Jacqueline Weston on the “CRD Wastewater Management Program”
Jacqueline Weston is the project manager for the McLaughlin Point Wastewater Treatment Facility and one of several project managers involved in the CRD’s program. Following completion of the construction project she will become the manager of the wastewater treatment plant.
The overall program covers greater Victoria in two drainage areas: the east side flows to Clover Point and the west side flows to McLaughlin Point. The total project has a budget of $775 million, with $459 million coming from other levels of government with the balance being the responsibility of the CRD. It has a regulatory deadline of 31 December 2020 to achieve secondary treatment of all wastewater. However, the complete project will also include tertiary treatment (primary treatment = solids; secondary = bacteria; tertiary = remaining solids).
There are several major components of the program. Significantly, the system includes two major attenuation tanks, the purpose of which is to absorb excess wastewater in order to avoid spilling untreated wastewater during times of high runoff. There is also a large (4’ diameter) pipeline underneath Victoria Harbour to connect the Clover Point collection facility to the McLaughlin Point treatment site.
Jacqueline reported that the treatment plant started receiving wastewater on July 28 in order to proceed through the commissioning phase of proving that everything works according to plan. There is an additional process of treating the residual solids extracted from the wastewater. This will occur at Hartland Landfill with the residuals being moved by pipeline from McLaughlin Point. The further question is what to do with the final result – in BC such biosolids cannot be spread on land (as is done in other jurisdictions for land reclamation) so the current plan sees the product going to the Lower Mainland for concrete production.
Questions:
Servicing the Western Communities: The current scope of project has estimated capacity to 2030; it is anticipated that another treatment plant will be required for the Westshore.
Budget & scheduling: The project was subject to a very extended planning timetable which made it possible to accurately scope the work, the time needed and the budget.
Ongoing costs: The estimated costs for consumables and system renewal is $40 million/year. This is a cost within the CRD budget.
Odour monitoring: Monitoring is based on both human and technological methods; there are no plans to livestream real-time measurements.
Water quality at the outfall: The regulatory standard is 20 mg/l; the planned water quality is 10 mg/l. This is not potable water. However, it is usable within the treatment facility for maintenance functions like cleaning the equipment and back-washing filters.
Changes arising from the delayed start of work: The delays led to the decision to move from the required secondary treatment stand to tertiary treatment. In addition, some P3 contracts have been brought into play. Importantly contractors for the treatment facility are responsible for the next 2 years for the effective functioning of their equipment.