Newsletter - November 2000
ARTICLES OF INTEREST FROM THIS ISSUE
Honorary Membership
Geoff Scott was awarded Honorary WEF Membership at WEFTEC 2000. Geoff was president of WEF 1979-80. He is now very active with the Ontario 5S Society.
Geoff's career, which spans over 40 years, began with the London-based engineering firm of Sandford Fawcett and Partners. The firm sent him to Canada in 1953 to help establish the firm of Canadian-British Engineering Consultants (CBEC). His field of expertise there encompassed water supply and pollution control projects and work in connection with solid waste management and resource recovery. By the time he retired from CBEC in 1976, he had served stints as President of Canadian-British Consultants Limited and Chairman of the Board of Canadian-British Consulting Group.
In 1976, he formed the firm of Scott Stephenson Consultants, Inc., which provided ongoing environmental services to the insurance industry. His activities involved environmental assessment and risk analysis for industrial activities such as coal mining, metal mining, chemical production, paper manufacturing, food processing, and more. He retired as president of Scott Stephenson Consultants in 1993 and currently practises as a sole practitioner.
A member and honoree of many professional organizations in the US, Canada, and England, he received WEF's Arthur Sidney Bedell Award in 1975, and was elected a Diplomate of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers in 1976.
Congratulations, Geoff, this is a well-deserved award.
Biosolids 2000 - examining residuals management
across CanadaFollowing the tainted drinking water tragedy in Walkerton, management of organic residuals in Canada is becoming more challenging and complex, both socially and politically. Many farmers and town councils are increasingly becoming opposed to land application of biosolids.
In September, some 250 producers, managers, practitioners and regulators met in Toronto to share their experiences and learn more about various initiatives and technologies. During the opening general session, speakers from various provinces outlined key biosolids strategies and policies.
Larry Schut, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), explained that Ontario's first biosolids (sludge) land application guidelines were published in 1973 and were last updated in 1996.
These initial guidelines specified that:
- sludge must be stabilized (no pathogens);
- must meet toxicity standards;
- not exceed 11 heavy metal guidelines;
- not be applied to soils under pH 6;
- not elevate soil metals above normal background levels.
Currently in Ontario, he said three ministries are involved with biosolids issues. The Ministry of the Environment is responsible for legislation, OMAFRA provides technical advice, and the Ministry of Health deals with related health issues.
Mr. Schut explained that current permit requests for land application of wastes, i.e. slaughterhouse effluents, are reviewed by the special Biosolids Utilization Committee. This committee is made up of government and stakeholder representatives. For example, WEAO examines applications on a case-by-case basis and then advises the MOE if they are acceptable.
Jack Bridon, from BC, told delegates that in his province, 90% of municipal biosolids is land applied. Of that, 70% is used for land reclamation, 25% for agriculture and the remaining 5% is retailed as compost. He believes that because of extensive education efforts, public concern in BC is not a problem.
Brent Ame, from Manitoba, explained that most wastewater facilities in his province use holding lagoons, some of which are only pumped out every nine years. Biosolids can be land applied at a one time use of 55 tonnes per hectare.
He said that the increasing number and size of hog plants, and a recent report showing that 48% of private wells were contaminated, was causing public concern.
Richard Beaulieu, from the Quebec Ministry of the Environment, said that in his province in 1999, 80% of biosolids were incinerated, 12% landfilled and 8% or .5 million tonnes were either land applied or composted.
Craig Peddie, of Azurix, explained that in Alberta and Saskatchewan, regulations specify a maximum biosolids application rate of 25 tonnes per hectare. Biosolids cannot be applied to land used for root crops, vegetables, tobacco or dairy grazing.
An Ottawa representative of the National Sludge Alliance presented his organization's position on problems with Canada's land application policies. For example, he said that Ontario's guidelines do not specify any minimum distance between the land involved and the general public. Other issues the Alliance do not feel are being addressed properly include:
- The effects of leachate in areas where the land is tile drained.
- Lack of proper monitoring.
- Insufficient emergency planning.
The conference's keynote speaker, Chris Coulter of Environics, talked about the coming "Green Wave" and gave highlights on a recent public opinion poll on environmental issues.
By Steve Davey, ES&E magazine
National network discussed at Biosolids 2000
The 1st Canadian National Residuals and Biosolids Management Conference was held September 24 to 26, 2000 at the Queen's Park Facility in Toronto. The topics covered included the current regulations/issues of land application of sewage and paper mill biosolids and other residuals in different provinces; potential impacts of new government initiatives on toxic chemical management plans on the future of biosolids management; successful land application and public consultation experiences; innovations in biosolids treatment processes, operations and alternative beneficial reuses.
The delegates were representative of the Canadian provinces and the stakeholders, namely: the professionals who regulate/service the biosolids industry and people who are affected by this industry.
Feedback was positive. The few people who have reservations about biosolids land application programs commented that they felt the conference provided a forum for people with different backgrounds to have an earnest discussion. They could share their knowledge, perspectives, and recommendations on future improvements and research to ensure the current management programs can be sustained in a cost-effective, environmental safe and publicly acceptable manner.
On Monday afternoon, about 50 people attended a meeting to discuss the merits of forming a national network to facilitate the exchange of information on the management and beneficial reuse of biosolids and residuals. The discussion centered on the desire and need for such an organization, its roles and purposes, potential composition and structure, host agencies and model organizations. Options discussed ranged from simply establishing an E-mail network of contacts, to forming an independent organization with national membership.
The consensus of the meeting was a strong interest in establishing a formal national network to facilitate communication and coordination of the management of biosolids/residuals treatment and beneficial reuse topics, research and issues across the country. There was also strong support to associate the group with the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA).
A volunteer Founding Committee was struck to develop one or more concepts for this network, its purpose, goals, scope, composition, organization, operation, funding and development plan. Once the Founding Committee has defined the network concepts and structure, they will be circulated to a wider audience for comment. The Founding Committee will then draft a final proposal for the network, incorporating the feedback received.
The Founding Committee members are: Craig Peddie, Peter Nicol, Duncan Ellison, Tony Ho, Harlan Kelly, Paul Barsalou, Wally Mackinnon, Vince Nazareth, Daniel Boulanger, Jonn Braman, Kiyoshi Oka, Helen Ryan, and Indra Prashad. Please feel free to contact any of these people with your thoughts and suggestions.
The Conference Chairs would like to acknowledge the financial support from our Corporate Sponsors: Environment Canada - Great Lakes Sustainability Fund, Azurix North America and US Filter Canada.
Thanks also go to the exhibitors for their participation at the conference: Ag-Chem Equipment, Alfa Laval, Azurix North America, Baker-Hughes Process Equipment Inc., Donson Engineering, ENV Inc./ Ashbrook Corporation, Environmental Commissioner of Ontario, Environment Canada - Great Lakes Sustainability Fund, Greatario Storage Systems, H2Flow Equipment/ Roediger Pittsburgh Inc., Lambourne Environmental, M LeBlanc & Associates/ Parkson, N-Viro Systems Canada, Ontario Association of Sewage Industry Services, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Ontario Ministry of Environment, Water Environment Association of Ontario - Membership Committee, Westfalia Separations Inc.
The Chairs would also like to thank the 200 delegates, many of whom came a long distance to attend the conference, the speakers who took valuable time out to share their knowledge, and, last but not least, thanks to the many people in the different provinces and the WEAO Biosolids Committee members who worked many hours in organizing and hosting the conference.
Peter Nicol, CH2M Gore & Storrie,
Craig Peddie, Azurix North America,
Tony Ho, Ministry of the Environment,
Conference Co-Chairs