

OR

Action Plan

Step 1 – Complete ID Report

Step 1 – Complete Identification Report

Go to EC website (https://ec.ss.ec.gc.ca/) Generate GCKey (if you don’t have one) Create user profile within SWIM Create organization Create facility Assign WSER signing authority and regulatee Follow link to ERRIS (Effluent Regulatory Reporting

Information System)

Navigate to ID Report and complete

Action Plan

Step 2 – Start Monitoring

Step 2 – Start Monitoring

Find your requirements for monitoring post Jan 1, 2015:

Continuous or intermittent. Volume specific Web site: Environment Canada http://www.ec.gc.ca/eu-ww/default.asp

Acute Lethality Testing

Important note: Acute Lethality Testing Started.

> 2,500 m3/d about 7,000 population

Action Plan

Step 3 – Start Reporting

Step 3 – Reporting Data

Continuous System

Step 3 – Reporting Data

Intermittent System

Terms that are important

Acute Lethality - Definitions

Acute means happening within a short period of time, usually taken as ≤96 h for fish. Lethal means causing death by direct

• action. Death of fish is defined here as the

cessation of all visible signs of movement or

• ther activity.

Acutely Lethal in relation to effluent means that the effluent at 100% concentration kills, during a 96-hour period, more than 50% of the rainbow trout subjected to it.

What is Acute Lethality Testing?

Fish Bioassay - Drop 10 rainbow trout fingerlings into 100% effluent and after 96 hours, count how many alive Results are based on LC50 – 50% die Rainbow trout acute lethality test with or without pH stabilization - (Section 15) EPS 1/RM/13 (without pH stabilization) EPS 1/RM/50 (with pH stabilization)

Acute Lethality

Meeting max uNH3 limit

• f 1.25 mg/L does not

always result in passed acute lethality test. Repeating a failed acute lethality test with the pH stabilized test can result in a passed test. The pH stabilized acute lethality test has conditions: Max total ammonia based on a calculation

Total Ammonia and Un-ionized Ammonia? Total Ammonia (NH3-N)

Must be tested by accredited lab Total of un-ionized ammonia and ammonium

Un-ionized Ammonia (uNH3)

WSER limit of < 1.25 mg/L Determined by calculation pH needs to be tested at 15o C pH dependent – higher pH the higher the uNH3

When to Sample?

When to Sample?

WSER allows deposit of deleterious substances if meeting limits based on previous results and not acutely lethal?????? Monitoring requirements say “not specified” for those < 2500 m3 ?????? Taking Samples – “take at the final discharge point” Once in 30 day period or if longer, every 2 wks

Sample Before or During?

WSER states monitoring required at the final discharge point (during) If before, how to confirm quality Dip from surface? Not representative and likely best quality Open valve briefly and sample? Not representative and likely worst quality

Accredited Laboratory

Section 16 defines accredited laboratory as:

Meets ISO/IEC 17025:2005 ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation) Environment Quality Act

**“Alternate Program” allowed in provincial

approvals may not be valid for WSER *needs to be clarified with Environment Canada

Take Homes

Take Home #1

Mechanical Wastewater Treatment that includes Secondary Treatment: should meet cBOD/TSS limits but may not meet uNH3-N without ammonia removal process

Take Home #2

Lagoon Treatment Facilities:

Exception months on TSS (Jul to Oct). Main issue is uNH3 – follow temporary authorization process if exceeded Careful with spring discharge – delay 1 – 2 months, if possible, after ice cover gone Fall discharge generally always good

Take Home #3

Complete the Identification Report Become familiar with reporting requirements Report as required by law

Take Home #4

Be aware of the acute lethality testing that is required for some. Be familiar with what your accredited laboratory is doing. pH adjusted

Questions ?