WASTEWATER SYSTEMS EFFLUENT REGULATIONS April 4, 2014 Chris Power, P.Eng.

Wastewater Definitions Wastewater is composed of industrial, commercial, institutional and domestic wastes including blackwater & greywater. Effluent: wastewater that is deposited from a wastewater system Influent: means wastewater entering a wastewater system

What is WSER? Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations Established (July 18, 2012) under the (Federal) Fisheries Act to regulate wastewater outflows Sets minimum effluent quality standards achieved through secondary wastewater treatment Defines sampling, monitoring, record keeping & reporting requirements Will help protect rivers, lakes and oceans with a workable set of rules for Canada's approximately 4000 wastewater treatment systems.

Application Applicable to wastewater systems that collect, or are designed to collect, an average volume of 100 m/d or more of influent. Not Applicable to - Wastewater systems located in the far north (Nunavut, the Northwest Territories), north of 54 th parallel in Newfoundland & Labrador & Quebec Systems on the site of industrial, commercial or institutional facilities that are designed to collect less than 50% of blackwater and greywater combined. Mills as defined in the Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations

Geographic exception in NL

Wastewater in NL Approx. 739 sewer outfalls in the province of Newfoundland & Labrador WSER applies to the outfall not the community

WSER WSER does not cover very small discharges Existing provincial policy of no new raw water discharges will apply. 100 m/d of influent equates to 100,000 Litres/day Approximately 294 people or 147 homes (E.g. assuming 340 litres/person/day and 2 people/home)

Determine if the outfall is 100 m 3 Communities should do a desktop assessment on all individual outfalls to determine eligibility if the outfall is 100 m 3 or not (and keep documented results!!) Communities can use their data on how many people connected to the system If a community’s outfall is clearly over 100 m 3 then Start flow monitoring

Flow Monitoring Consider consultant to assist in flow monitoring Smaller communities in the same geographical region may work together and hire a consultant for flow monitoring. This will be the most economical approach.

Effluent Quality Standards Wastewater discharges must meet Carbonaceous biochemical oxygen Demand (CBOD) Total Suspended Solids (TSS) Total residual Chlorine (TRC) Un-ionized ammonia (NH 3 ) Average Maximum ≤ 25 mg/L ≤ 0.02 mg/L ˂ 1.25 mg/L

Types of Wastewater Systems Two types (for the purpose of regulation) 1.Intermittent Wastewater system: Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT) of at least 90 days, four discharge periods per year 2.Continuous Wastewater System: Any wastewater system other than an intermittent wastewater system Newfoundland & Labrador has continuous systems for the most part according to Environment Canada

Intermittent System Sampling- CBOD, SS and NH 3 Duration of Deposit Type of Sample to be Taken Minimum Sampling Frequency >30 daysGrab or composite Every 2 weeks but at least 7 days after any other sample ≤ 30 daysGrab or composite Once per discharge period

Continuous Systems Sampling- CBOD, SS and NH 3 Annual Average Daily Volume (m 3 ) Type of SampleMinimum Sampling Frequency ≤ 2500Grab or compositeMonthly, but at least 10 days after any other sample > 2500 and ≤ 17500CompositeEvery 2 weeks, but at least 7 days after any other sample > and ≤ 50000CompositeWeekly, but at least 5 days after any other sample > 50000Composite3 days a week, but at least 1day after any other sample

Continuous Systems with HRT ≥ days Sampling- CBOD, SS and NH 3 Annual Average Daily Volume (m 3 ) Type of Sample to be Taken Minimum Sampling Frequency ≤ 2500Grab or compositeQuarterly, but at least 60 days after any other sample > 2500 and ≤ 17500Grab or compositeEvery 2 weeks, but at least 7 days after any other sample > and ≤ 50000Grab or compositeWeekly, but at least 5 days after any other sample > 50000Grab or composite3 days per week, but at least 10 days after any other sample

Acute Lethality Testing Annual Average Daily Volume (m 3 ) Type of Sample To be Taken Minimum Sampling Frequency Reduced Sampling Frequency > 2500 and ≤ GrabQuarterly, but at least 60 days after any other sample Annually, but at least 6 months after any other sample > 50000GrabMonthly, but but at least 21 days after any other sample Quarterly but at least 60 days after any other sample

Sampling There is currently no lab in the province accredited to test effluent for CBOD, SS and NH 3. The nearest accredited lab is in Bedford, NS. AGAT Labs -Mt. Pearl ( ) (samples collection depot) Labs previously used by DOEC a.Maxxam Analytics Inc. b.Exova Canada Inc. Maxxam St. John’s office can coordinate with Bedford office to send samples for testing. Contact Maxxam at: (709) or (902)

Sampling EC suggests that towns should request that the following be tested for: Carbonaceous BOD (CBOD) pH Total Suspended Solids (TSS) Unionized 15 o C (as NH 3 )

Flow Meters and Monitoring Flow monitoring equipment to be installed as soon as possible by owners and operators of wastewater systems (if required). Maintenance and calibration of equipment is required. All outfalls (subject to WSER) need be monitored. A representative sample may be chosen and results applied to remaining outfalls. For information on available flow meters, visit the following websites: pplication_no=7 wastewater/sewers/products/keyword-sewer-flow-monitoring /location-canada-newfoundland

Implementation Timelines Wastewater systems not meeting the effluent quality standards would need to upgrade their systems to meet the standards Data collected through the quantity and quality monitoring program is converted into a score Score is then used to determine the level of environmental risk associated with the outfall and the timeframe required to meet the new effluent requirements (high risk), 2030 (medium risk) or 2040 (low risk) timeline

Implementation Timelines January 1, 2013 Effluent quality and quantity monitoring begins. Combined sewer overflow (CSO) recording begins. Record keeping and reporting requirements are in force. Records must be kept for 5 years

Implementation Timelines May 15, 2013 Deadline to submit identification report for wastewater systems in operation on January 1, This is a one time requirement Deadline to submit first quarterly monitoring report (If applicable)

Submit ID Reports online Access Effluent Regulatory Reporting Information System (ERRIS) via Environment Canada’s Single Window Information Manager (SWIM) EC is ready to assist municipalities to navigate SWIM & ERRIS Create an account with SWIM After log-in, user is linked to SWIM Within SWIM, create your user profile Then go ERRIS

EC Single Window Information System (SWIM)

SWIM web link ec.ss.ec.gc.ca/auth/en&GAREASONCO DE=-1&GARESOURCEID=ecssecgccap1 ap1&Reason=-1&APPID=ecssecgccap1 &URI=

ERSIS

Implementation Timelines February 14, 2014 Deadline to submit first annual monitoring report (If applicable). February 15, 2014 Deadline to submit first CSO report.

Implementation Timelines June 30, 2014 Deadline to apply for transitional authorization (TA). TA requires a year’s worth of flow and quality data. WW systems not meeting standards can apply Conditions will be set under which the facility may continue to operate, as well as risk based timeline for achieving final compliance

Implementation Timelines January 1, 2015 Effluent quality standards and limits in TAs are in force. Exception: TRC standard for <5000 m 3 /day wastewater systems – Jan 1, Application for temporary bypass authorizations may be submitted Acute lethality monitoring begins for wastewater systems that already meet the effluent quality standards.

Implementation Timelines June 30, 2017 Deadline to submit the progress report for wastewater systems with a TA expiry date of December 31, 2020.

Dec 31, 2040 Compliance for Low Risk July 2012 WSER became law May 15, 2013 Outfall ID Report due Dec 31, 2020 Compliance for High Risk Dec 31, 2030 Compliance for Medium Risk Jan 1, 2015 The following come into effect: -NPS -Authorizations to Deposit -Trans. Authorizations -Temp. Authorization (for NH 3 - Jan 1, 2014) -Temp. Bypass Authorization -Acute toxicity testing starts -Notification of deposit of a deleterious substance June 30, Application for Transitional Authorization due -Requires a years worth of flow and quality data Jan 1, Effluent flow and quality monitoring must start -Record keeping starts (must keep for 5 yrs.) -Reporting starts (45 days after end of quarter) -Applications for Trans. Authorizations and Temp. Authorizations can be made (including required plans) Progress Reports -July 1, July 1, July 1, July 1, July 1, 2035 Plans -Consolidation Plan -Wastewater System Modification Plan -Wastewater System (Overflow) Modification Plan Reports -Identification Report (once) -Monitoring Report (annual-quarterly) -Overflow Report (annual) -Progress Report (every 5 yrs.) Timeline Summary

Funding Funding for Flow Meters is eligible under MCW and MYCW program of MIGA. However this year’s applications are now closed. Gas Tax may be used with approval of GT Secretariat. Monitoring Costs are not eligible. Wastewater treatment infrastructure is an eligible category under the Provincial-Territorial Base Fund, the Green Infrastructure Fund and Gas Tax Fund. The Federal budget made a commitment to the renewal of a 10-year Building Canada Infrastructure Program which the province anticipates will cover WWT.

Flow Meters Following are a few examples of Flow meters suppliers It is important to ensure and check purchases against obligations of the Public Tender Act. 1.Avensystems Solutions Dartmouth, NS B2X 1S1 Tel: Can-Am Instruments Ltd. Tel: BioMaxx Tel:

Contact Information Environment Canada is the primary interface for administration of regulations in the province. General wastewater contact: or EC Wastewater toll free line DOEC (NL) are not administering the regulations Community reports from their outfall database can be provided by contacting DOEC. WSER is available online at: For more information and online reporting system, visit:

WSER Thank you Any Questions?