Presentation Abstract
In 2011, Metro Vancouver began to assess the effluents from its major wastewater treatment facilities in order to determine whether environmental discharge objectives (EDOs) would be needed for an upgraded Lions Gate, or expanded Annacis Island, wastewater treatment facility. This work was undertaken as part of Metro Vancouver’s policy commitment to providing services and solutions for a livable region. The process used to develop EDOs was that outlined in the Canada-wide Strategy for the Management of Municipal Wastewater Effluent endorsed by the Canadian Council of Ministers of Environment (CCME) in February 2009. In reviewing the draft EDOs, BC Ministry of Environment staff encouraged Metro Vancouver to identify contaminants of emerging concern that could be an issue at the WWTP in the future. This left Metro Vancouver and its consultants in a quandary. EDOs are to be developed where measured concentrations exceed water quality guidelines (criteria) outside of the initial dilution zone. Water quality guidelines do not exist for most of the hundreds of substances that have been measured in the effluent or the receiving environment. Specifically, which of these hundreds of substances are of emerging concern and how can one determine whether any impact from them is environmentally significant? In our presentation, we will outline briefly the process followed, new guidelines that are being developed, and provide examples of the difficulties in assessing data for relatively common substances where guidelines do not exist.
Session Title
Session S-07C: Water Pollution Identification and Correction (PIC) Programs: Methods, Resources, and Success Stories
Conference Track
Water Quality
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2014 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
1-5-2014 3:30 PM
End Date
1-5-2014 5:00 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)
Sewage disposal plants--Environmental aspects--British Columbia--Vancouver; ;Water--Pollution--British Columbia--Vancouver--Identification
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
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
Included in
Contaminants of Emerging Concern:How are These Identified?
Room 606
In 2011, Metro Vancouver began to assess the effluents from its major wastewater treatment facilities in order to determine whether environmental discharge objectives (EDOs) would be needed for an upgraded Lions Gate, or expanded Annacis Island, wastewater treatment facility. This work was undertaken as part of Metro Vancouver’s policy commitment to providing services and solutions for a livable region. The process used to develop EDOs was that outlined in the Canada-wide Strategy for the Management of Municipal Wastewater Effluent endorsed by the Canadian Council of Ministers of Environment (CCME) in February 2009. In reviewing the draft EDOs, BC Ministry of Environment staff encouraged Metro Vancouver to identify contaminants of emerging concern that could be an issue at the WWTP in the future. This left Metro Vancouver and its consultants in a quandary. EDOs are to be developed where measured concentrations exceed water quality guidelines (criteria) outside of the initial dilution zone. Water quality guidelines do not exist for most of the hundreds of substances that have been measured in the effluent or the receiving environment. Specifically, which of these hundreds of substances are of emerging concern and how can one determine whether any impact from them is environmentally significant? In our presentation, we will outline briefly the process followed, new guidelines that are being developed, and provide examples of the difficulties in assessing data for relatively common substances where guidelines do not exist.
