1. Westend Regional Sewage Services Commission
2016 Annual Report

2. Background
The Westend Regional Sewage Services Commission was established in 1994 by Regulation of the Government of Alberta.
The Commission is composed of two members each from the Town Councils of Turner Valley and Black Diamond.
Commission members are appointed for four year terms.
The Commission’s operations are funded by the Towns of Turner Valley and Black Diamond according to their proportional annual sewage flows.

3. Historic Flow Rates by Town (imp gallons)
Proportion by Town
Turner Valley
Black Diamond
Total
Inc/Dec over Prev Yr TV BD
2016
54,171,497
74,068,325
128,239,822
.92
0.42
0.58
2015
53,975,212
74,575,543
128,550,755
.76
2014
69,255,638
113,241,704
182,497,342
1.13
0.38
0.62
2013
68,887,160
92,626,761
161,513,921
0.95
0.43
0.57
2012
64,229,813
105,442,947
169,672,760
0.89
2011
79,322,632
111,832,984
191,155,616
1.49
0.41
0.59
2010
58,129,978
69,935,422
128,065,400
1.18
0.45
0.55
2009
58,234,310
50,021,690
108,256,000
0.82
0.54
0.46
2008
65,076,110
67,458,890
132,535,000
0.99
0.49
0.51
2007
64,003,250
69,783,750
133,787,000
0.48
0.52
2006
63,463,916
71,393,697
134,857,613
0.74
0.47
0.53

4. Commission Members November 2013- October 2017
Dona Fluter, Chair Jim Deacon, Vice Chair Lane Park, Member Mike Ross, Member

5. Background cont’d
The Commission does not have any staff; rather, it contracts operations staff through the Town of Black Diamond, it contracts engineering services through MPE Engineering and contracts administrative services through an independent contractor.
Tom Dougall is the principal operator of the Westend facilities.
Laurie McCreary-Burke as Secretary/Treasurer provides all administrative work for the Commission.

6. 2016 Financial Statements
2016 audited financial statements were approved at the Commission meeting March 28, 2017.
The Commission’s financial statements and minutes of meetings are posted on the WRSSC’s website at

7. Current and Ongoing Issues:
LICENCE TO OPERATE
The Commission’s licence to operate was renewed by Alberta Environment and Parks in October for a ten year period.
AEP stipulated that Westend must file an upgrade plan by October 2017 indicating the effluent requirements Westend will meet after the facilities are upgraded.
Currently the upgrade is estimated at approximately $15M which we expect will be funded by the Alberta Municipal Water Wastewater Partnership (61%), off- site levies contributed by the two Towns (amount TBA) and the remainder will be funded by issue of debentures.
We anticipate the upgrade project will commence as early as 2018.

8. Current and Ongoing Issues Cont’d:
TURNER VALLEY TRUNK MAIN RELOCATION
In September 2015 the Town of Turner Valley applied to ACRP on Westend’s behalf for funding to relocate the Turner Valley portion of the trunk main that is still in the river valley.
Turner Valley received approval for funding in February 2016 and is managing this project.
ACRP will contribute $720,000 and Westend has taken an $80,000 debenture to cover the remaining costs of this project.
We anticipate the project will be substantially complete by November 2017.

9. Current and Ongoing Issues Cont’d:
TURNER VALLEY LIFT STATION UPGRADE
In 2016 Westend issued a debenture for $400,000 to be used toward upgrading the electronics in the Turner Valley Lift Station electrical building.
Westend will use DRP funding to renovate the Turner Valley Lift Station electrical building to accommodate storage of the bioxide needed for on- going chemical injection.
Although these two projects are funded separately, we will achieve economies of scale when the projects are tendered together.
These projects will commence within the next several months.

10. Current and Ongoing Issues Cont’d:
CAPITAL ASSET TRANSFER
In Westend negotiated with the Town of Turner Valley to transfer ownership of the property on which the Turner Valley Lift Station is located.
Subsequent to the transfer, Westend will undertake to clean up and fence the site.
Turner Valley has proposed that Westend provide the Town an easement for a portion of the site which will be maintained and used by the Town.
This project is currently on hold awaiting Town approval.

11. Current and Ongoing Issues Cont’d:
BLACK DIAMOND TRUNK MAIN RELOCATION
In the spring of 2015, Standard General was awarded the contract for moving Westend’s sewer trunk main in Black Diamond out of the river valley.
This DRP/FREC construction project was substantially complete by mid-September, 2015.
The relocated portion of the sewer line and the design change from an enclosed forcemain to a gravity flow included strategically placed manholes along the pipeline.
This type of design is now the standard used in wastewater pipelines.
Unfortunately, we had several commissioning problems including H2S off-gassing from the new manholes.
MPE Engineering has continued to work on diagnosing and resolving this challenge since December 2015.

12. Current and Ongoing Issues Cont’d:
OVER-STRENGTH SEWAGE BYLAW/POLICY
The problems with the new trunk main in Black Diamond brought to light the impact of over strength sewage and understanding H2S spikes.
Consequently, Westend reviewed over-strength sewage policies and bylaws of a number of municipalities and identified that BOD5, TSS and FOG are the three most common parameters monitored and surcharged.
Westend has an agreement with the two municipalities stipulating Westend will apply a surcharge to a municipality if it’s flow contains over-strength sewage but neither the means of monitoring sewage strength, the parameters defining over-strength sewage nor the amount of surcharge to be levied are defined.

13. Current and Ongoing Issues Cont’d:
OVER-STRENGTH SEWAGE BYLAW/POLICY
The combined levels of BOD5 and TSS collected from both Towns is monitored on a weekly basis (24 hr composite sample).
The combined and individual level of FOG is not monitored.
The individual levels of BOD5 and TSS collected from TV or BD is not monitored on a regular basis (only a few snap shots in time are available).

14. Current and Ongoing Issues Cont’d:
OVER-STRENGTH SEWAGE BYLAW/POLICY
The yearly average comparisons (see appendix) show a trend toward higher levels of BOD5 and TSS.
Despite I&I which influences the sewage concentration, BOD5 and TSS are typically less then 200 mg/L.
The last few years show some monthly mean concentration two to five times higher.

15. Current and Ongoing Issues Cont’d:
OVER-STRENGTH SEWAGE BYLAW/POLICY
To begin to address this issue:
MPE is currently taking base-line data to determine the amount of BOD5, FOG and TSS each municipality is discharging into the sewage treatment facilities.
Once we have base-line data, we can determine whether it will be more cost effective to continue to charge each municipality according to the amount of flow OR whether it would be more cost effective to implement a sewage strength monitoring and surcharge program.

16. Current and Ongoing Issues Cont’d:
OVER-STRENGTH SEWAGE BYLAW/POLICY Cont’d
Going forward, Westend will work with the Towns to create a policy and bylaws defining the meaning of “over-strength sewage” as well as the means of identifying over-strength sewage release into the system and enforcement of penalties.
The intent of the policy and bylaws is to enable Westend to enforce penalties on the offending municipality and to allow the municipality to enforce penalties on the offending customer if the need arises.

17. Current and Ongoing Issues Cont’d:
OVER-STRENGTH SEWAGE BYLAW/POLICY Cont’d
In the meantime, Westend has arranged with the two Municipalities to forward all development permit applications from proposed new businesses to enable Westend engineers provide feedback on the potential for over- strength discharge.
In addition, Westend believes that a public education program aimed at reducing the strength of BOD5, FOG and TSS discharged to the system by residents and businesses should be developed. No timeline or funding for development of this program has yet been determined.

18. Current and Ongoing Issues Cont’d:
UPCOMING STRUCTURAL CHANGES
In November 2016 the Commission held a retreat to review it’s organizational structure and to develop a process for determining future staffing needs in relation to the increasing complexity of the Commission’s operations and administration.
The Commission anticipates it will lose experienced Commission members following the municipal elections in October 2017.
The Commission met with the CAOs on March 3, to outline the structural, financial and personnel challenges the Commission is encountering.
The Commission will be meeting with SRRUC on April 11, 2017 to commence discussions about a possible merger.

19. Questions?

20. Appendix

21. Population Reported on 2016 Census Pop Est of Approved Subdivisions
Pop Design Capacity
Remaining
Pop Est of Approved Subdivisions TV BD
TOT
TV by 2027
TOT APR
2,559
2,700
5,259
6,830
1,571
929
1,100
2,029
Population
2011
2016
TOT
4,540
5,259
More people = more stuff in the system – less water in the system = higher concentration of BOD5 and TSS
Total Flow Volume
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
TOT
582,197
869,011
771,348
734,257
829,650
584,403
582,990
Total flow volume has not increased significantly 2011 – 2016; water restriction levied mid-2013 & lower rainfall last two years

22. Yearly BOD5 and TSS Means BD & TV 2010-2016
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
BOD5
136.43
97.65
135.70
111.37
170.58
189.13
231.75
TSS
76.89
59.24
69.54
219.68
241.71
285.77
289.35
Proposed limit
Over the past several years the trend is for higher concentrations of BOD5 and TSS discharged into the system.
Yearly Median BOD5 and TSS BD & TV
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
BOD5
123.53
90.75
133.91
110.75
127.20
170.25
205.00
TSS
78.00
56.73
69.50
241.50
212.98
186.00
Proposed limit

23. High-Strength Sewage – Consequences
Excess levels of BOD5
Can generate H2S in the collection system which:
Is associated with strong odours.
Impinges on the safety of workers and the public.
Is corrosive to concrete.
Uses up treatment capacity.
Can cause upgrade of facilities sooner than required.

24. High-Strength Sewage – Consequences
Excess levels of TSS
Uses up treatment capacity
Generates more sludge within the treatment cells.
Can cause upgrade of facilities sooner than required.
Excess levels of FOG
Requires more frequent flushing and cleaning of collection system.
Requires more frequent hydrovac of lift stations.
Has the potential to limit hydraulic capacity of service lines and the collection system.