Metro Vancouver Region's Combined Sewer and Sanitary Sewer Overflows Monitoring and Risk Assessment
Presentation Abstract
Metro Vancouver's Integrated Liquid Waste and Resource Management Plan (ILWRMP) states that no new combined sewers will be constructed, and that existing combined sewers will be separated into storm and sanitary sewers via infrastructure replacement or sewer capacity upgrading programs. The ILWRMP also requires prevention of wet weather SSOs for 24 hour storm events of less than 1 in 5 years, outlines a commitment to characterize the quality of CSO and SSO discharges and assess their impact on the receiving water bodies. Samples for both CSO and SSO monitoring programs are collected using automated samplers, triggered by a supervisory control and data acquisition system (SCADA), based on wastewater system levels. For CSOs and SSOs sample collection is done during or just prior (respectively) to the initial discharge with the intent of capturing the first flush when levels and loadings of contaminants are highest and represent worst case scenarios. CSO and SSO quality are characterized through analyses of samples for bacteriology, physico-chemical constituents and toxicity. Parameters are selected based on their potential presence in wastewater at levels of concern, usefulness as indicators of ecological or human health impacts, or are required for consideration of potential mitigation actions. The monitoring information is further used in human health and ecological risk assessment. The findings of the risk assessment are used for negotiation with the regulators and prioritization and design of mitigation infrastructure when required.
Session Title
Session S-06C: Water Quality III
Conference Track
Water Quality
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2014 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
1-5-2014 1:30 PM
End Date
1-5-2014 3:00 PM
Location
Room 606
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Storm sewers--Environmental aspects--British Columbia--Vancouver Metropolitan Area; Combined sewers--Environmental aspects--British Columbia--Vancouver Metropolitan Area; Water--Pollution--Risk assessment--British Columbia--Vancouver Metropolitan Area; Water quality biological assessment--British Columbia--Vancouver Metropolitan Area
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Vancouver Metropolitan Area (B.C.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Metro Vancouver Region's Combined Sewer and Sanitary Sewer Overflows Monitoring and Risk Assessment
Room 606
Metro Vancouver's Integrated Liquid Waste and Resource Management Plan (ILWRMP) states that no new combined sewers will be constructed, and that existing combined sewers will be separated into storm and sanitary sewers via infrastructure replacement or sewer capacity upgrading programs. The ILWRMP also requires prevention of wet weather SSOs for 24 hour storm events of less than 1 in 5 years, outlines a commitment to characterize the quality of CSO and SSO discharges and assess their impact on the receiving water bodies. Samples for both CSO and SSO monitoring programs are collected using automated samplers, triggered by a supervisory control and data acquisition system (SCADA), based on wastewater system levels. For CSOs and SSOs sample collection is done during or just prior (respectively) to the initial discharge with the intent of capturing the first flush when levels and loadings of contaminants are highest and represent worst case scenarios. CSO and SSO quality are characterized through analyses of samples for bacteriology, physico-chemical constituents and toxicity. Parameters are selected based on their potential presence in wastewater at levels of concern, usefulness as indicators of ecological or human health impacts, or are required for consideration of potential mitigation actions. The monitoring information is further used in human health and ecological risk assessment. The findings of the risk assessment are used for negotiation with the regulators and prioritization and design of mitigation infrastructure when required.
