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FEATURES

ISSN-0835-605X May/June 2011 Vol. 24 No. 3Vol. 24 No. 3 Issued June 2011

6 Is the waterworks industry prepared for public concern over tank mounted cell phone antennas?

8 Competition rising for skilled environmental professionals

10 BC lodge builds on the benefits of renewable energy

12 New Brunswick promotes sustainable community development

16 Securing public water supplies from deliberate contamination

20 Saskatoon WWTP bridges the gap between odour and grit removal

22 A new approach to water supply management

24 Costco constructs stormwater storage structure with standard concrete pipe

36 SBR system treats remote Hydro-Qubec worker camp wastewater

39 Renovating the Silvretta water reservoir in Austrias Alps

40 Wet well cleaning project completed at Torontos Ashbridges Bay WWTP

42 Examining options for treating oily wastewaters

46 New flat-panel membrane bioreactor cuts WWTP costs

48 In-situ remediation project cleans contaminated bedrock in only three months

51 Using a handheld X-ray fluorescence device for soil screening saves time and money

55 Total water management is a new and necessary paradigm

57 Design and engineering technologies for water resource management in the 21st century

59 How will Canadas new wastewater regulatory framework affect WWTPs?

72 Lagoon based wastewater treatment process is implemented in Glencoe, Ontario

Contents

DEPARTMENTS

Product Showcase . . . . . 62-65

Environmental News . . . 66-71

Professional Cards . . . . . 66-71

Ad Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Editor and Publisher STEVE DAVEYE-mail: [email protected]

Consulting Editor TOM DAVEY

Sales Director PENNY DAVEYE-mail: [email protected]

Sales Representative DENISE SIMPSONE-mail: [email protected]

Accounting SANDRA DAVEYE-mail: [email protected]

Circulation Manager DARLANN PASSFIELDE-mail: [email protected]

Production Manager CHRIS MAC DONALDE-mail: [email protected]

Editorial Assistant PETER DAVEY

Technical Advisory BoardJim Bishop

Stantec Consulting Ltd., Ontario

Bill Borlase, P.Eng.City of Winnipeg, Manitoba

George V. Crawford, P.Eng., M.A.Sc.CH2M HILL, Ontario

Bill DeAngelis, P.Eng.Associated Engineering, Ontario

Peter Laughton P.Eng.Ontario

Marie MeunierJohn Meunier Inc., Qubec

Peter J. PaineEnvironment Canada

Environmental Science & Engineering is a bi-monthlybusiness publication of Environmental Science & Engi-neering Publications Inc. An all Canadian publication,ES&E provides authoritative editorial coverage ofCanada's municipal and industrial environmental controlsystems and drinking water treatment and distribution.

Readers include consulting engineers, industrial plantmanagers and engineers, key municipal, provincial andfederal environmental officials, water and wastewaterplant operators and contractors.

Information contained in ES&E has been compiled fromsources believed to be correct. ES&E cannot be respon-sible for the accuracy of articles or other editorial matter.Articles in this magazine are intended to provide infor-mation rather than give legal or other professional advice.Articles being submitted for review should be e-mailedto [email protected].

Canadian Publications Mail Sales Second Class MailProduct Agreement No. 40065446 Registration No. 7750

Undeliverable copies, advertising space orders, copy, artwork, proofs, etc., should be sent to: Environmental Science & Engineering, 220 IndustrialPkwy. S., Unit 30, Aurora, Ontario, Canada, L4G 3V6,Tel: (905)727-4666, Fax: (905) 841-7271, Web site: www.esemag.com

26 Side mount antenna system increases revenue potential for water tank owners

28 Continuous mixing in water tanks improves sampling accuracy and water quality

31 Sturgeon Falls installs badly needed water storage tank

32 Spill pallets are an important part of a due diligence strategy

34 Spills management in fractured rock areas is especially important

May2011_ES&E_4_2010 01/06/11 10:59 PM Page 4

May2011_ES&E_4_2010 01/06/11 10:31 PM Page 5

Environmental Science & Engineering Magazine6 | May 2011

sure to electromagnetic radiation areonly one area of concern. Others arewondering about the effects of suchmicrowave energy on the drinkingwater inside the towers. In 2008, Dr.Andrew Goldsworthy, an HonoraryLecturer in Biology at Imperial Col-lege, London, presented a paper enti-tled The Cell Phone and the Cell.

Dr. Goldsworthy wrote that cellphone base station antennas on watertowers carry a hidden risk, be-cause the radiation they emit mayalso condition the water to make itbiologically active. This could haveadverse effects on public health. Be-cause the conditioning effect onwater can last several days, it allowsample time for it to be distributedwidely through the water mains. Heconcluded that this water condition-ing may present an even greaterthreat to public health than direct ex-posure to EM transmission from an-tennas.

Following the tragic events inWalkerton over a decade ago,Canadas waterworks industryworked hard to regain public trust inmunicipal water supply systems. Thistrust was recently demonstrated,when a couple of regions in Ontariovoted to continue their long-standingpractice of adding fluoride to drink-ing water, to promote oral health. Tomy knowledge, public concerns overthese announcements were negligible.

However, as more antennas be-come visible on water towers, thewaterworks industry needs to be pre-pared for increased public concernabout their possible health effects. Asit has had to do in the past with pub-lic concern about E.coli, lead, pesti-cides, etc., the industry needs to beready with research and strategies, toprovide answers and assurances forsuch emerging concerns.

Municipal water towershave long been used asplatforms for micro-wave-based communi-

cations antennas. An article in thisissue points out that,as the cellphone industry continues to grow, thecongestion among carrier antennason top of water tower tanks will in-crease as well. Space is becominglimited on most tower-tops andhandrails as carriers compete for op-timal signal positioning....

For owners, this is a great way tooffset construction and maintenancecosts. Reports show that carriers willpay between $2,400 and $60,000 peryear to place an antenna atop a mu-nicipal water tower. In fact, for sometowers, there is no more space ontop, so side-mounted positions arenow being sought after.

However, the waterworks industryshould take notice of the recent pub-lic backlash to wind farm develop-ment, a seemingly benign source ofrenewable electricity. In this case,public health concerns about theelectromagnetic field and vibrationfrom wind turbines, have caused theOntario government to halt windfarm development on the GreatLakes. As well, numerous citizensgroups have formed, vehemently op-posing their construction, even inrural areas.

While public opposition to cellphone antennas on municipal watertowers, has been fairly mute, therehave been localized cases where citi-zens, citing health concerns, havesought to have them removed.

In 2006, several residents of Sim-coe, Ontario, petitioned council tohave a cell phone antenna removedfrom a water tower, even though itcould cost the county an estimated$300,000. In an article published inthe Brantford Expositor, an environ-mental scientist at Trent Universitytold council that studies show an in-creased risk of cancer, as well assymptoms such as headaches, insom-nia and nausea, in people livingwithin 400 metres of a cell tower.

Last year, the Bayville ResidentsAgainst Cell Towers (BRACT), a cit-izens group in Bayville, Long Island,New York, took steps to file a federalcivil rights lawsuit to force the vil-lage to remove 50 antennas attachedto a municipal water tower, as it waslocated across the street from aschool. According to the BRACTwebsite, Bayville residents are mad.Their children have to go to schoolacross the street from a water towercovered with cell phone antennas.Parents are distraught. It is believedthat as much as 30% of the teachers,staff and employees have some typeof illness, cancer, leukemia, etc.

The village is said to receive$200,000 per year in revenues for al-lowing the antennas to be placed onthe water tower. The property onwhich the water tower sits was do-nated with a deed that limits use ofthe property. The property cannot beused for any commercial enterpriseor in any manner which would beobnoxious, dangerous or offensiveto homeowners situated within onemile of the property.

Homeowners were requesting thata judge declare that Sec 704 of theTelecommunications Act of 1996,which limits governments rights torestrict antennas on health or envi-ronmental grounds, does not preemptenforcement of their private propertyrights.

The health effects of direct expo-

Is the waterworks industry prepared for publicconcerns over tank mounted antennas?

Comment by Steve Davey

Steve Davey is Editor of ES&EMagazine. E-mail comments to [email protected]

May2011_ES&E_4_2010 01/06/11 10:32 PM Page 6

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HR Management

viewed by almost half of environmentalemployers as critical to the success oftheir recruiting programs.

Other top rated methods for recruitinginclude: internal recruitment, referrals,and co-op programs.

The reputation of an environmentalemployer as an Employer of Choice wasseen as the most important factor affect-ing the ability to successfully recruithighly qualified and engaged workers.

As Canadas environmental sectorcouncil for nearly twenty years, ECOCanada has been committed to develop-ing programs that encourage and main-tain the sectors growth; these include thenations largest environmental job board,professional networking events, onlinemanagerial training, and an environmen-tal employer of the year contest. Theirlatest development is a tool to monitorcompensation standards.

Our members have told us that theywant reliable information on the salariesand benefits of critical positions withinthe environmental industry, saysMichael Kerford, VP of ECO Canada.While there are a number of factors inemployee engagement, fair and competi-

Arecent study conducted byEnvironmental Careers Or-ganization (ECO) Canada re-vealed that competition for

skilled environmental professionals is onthe rise. From 2009 to 2010, 40% of em-ployers lost environmental staff to com-peting companies who offered betterbenefits, higher income, better work-lifebalance, or better career opportunities.

Environmental jobs on the riseOver the next few years, the environ-

mental sectors annual growth is expectedto rise above Canadas economic GDPand to reach from 4.7% to 7.7%. This isa direct result of 1) demand for environ-mental products and services from con-sumers, and 2) stronger governmentregulations which require businesses toinvest more capital in environmental en-deavors.

What we are seeing is a shift, whereexisting jobs are moving into new areasof environmental employment that in-clude green jobs as well as work in thelow carbon economy or clean tech jobs.So this expansion is not the result of dif-ferent positions emerging, it is more of aredistribution and reallocation of environ-mental skills and knowledge to a broadersector of the economy. This is happeningnot just in Canada but worldwide, saysGrant Trump, CEO of ECO Canada.

In addition, 14% of the environmentalworkforce will reach the age of retirementwithin the next decade, creating over100,000 vacancies.

As a result, nearly half of Canadianenvironmental companies will be lookingfor employees over the next two years,and will be working on developing re-cruitment strategies and improving em-ployee retention.

Understanding what workers wantIn a recent survey conducted by ECO

Canada, employers reported that success-ful recruiting in the sector depended onmethods which build upon existing rela-tionships with workers, and on makinguse of employee and professional net-works as well as online networks, such asLinkedIn. These existing networks were

tive compensation will always be an im-portant consideration and this informa-tion will provide an important backdropto employer/employee discussions.

Benchmarking industry compensation

With an ever-changing and diversesector such as the environmental, aproper comparison of compensation wasdifficult to find. As a result, compensa-tion and research experts worked withECO to come up with a method to pro-vide small- and medium-sized employerswith national metrics on specialized oc-cupations which are continually evolving.

Data on salaries, and retirement, vaca-tion and other benefits, for over 60 envi-ronmental professions are contributedanonymously by employers throughoutthe year. The first report will be availableto the sector in November 2011.

The compensation centre is open to allenvironmental industry employers, in-cluding consultants, service providers,contractors, emitters, and government. Itis one of a variety of tools being built inorder to support the environmental sector.

For more information, visit www.eco.ca

Creating a positive workplace environment is a vital component of attractingand retaining talented professionals. Grant Trump (right), CEO of ECO Canada,presents Cindy Coutts, President SIMS Recycling Solutions, with the 2011Large Business Environmental Employer of the Year Award.

Competition rising for skilled environmental professionals

May2011_ES&E_4_2010 01/06/11 10:32 PM Page 8

May2011_ES&E_4_2010 01/06/11 10:32 PM Page 9


Energy

The high, ongoing energy savings thatrenewable energy systems provide canmake a strong business case for a safelong-term investment of cash reserves.This can result in better returns than tra-ditional low-interest bearing investments,while providing numerous other environ-mental and social benefits.

During times of economic uncertaintyand environmental concern, planningahead and making investments in renew-able energy provide long-term securityboth financially and environmentally.

Reducing environmental impactsApplying renewable energy solutions

can lower your ecological footprint by re-ducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.For instance, if a building has renewableenergy technologies installed, its GHGemissions could be lowered by up to 97%.

Provincial and local governments areemphasizing the importance of reducingcarbon emissions, and British ColumbiasClimate Action Plan has inspired local en-vironmental planning in our communities.

Earlier this year, Hemmera was re-tained for the design and installation of asolar hot water system at the District ofNorth Vancouvers Northlands GolfCourse. This is one of the first solar hotwater installations on a golf clubhouse inBritish Columbia, and will involve heat-ing a restaurant and clubhouse facilities

Renewable energy is a valuableresource that is being contin-uously replenished by abun-dant and naturally-available

sources. In comparison to the diminish-ing supply of fossil fuels that are escalat-ing in price, todays renewable energycan provide many benefits, including im-pressive economic and environmental re-turns on investment.

Buildings that are well suited for solarenergy include aquatic centres, fire halls,hotels, and multi-residential buildings,primarily due their vast hot water heatingneeds. Geoexchange (or geothermal heatpump) energy is well suited to a varietyof buildings, both stand-alone and multi-building (neighbourhood-scale), due toits adaptability and scaleability to heatingand cooling demands.

Making good financial senseRenewable energy systems are engi-

neered to save dollars over a long lifetime.For both existing and new buildings, op-erations and maintenance costs are re-duced by up to 90%, compared to the costof oil and gas counterparts. For new build-ings, renewable energy technologies canbe incorporated right from the start, at lessthan 1% of a projects capital cost.

As part of their energy reduction pro-grams, governments and utilities have im-plemented programs to reward those whotake renewable energy initiatives. Readilyavailable grants can help reduce initialproject investment by up to 60%. Thereare also several programs available to as-sist with feasibility studies, options eval-uations, and building audits.

Conventional energy costs are likelyto rise over time as energy demands con-tinue to increase, but buildings and com-munities that are powered by renewableenergy sources are resilient to these pricefluctuations.

A research study published in The Ap-praisal Journal indicated that buildingsequipped with renewable energy technol-ogy had a higher market re-sale value.The Green Value Report, a multi-partycollaborative effort, also indicated astrong positive correlation between mar-ket value and the renewable energy fea-tures of a building.

that annually attract over 20,000 patrons. Promoting community leadershipCommunity leaders are creating

higher standards for healthier communi-ties. Owners and operators of buildingswith renewable energy can use theirproven experience to position themselvesas thought leaders. Their front-runningenvironmental stewardship can act as amodel for other communities and organ-izations. One leadership example in-cludes Whistler and its Whistler2020sustainability plan, which, among otherinitiatives, had a geoexchange and solarhot water retrofit carried out at itsMeadow Park Sports Centre.

Another leading community is theDistrict of North Vancouver which, asidefrom being a SolarBC-recognized SolarCommunity, is undertaking a number ofsignificant improvements to its buildingstock, policies, and awareness programs.It is looking into reducing energy con-sumption in 60 of its buildings.

Opting for renewable energy is a stepforward in reducing greenhouse gasemissions, and produces long-term sav-ings. Using specialized and experiencedconsultants can maximize the benefits.

Ruben Arellano and Richard Siegenthaler are with Hemmera.

E-mail: [email protected]

Clubhouse at the Northlands Golf Course, located in North Vancouver.

Building on the benefits of renewable energy By Ruben Arellano and Richard Siegenthaler

May2011_ES&E_4_2010 01/06/11 10:35 PM Page 10

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Sustainability

promoting Sustainable Community De-sign (SCD) for subdivisions, with sevenprojects at different stages of implemen-tation. One of them, Le Village en Hautdu Ruisseau (LeV) in Dieppe, nearMoncton, is already in the first phase ofconstruction. About 75% of the 12.5-hectare property will be protected, andclose to 200 units of different types ofresidential housing will be built (see Fig-ure 1).

What is Sustainable Community Design?

The SCD concept is very simple. Itcan be summarized by likening it to a golfcourse subdivision, with the golf coursereplaced by the area to be preserved (e.g.,wetlands, flood-prone areas, unsuitableareas for building) and by significant fea-tures that the community would like tokeep with the property (e.g., mature trees,cultural sites, agricultural or scenic

Most communities in Canadaare probably not as sustain-able as they should be, andmany of us wonder if it

will ever be possible to build one that is. The first step, however, is to build sus-

tainable subdivisions. We often hear peo-ple say that green buildings are the wayto build sustainable communities andsolve climate change challenges. But,what is the good of a green building thatis located 50 km from where peoplework, or conduct their daily activities?What is the good of destroying the sur-rounding natural environment in order toconstruct a green building?

The concept of conservation subdivi-sion is popular in the United States. Herein Canada, it is starting to be betterknown, but is not as mainstream as itshould be, in light of all the benefits.

The government of New Brunswick is

areas). The developer builds around theareas to be preserved, or conserved, with-out losing a single unit allowed under thezoning provisions.

One of the main characteristics of aSCD project is that at least 50% of thearea that would normally be used forbuilding in a conventional way is pro-tected in a natural way (see Figure 2).

From an environmental point of view,the LeV project is unique in Canada, be-cause all the wetlands and 30-m bufferzones, the creek area, the mature trees,and the most ecologically valuable fea-tures of the site are protected. In addition,the project will include best managementpractices for stormwater management, in-stead of conventional piping of runoff.

One of the main objectives of the proj-ect has been that any drop of rain that fallson the site is to be treated naturally, beforebeing released into the environment. It is

New Brunswick is trying to encourage sustainablecommunity development By Daniel Savard

May2011_ES&E_4_2010 01/06/11 10:41 PM Page 12

Sustainability

important that the City of Dieppes Engi-neering Department support the practicespromoted by the project, such as the con-struction of a detention pond and rain gar-dens for all runoff from the area.

The project is an environmental suc-cess. At first, people and developers alikewere surprised that a more sustainableproject would be less expensive to buildthan a conventional one. However, the

LeV project cost less to build with theSCD concept, simply because the foot-print is smaller and the infrastructure lessinvasive.

The SCD processComparing the costs of the conven-

tional approach for the LeV projectagainst SCD would have been difficultbecause the City did not allow the samenumber of units to be built with the con-

ventional approach. Initially, the devel-oper was told that only five units couldbe built in a conventional way because ofthe environmental constraints on theproperty.

As expected, the developer perceivedthis density to be very low for the size ofthe property (initially 10 hectares). How-ever, the City was ready to allow a higher

continued overleaf...

Figure 1 - Plan proposed by developer. Figure 2 - Comparison of designs.

May2011_ES&E_4_2010 01/06/11 10:41 PM Page 13


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the three zones on a property map (i.e.,the unbuildable areas, the important fea-tures, and the area recommended forbuilding), traffic light analogy is used.The red zone represents the area whereno building or infrastructure should be lo-cated. The yellow zone represents thearea where certain types of infrastructures

are permitted but no house should bebuilt. The green zone is the area where itmakes sense to build all the units that areallowed under the zoning provisions.

When the three coloured zones are de-termined, it is time to work on the designof the subdivision. The first step is to lo-cate all units that can take advantage ofthe green assets of the property and allthe natural features that are part of thesite. In all SCD projects, it is recom-mended that the four-step design process

density for a more sustainable project thatwould follow the principles of the SCDconcept.

Usually, the conventional method ofapproaching subdivisions requires that allenvironmental constraints from regula-tions/by-laws that apply on a developersproperty be determined, and it is assumed

that development will occur around them.In a SCD project, the developer and agroup of professionals will walk the siteto determine areas that are unbuildable(wetlands, flood-prone areas, sink holeareas), and those that have important fea-tures that the community wants topreserve (areas that are sensitive environ-mentally, significant historically or cul-turally, or scenic).

In New Brunswick, in order to removeany technical confusion in determining

described by Randall Arendt, the notedlandscape planner, in his books be fol-lowed sequentially:1. Designate the open space;2. Locate the house sites;3. Determine the layout of streets and roads; and,4. Trace the lot lines. This process is the exact reverse of thesequence that developers usually followwith conventional subdivisions.

Benefits of building with SCDThe environmental benefits of build-

ing with the SCD concept are obvious.More land will be preserved, or protected,than the mere 810% required under aprovincial planning act. This land can bedevoted to wildlife habitats, or vegetationthat will help filter stormwater and runofffrom residential developments, or helprecharge the underground aquifer. Stud-ies of conservation subdivisions haveshown that residents may experience so-cial benefits, such as more opportunitiesfor neighbours to meet and talk, and astronger sense of community pride.

As good as all these benefits are forthe community and the residents, some

The environmental benefits of building with theSCD concept are obvious. More land will be

preserved, or protected, than the mere 810% required under a provincial planning act.

When faced with making decisions in todays ever-changing regulatory environment, it pays to have an expert on your side. At XCG, we will listen, provide advice and assist you in arriving at the best possible solution for your project.

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Sustainability

public spaces and of walkable communi-ties that are close to transportation nodesand aesthetically pleasing. Finally, theywant their communities to protect the en-vironment. The SCD concept can helpcommunities meet these commendableobjectives.

Education is the key to getting broadersupport. For this reason, the Province ofNew Brunswick offers a free five-houronline seminar on the SCD concept. Inaddition, the Province offers workshops

to help people practice implementation ofSCD principles. Citizens and communi-ties can approach the building of subdi-visions in a more sustainable way, thanhas been the norm to date.

Daniel Savard is with the Province ofNew Brunswick.

E-mail: [email protected] References are available upon request.

developers would not be inclined to im-plement the concept if there were no vis-ible financial advantages as well. Studyafter study has shown that green spacesells, and sells very well. Trails, accord-ing to a National Association of Home-builders study in the New York Times, arethe number one amenity potential home-owners cite when they are looking at mov-ing into a new community.

A property value increase of up to35% can be calculated for residencesclose to a clean open space that is pre-served. For the LeV project, a compari-son was made between the expected salesrevenue from building in a conventionalmanner with only five units, and buildingclose to 200 units with the SCD project.Revenue from sales would be 16 timeshigher for the developer with the SCDconcept, with roughly the same increasein the Citys tax revenue.

How to encourage SCD projectsHow can we explain why so few SCD

projects exist in Canada? As with any-thing that is perceived to be new or out ofthe ordinary, there are major obstaclesthat communities and builders have toface when implementing a SCD concept.For example, the regulations/by-laws inplace in municipalities do not necessarilypromote a communitys sustainability,but are designed to fit the requirementsof federal, provincial or local governmentdepartments. Administration of regula-tions/by-laws becomes more importantthan the goal of a communitys sustain-ability.

Another obstacle can be the existingsystem for allowing capital funding ofprojects by major banks, which promotesbuilding sprawl, or big lots, rather thanpreserving the environment.

Finally, the lack of knowledge, or in-terest about the SCD concept, among de-velopers, builders, real estate agents,bankers, community officials, urban andcommunity planners and decision-mak-ers, makes implementation of the conceptpractically impossible in certain cases.

However, there is a light at the end ofthe tunnel. With global climate change,citizens now support sustainable practicessuch as compact subdivisions, that en-courage mixed-use development and aredesigned on a human scale. They wanttransportation options, creation of neigh-bourhood identity, building of vibrant

May2011_ES&E_4_2010 01/06/11 10:41 PM Page 15


Water Treatment

order to meet the new DHS critical infra-structure guidelines.

After assessing the more immediaterisks, Colliers management team consid-ered the most effective way to control ac-cess to the well fields and other remotesites. While researching their options,they determined that the CyberLock sys-tem of electronic lock cylinders, elec-tronic padlocks, and programmable keysmet their requirements.

The department first implemented theCyberLock system in 2004. The systemhas continued to grow as new wells havebeen brought on line and facilities ex-panded. To date, more than 600 electroniclocks have been installed.

Five different types of electronic lockcylinders are used in the lock hardwareon administrative office doors, re-pumpstations, and in the deadbolts on wellhouse doors. There are also electronicpadlocks on facility gates and under-ground sample stations.

EElectronic lock systemCollier County uses the electronic

lock system to its fullest capability. Thisincludes the softwares e-mail warningsystem, on-demand audit reports, andrunning the program on laptop comput-ers. The audit reporting ensures that em-

For many, confidence in the safetyand security of their drinkingwater systems changed after thetragic events of September 11,

2001. Established after 9/11, the US De-partment of Homeland Security (DHS)had the same concerns and quickly madeit a priority to reduce any risks of deliber-ate contamination to drinking water sup-ply systems.

In the United States, roughly 84% ofthe population receives drinking waterfrom approximately 165,000 public watersystems. According to government statis-tics, there are also at least 16,000 publicly-owned wastewater treatment systems inthe US.

Under the Bioterrorism Act of 2002,the DHS gave the Environmental Protec-tion Agency (EPA) full responsibility fordeveloping a comprehensive plan to pro-tect and reduce risks to the water sector,which includes community drinking waterand wastewater utilities. Through collab-oration with public and private water util-ities, state governments and national watersector associations, the EPA establishedvulnerability assessment guidelines tohelp water utilities evaluate their suscep-tibility to vandalism and sabotage.

Case Study: Collier CountyThe Collier County Water Department

provides drinking water service to morethan 160,000 permanent and approxi-mately 200,000 seasonal customers in theunincorporated areas of the county out-side the City of Naples, Florida. The de-partment maintains an entire watersystem, from pumping the water out of theground, to delivering it to customershomes.

The water supply system coversroughly 240 square miles and includestwo hybrid water treatment plants, threewater storage re-pumping facilities, threewell fields and one aquifer storage and re-covery well. With 103 wells spread outover a large area, the department operatestwo raw water booster re-pump stations.

When it conducted its EPA vulnerabil-ity assessment in 2002, the departmentdetermined that its public water supplysystem needed security enhancements in

ployees are doing their jobs, water sam-ples are being pulled at the right timesand locations, and scheduled securitychecks are being made throughout thewell fields.

The systems auditing capabilitiesare of great importance to us, JamesPrice, the departments technical supportprofessional, explains. The electroniclocks and keys audit lock openings, in-cluding exceptions such as unauthorizedattempts to enter. The system sends us e-mail notifications of denied access, em-ployee access to the facility after hours,and specific door openings at the watertreatment plant. It also keeps us informedwhen someone is accessing a particulararea of our facility.

The department has a network of Cy-berKey authorizer keyports and hubsthroughout its facilities. They are in-stalled at entrances to the break rooms,control rooms, supervisor office areasand main entrances. The keyports have adisplay, PIN keypad and connection foremployee keys. Employees receive theiraccess permissions and entry authoriza-tion daily by inserting an electronic keyin one of the keyports. At the same time,a record of their activities is downloaded

Protecting public water supplies from deliberatecontamination By James McGowan


Collier County Water Department.

May2011_ES&E_4_2010 01/06/11 10:42 PM Page 16

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Water Treatment

Physical access to the stations is awkwardand there is only a very small area towork in. The bar bell padlock is ergonom-ically designed for this type of applica-tion. The underground stations areextremely wet and the bar bells are highlywater-resistant. Laboratory employeescollect samples from various areas of thewater distribution system daily, followinga mandatory route they must take for col-lecting samples.

The audit report from the electronicpadlocks and each lab employees keyshould confirm that the employee is

and sent via the hub to network PCs. We have contractors that cut the grass

around our water treatment plants andwells. We issue an electronic key to eachcontractor so they can access the maingate. We let them know that any lock theyopen is being audited so we can confirmtheir activity while at a Collier CountyWater Department location. We explainthe consequences if they try to access alock that they are not authorized to open,says Price.

The department uses electronic barbell padlocks on its sample stations.

checking each sample at the location theyindicate in their log, says Price.

MMeeting environmental protection regulations

The Florida Department of Environ-mental Protection is the primary regula-tory agency for the Collier County WaterDepartment. They ensure we meetHomeland Security measures that havebeen put in place, Price says. We haveto demonstrate that we are performing atcertain levels of security to keep our risksas low as possible. CyberLock provides asystem of checks and balances to docu-

CyberLock padlock on a gate. CyberLock padlock on office door lock.

May2011_ES&E_4_2010 01/06/11 10:42 PM Page 18


has made great strides towards meetingthe level of threat that faces water utilitiestoday. It has integrated up-to-date securitytechnology, implemented access controlprocesses, educated its employees on theimportance of security awareness, and de-veloped sound, cost-effective securityprocedures. Assessing potential risks anddeveloping ways to manage and reduce

ment that we are staying in complianceand can respond effectively to any de-crease in water quality from malevolentactions.

The water department audits employ-ees who are responsible for carrying outsecurity inspections at pump stations andin the well fields. A pump station canhave as many as 10 electronic locks on it.When the employee performs a securitycheck, they use their electronic key toopen the locks on all the doors and pan-els. The audit trail that is downloadedfrom their key should confirm that theyhave checked everything at that pump sta-tion and it is secure.

Management can run audit reports tomake sure employees are inspectingdoors on well houses and checking in-ground wells that are in vaults. The vaultscan have as many as four electronic lockson them.

Along with the CyberLock system, thedepartment has strengthened its perimetersecurity system at the two water treatmentplants by installing additional CCTVcameras.

The Collier County Water Department

those risks are ongoing. As EPA stan-dards evolve and new security threatsemerge, the department is in a strong po-sition to respond quickly and decisivelyto protect the publics water supply.

James McGowan is with Videx. For more information,

E-mail: [email protected]

Electronic bar bell padlock.

Water Treatment

May2011_ES&E_4_2010 01/06/11 10:42 PM Page 19


Wastewater Treatment

task. College students from the local uni-versity were recruited each summer tohelp with cleaning the basins and manyother dirty jobs around the plant.

Not only was the system time-consum-ing to clean, it was also inefficient. Thetraditional design had grit removal up-stream of the influent screens, whichcaused rags and other materials to buildup in the grit chambers. The increased gritload was filling the plants digester andfermenters with sand to the point that itwas noticeably reducing process capacity.

However, the biggest problem with theold grit removal system was the odour.Grit was taken by the clam shell, thentrucked and buried in a hill behind theplant. Air from the grit removal buildingwas not scrubbed for odours which led tofrequent complaints from nearby resi-dents.

In 2004, the City began working with

Saskatoon is known throughoutCanada as the Bridge City dueto the seven bridges that crossthe South Saskatchewan River

in the citys downtown district. Severalkilometres to the north sits the H.M. WeirWastewater Treatment Plant, located be-tween a residential area and the riversleft bank. Constructed in 1971, it has adesign daily flow of 120 ml/d (90 ml/dactual), and a peak flow of 300 ml/d.

The plant utilized two rolling aeratedgrit chambers, complete with a clamshellcrane removal mechanism. Raw sewagewas split between the two chambers,while air was used to roll sewage and pro-mote settling of the grit. Every six weeks,grit was removed using the clam shell andtrucked to an on-site disposal area.

Once a year, the tanks required drain-ing and cleaning, which proved to be alabour intensive and time-consuming

Stantec Consulting Ltd. to implement abetter alternative for this site. Followingevaluation of a number of options, in2005 the recommendation was made fora system from Hydro International. Theplants new grit removal system consistsof four Eutek HeadCells, four EutekSlurryCups and two Eutek Grit Snails.

Following raw influent screening, rawsewage is split into one of the four Head-Cells, where grit is separated. The con-centrated grit slurry captured in thebottom of the Eutek HeadCell is thenpumped to the Eutek SlurryCup, wherethe organics are washed away and sentback to the biological treatment process.The concentrated grit is then directed intothe Eutek Grit Snail, which dewaters andelevates the grit into a solids receptacle.

The Eutek HeadCell is a modular,multiple-tray grit concentrator that re-moves grit as small as 75 microns with

The H.M. Weir Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Saskatoon WWTP bridges the gap between odourand grit removal

May2011_ES&E_4_2010 01/06/11 10:42 PM Page 20


Wastewater Treatment

minimal headloss. The high-efficiencyflow distribution header evenly distrib-utes influent over multiple conical trays.Tangential feed establishes a vortex flowpattern, where solids settle into a bound-ary layer on each tray, and are sweptdown to the centre underflow collection

chamber. These settled solids are contin-uously pumped to a Eutek SlurryCupwashing and classification system andthen delivered to a Eutek Grit Snail de-watering system.

The Eutek SlurryCup uses a combina-tion of an open free vortex and theboundary layer effect to capture, classify,and remove fine grit, sugar sand, and highdensity fixed solids from grit slurries.The effects of the free vortex and bound-ary layer retain even fine grit particles,while directing organics back to the bio-logical process, where they belong.

The Eutek Grit Snail captures fine gritand abrasives by providing sufficientclarifier area to retain 75-micron parti-cles. A slow-moving, cleated belt gentlylifts grit from the clarifier pool withoutre-suspending captured fine grit particles,which would allow them to escape withthe clarifier overflow.

In addition to the high level of grit re-moval efficiency, the system is effectiveover a wide flow variation, easily expand-able by adding trays, and energy efficient.Stantec was also able to retrofit the newremoval system into the existing aeratedgrit chambers. This included relocationof influent screening to upstream of thegrit handling facility. Through bypass ofthe plant influent during construction, theupgraded system was modified into theexisting inlet/outlet channels, and housedwithin the existing headworks footprint.

Installation was completed in thespring of 2009. Since installing the newgrit removal system, the plant has not hadto clean out the fermenters, a significant

improvement over the yearly cleaning theold system required. And, since the up-grade, there have been no summer com-plaints about odours.

For more information, E-mail: [email protected]

The plants new grit removal systemconsists of four Eutek HeadCells,four Eutek SlurryCups and twoEutek Grit Snails.

ODOCAT-2200 is a high grade oxidation catalyst withnano-gold coating to destroy contaminants like O3,odours and CO emitted from air/gas emissions intoharmless components with a granular fixed bed. Thehigh porosity and large pore size prevents waterbuild-up and makes it the best available catalyst forhigh humidity air flow at low (ambient) temperature.

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May2011_ES&E_4_2010 11-06-04 12:03 AM Page 21


Water Supply

With increasing urban populations,regular summer droughts and the uncer-tainty of climate change, Canada is by nomeans immune to problems of waterscarcity. Environment Canada has statedthat one-quarter of Canadian municipali-ties face ongoing water supply problems.If no changes are made to the conven-tional approach to water management,further problems, such as shortages,scarcity, and stress, are inevitable.

How can societies ensure the sustain-ability of their water resources while main-taining economic prosperity and a highquality of life? The challenge lies in shift-ing our perspective and changing our poli-cies to work toward a sustainable future.

Water demand management and the soft path

One partial solution lies in waterdemand management. Unlike the supply-side approach of increased demand-in-creased supply, this well-known methodreduces demand through cost-effectiveefficiency measures. Common measuresinclude the installation of devices, suchas water-efficient appliances and low-flow taps, showerheads and toilets.

As demand management programsbecome more detailed and longer in term,they can be reshaped and refined into amore comprehensive water soft path ap-proach.

The water soft path concept emergedin the United States in the 1990s when anumber of international water expertsbegan considering water conservation asa holistic concept. The idea is based onthe soft energy path, a sustainable ap-proach to energy planning developed inthe 1970s.

Like demand management, water softpaths strive for efficiency. But efficiencyonly scratches the surface of what thisplanning tool offers. The water soft pathdeparts from demand management bychallenging our social behaviour: wateruse habits, technologies and practices. Ittakes into consideration the complex in-teractions that occur between the naturalenvironment and human activity. In thisway, water soft paths work within ecolog-ical limits and also promote community

The traditional approach tourban water management isbeing challenged. Populationgrowth, habitat loss, pollution,

climate change, and a growing sensibilityto sustainability are heralding the emer-gence of a new model and a new era of water management.

Rooted in efficiency, conservation andecological values, this model, the watersoft path, strives to move society towardsa water-sustainable future. In short, itturns the thousands of years-old, supply-side approach to water management on itshead.

The conventional approach to in-creased water demand has always been toincrease water supply. This is known assupply-side management. The increase insupply is traditionally achieved by ex-panding physical infrastructure throughany variety of water collection and chan-nelling techniques: pipes, pumps, dams,reservoirs, wells, cisterns or canals.

Supply-side management has certainlyprovided huge and undeniable benefitsthroughout history. It has allowed soci-eties to produce quality drinking water forlarge populations, substantial irrigationwater for farmers, volumes of water forindustry, and recreational supplies forfilling swimming pools, washing cars andgardening. But, in todays world, the timehas come to reconsider this approach.Water supplies are not endless, and plan-ning tools need to start embedding envi-ronmental consideration at every level,from water policy and program develop-ment to implementation.

Growing up with familiar images ofglacial-fed rivers, the Great Lakes, volu-minous waterfalls, and Canadas innu-merable northern lakes, it is no wonderthat many Canadians tend to have a dis-torted perception of the state of our nat-ural resources. It is true that Canada ishome to a huge amount, nearly 7%, ofthe worlds renewable fresh water sup-ply, but only a small portion of this wateris available for our needs. The bulk flowsnorthward, while the majority of thepopulation lives along the southern bor-der of the country.

and citizen involvement in water manage-ment.

The key difference between demandmanagement and the water soft path canbe explained with two simple questions:how and why? Demand managementasks the question, how? How can wecarry out a task, for example, toilet-flush-ing, irrigation or dishwashing, with lesswater? The water soft path, on the otherhand, asks, why? Why are we using waterto accomplish these tasks in the firstplace? Is there another, more sustainableapproach?

By asking why, water soft paths arebetter able to incorporate not only effi-ciency but also conservation. The softpath approach is also designed to matchthe quality of water supplied to that re-quired by a specific end use. This allowswastewater from one activity to becomethe input for another activity. It is a novelidea in our society, where litre upon litreof drinking water is flushed down toiletsevery day.

To conserve water and match quality,a household might, for example, incorpo-rate a water flow cycle from rainwatercapture to the washing machine, or thegarden.

Implementing a water soft path strategy

For a community to implement a watersoft path strategy, the first step is to havea vision of its desired, sustainable future.Conventional planning starts from thepresent and extrapolates into the future.Backcasting, a technique central to thesoft path approach, does just the opposite.

With backcasting, a community firstidentifies its desired future of water useand supply, usually looking 20 to 50 yearsahead. Then it works backwards to iden-tify policies and programs that will allowthe identified future to be successfullyachieved. Once this initial framework isin place, decision-makers can revisit theplan every five to 10 years for reassess-ment.

Backcasting for a sustainable waterfuture has been proposed or adopted in anumber of communities across Canada,including Calgary, York Region and

The water soft path - a new approach to ensuringadequate water supplies By Laura Brandes

May2011_ES&E_4_2010 01/06/11 10:43 PM Page 22


Water Supply

Guelph. In 2006, the Capital RegionalDistrict in Victoria moved to includewater conservation backcasts to the year2050 as an element of all future strategicwater planning initiatives.

Moving the water soft path from the-ory to implementation is a core area offocus at the University of VictoriasPOLIS Project on Ecological Gover-nance. David B. Brooks, soft path re-search director, and Oliver M. Brandes,water sustainability project leader, re-cently authored an article on the water softpath in the International Journal of WaterResources Development. This summa-rizes the first applications of water softpath analytics to specific geographic areasin Canada. It also offers steps to improverecognition of the water soft path as aplanning tool, that can move managementand policies towards economic, ecologicaland social sustainability.

The article comes on the heels ofMaking the Most of the Water We Have:The Soft Path Approach to Water Man-agement (Earthscan, 2009), the firstbook to comprehensively present andapply this approach, both nationally andinternationally.

In 2011, the POLIS Water Sustainabil-ity Project will be releasing a new watersoft path strategy for Fergus/Elora, On-tario. Through its ongoing pilot projectprogram, the organization works withlocal leaders and governments to developtailored strategies for Canadian commu-nities. Full-scale strategies have alreadybeen developed for Oliver, Salt Spring Is-land and Abbotsford/Mission, British Co-lumbia. Each report provides detailedbackground about the communitys hy-drology, geography and water manage-ment and governance to date.

Based on current water use data andfuture projections, the reports then out-line a selection of future water use sce-narios. The no new water scenarioincorporates all the elements of a watersoft path.

After the strategies are developed, thechallenge is implementation. But the sce-narios are designed to be feasible, andcommunities have shown success. Sincethe release of the Salt Spring Island re-port in February 2010, the communityhas started working towards adopting theno new water strategy for the island.

Peeling Back the Pavement: Reinvent-

ing Rainwater Management in Canada'sCities, also scheduled for release early in2011, will be the newest addition to thePOLIS handbook series. Developed inpartnership with the University of Victo-ria Environmental Law Centre, PeelingBack draws on the water soft path todemonstrate that rainwater is a drasticallyunderutilized piece of the urban watercycle.

The handbook is targeted at local gov-ernments and community leaders, whowant to take action to reform stormwatergovernance. It is based on academic andcommunity-based research on the bestpractices of stormwater management.

Applying elements of the water soft path,it outlines the elements of a modern,build with nature approach to rainwatermanagement.

The time has come to challenge thetraditional approach to urban water man-agement, and the water soft path offers aviable and exciting alternative. As evi-denced by pioneering communitiesacross the country, it is possible and it ishappening.

Laura Brandes is with the POLIS WaterSustainability Project. E-mail:

[email protected]

Water supplies are not endless, and planning tools need to start embeddingenvironmental consideration at every level. Photo courtesy Brad Hornick.

May2011_ES&E_4_2010 01/06/11 10:43 PM Page 23


Stormwater Management

Because of limited sewer ac-cess, flooding, and policies tointensify urban development,there is an increasing need to

store stormwater on developed sites.Stormwater management ponds are notalways the best choice because of con-cerns such as liability costs and the highcost of land.

The option to store stormwater belowground is of increasing interest to privatedevelopers and contractors who recognizethere are savings with precast concretestructures. In addition, construction per-mits are not difficult to obtain when usingstandard products and commonly-useddesign specifications.

In the City of Saint John, New Bruns-wicks Storm Drainage Design CriteriaManual, there is a requirement for zero netchange in stormwater runoff, if down-stream flooding will occur, or existingflooding is aggravated. The quantity of

runoff from the site cannot be any worseafter development than it was prior to de-velopment. In the case of the City of SaintJohn, these calculations must be based onthe 1:100 year return storm.

The Glen Falls area of Saint John isclose to sea level and has experiencedflooding for decades. During major stormevents, streets have been closed, homesand businesses flooded, and everyday lifefor residents and business owners af-fected. To compound the situation, themost popular commercial developmentarea of Saint John is on the east side of thecity, draining into the Glen Falls basin.

When Costco decided to build a storein east Saint John, runoff from their pavedparking lot and roof was a concern, andhad to be addressed by designers. Sincethe new development has such a largehard surface, and covers what was oncegrassed and treed ground, Costco was re-quired to store and slowly release almost1,000 cubic metres into the local stormsewer system, to achieve zero net in-crease.

The designers chose concrete pipe forthe on-site stormwater management sys-tem. The local producer, Strescon Lim-

Concrete pipe on-site management system will store and slowly release almost1,000 cubic metres of stormwater.

Costcos stormwater storage structure constructedfrom standard concrete pipe By Stewart Totten

May2011_ES&E_4_2010 11-06-04 4:34 AM Page 24


Stormwater Management

ited, supplied nearly 400 pieces of1,200mm diameter pipe, six concrete Ts,and four 2,100mm diameter manholes tothe contractor, Debly Enterprises. Theseproducts were used in a typical concretepipeline and header installation with onemanhole at each of the four corners, con-necting storage pipe between them. Thestorage device was completed in approx-imately two weeks. Access structureswere pre-benched, ensuring a smoothflow through the system.

Using the 1,200mm diameter pipe forlarger structures makes it easy for a pumptruck to vacuum the system when main-tenance is required.

Reinforced concrete pipe is a goodchoice for stormwater storage. It does notfloat, rust, or burn in the event of petro-leum spills and wildfires, and is notaffected by standard pollutants instormwater or most chemical spills. Jointscan be gasketed and made water tight, ornon-gasketed to allow for ground waterinfiltration, or stormwater exfiltration.Joints can be grouted, if the designer andcontractor prefer.

Reinforced concrete pipe comes instandard 8-ft or 2.5m sections, so thereare more options without cutting wheninstalling the product. It is produced withlocally obtained materials which is im-portant, if a project is looking for LEEDcertification. If there is any damage to theproduct during installation, it is usuallycosmetic and can be repaired using stan-dard construction practices and materials.

By using the standard installations rec-ommended by the pipe suppliers, and in-

cluded in the Canadian Bridge DesignCode, local aggregates and excavated ma-terial can be used for backfilling, therebysaving a significant amount on importingbackfill and hauling away excavated ma-terial. Concrete pipe is produced in a tem-perature and weather-controlled facility,where it is designed to withstand earthand impact loading.

Stormwater storage structure lies below paved parking lot of Costco development.

Most likely, shoppers at Costco willhave no idea they are driving over a struc-ture that could be holding stored waterequivalent to half the volume of anOlympic-size swimming pool.

Stewart Totten is with Strescon Limited.E-mail: [email protected]

May2011_ES&E_4_2010 01/06/11 10:43 PM Page 25

A diverse range of case histories and new developments is reviewed in ES&EsES&Es

semi-annual look at tanks, containment systems and spill management.


As the cell phone industrycontinues to grow, the con-gestion among carrier anten-nas on top of water tower

tanks will increase as well. Space is be-coming limited on most tower-tops andhandrails as carriers compete for optimalsignal positioning and more viable op-tions are being sought out. This was thecase recently with wireless carrier T-Mo-bile. For an antenna installation on its 131ft high tank, one city mandated that theyfind an alternative way to mount their an-tennas on the four side sectors of thetower. Space issues notwithstanding, thecity also desired a less obtrusive solutionthat would appeal to the local population.In addition to finding a suitable mountingsolution, T-Mobile and its contractor werealso faced with other difficulties.

Welding was ruled out as an option, asit could cause problems with the tanksmembrane seals and could involve costlyand time-consuming draining of the tank.Epoxy mounting was also eliminated dueto questions about the durability of thebond under winters extreme elements.Additionally, capacitor discharge (CD)welding was dismissed as time-consum-ing because of the amount required.

T-Mobile contacted Metal & CableCorp., who had developed a patented,

non-invasive, high-capacity magnetic so-lution called the Magnemount AntennaSystem. Engineered with a series of per-manent magnets, combined with an inde-pendently suspended mounting system,the Magnemount system provides a non-invasive solution to adhering to the steelsurfaces and varying curvatures of watertowers, including the side sectors. En-tirely magnetic, it requires no epoxy coat-ing or invasive welding which couldadversely affect a water tanks protectivesurface coatings and bladder seals.

Metal & Cable Corp. was able to pro-vide T-Mobile with a viable option to in-stall 12 antenna mounts within a rigiddeadline. It is comprised of: 12 Total M-STM: 6 base-plates on fourwater tank sectors, holding three antennaseach. 90 Center Mast/Base Plate (24" x 24square footprint - uses up to 120 mag-nets). 300 grade stainless steel and anodizedaluminum construction. 150 MPH wind speed capacity 5.5 ft2

Side mount antenna system increases revenue potential for water tank owners

A horizontal Magnemount system.

May2011_ES&E_4_2010 01/06/11 10:43 PM Page 26


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wind surface area.The M-STMs offer a quick, clean in-

stallation which does not require welders,painters, or special tools. Assembly be-gins on the ground as each base plate ismounted to a horizontal shank; this is at-tached to the vertical mast with U-boltswhich are tightened to securely hold thefinal antenna pipe and assembly.

After a swift hoist up the water tower,installers simply pick a desired surfacelocation and place the base plate. Themagnets are then loosened to automati-cally orient themselves to their maximumcapacity. The lock-nuts on each magnetneed only one turn with a hand wrench tosecure the mount in place. Once secured,the antenna is mounted and the installa-tion is completed, typically in less thanone hour.

Ultimately, all 12 of the M-STM an-tennas took only one day to install. Fac-toring in the additional civil and electricalwork (i.e., cell infrastructure, coaxialcable feeds, magnetic supports to themounts, etc.) the T-Mobile tank installa-tion project was completed in approxi-mately two weeks.

Reports show that cell phone carriersare paying between $2,400 to $60,000per year to place an antenna atop munic-ipal water towers. As such, renting an-tenna space is becoming a very lucrativerevenue stream for municipalities, mak-

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Magnemount side tank mounting system.

May2011_ES&E_4_2010 01/06/11 10:43 PM Page 27


When continuous mechanical mixingis combined with frequent sampling andperiodic chlorine boosting as needed,water quality is maintained and less dis-infectant is needed overall, due to elimi-

There are thousands of munici-pal water systems in Canada,many of which rely on watertowers and above- and below-

ground storage tanks to store treatedpotable water. Drinking water treatedwith either chlorine or chloramines willnormally remain stable and safe for a fewdays in storage. As such, municipal watersystem operators have tended to rely onnormal cycling of water in and out of thetank to keep the water mixed in order tolimit aging and deterioration of disinfec-tant chemicals.

However, this reliance on passivemixing is often not enough to preventthermal stratification that can lead to adrop in residual chlorine and the resultantgrowth of bacteria. When bacteria con-tamination occurs, a common practice isto drain and flush the tank, and refill it.This practice wastes water and raisescosts of labour and chemicals.

Figure 1: When passive mixing is insufficient, potable water tanks can stratify,stranding warmer water near the top of the tank, where residual disinfectantsbegin to dissipate.

Continuous mixing improves sampling accuracy and waterquality in storage tanks By Joel Bleth

nation of sampling inconsistencies.New, near-laminar-flow, active mix-

ing technologies have been developed tocompletely mix storage tanks with up to100 million gallons of potable water, vir-

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While these mixers do thoroughlyblend the water in the vicinity of the im-peller, the energetic turbulence that isgenerated prevents the water from eithertraveling out too far from the mixer orbeing drawn in from any significant dis-tance (see Figure 2). As a result, mixersthat rely on turbulence may not effec-tively disperse the chemicals to the sidesand bottom of the tank, where biofilmstend to form.

3. Continuous, long-distance mix-ing. New solar-powered, near-laminar-

tually eliminating sampling inconsisten-cies and thermal stratification. Thesetechnologies have the additional benefitsof reducing labour and chemical costs, aswell as providing a way of complyingwith regulations.

Thermal stratificationThermal stratification promotes dete-

rioration of water quality, especially in theupper part of the tank. When waterwarms and stratifies, newly treated coldwater coming into the tank may not mixwell with the existing water, and tends tostay near the bottom. This cold water isalso the first to exit the tank, essentiallyshort-circuiting or stranding the bulk ofthe warmer, stratified water above.

Thermal stratification can start tooccur with temperature gradients as smallas 0.1C. If stratification persists for aslittle as five days, disinfection chemicalsmay begin to dissipate in the warmer,upper layers, allowing bacterial growthand an overall decrease in water quality.

Stratification also introduces samplinginconsistencies that can lead to over- orunder-boosting of chemical disinfectant.Since water quality testing is based onsampling from selected locations withina tank, these testing points may not reflectthe real health of the entire tank if it isstratified. A fully mixed storage systemprovides a means for true sampling ofwater temperature and residual disinfec-tant from any sampling point.

Mixing technologies A variety of mixing technologies are

used in potable water storage tanks, in-cluding passive mixing, periodic activemixing and continuous, active mixing.

1. Passive mixing. This practice relieson the inflow of new water into the tankto mix with older water and promote theuniform distribution of disinfectants. Theeffectiveness of this method depends onthe inlet/outlet location and the rate ofwater usage. When water usage rates aremoderate to low, passive mixing is oftennot effective in preventing thermal strat-ification (Figure 1).

2. Short-distance turbulent mixing.Mechanical mixing is sometimes usedwhen adding chemicals to a water storagetank to promote even distribution of thedisinfectants. These types of mechanicalmixers utilize an impeller turning at highrpm to create turbulence in the water andpromote mixing in much the same waythat a handheld cake mixer does.

flow, continuous, active mixers were de-veloped for solving water quality prob-lems in lakes and raw water reservoirs.They can circulate water out to a radiusof 800 ft (246 m) and to depths of morethan 100 ft (30 m). They are also widelyused for maintaining water quality inpotable storage tanks.

Instead of creating turbulence in thewater, the near-laminar-flow mixer floatson top of the water and gently draws thewater up from below. Exiting the mixer


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May2011_ES&E_4_2010 01/06/11 10:43 PM Page 29


without turbulence, the surface watertravels a long distance because it is es-sentially powered by gravity and experi-ences little resistance. This feature makesit possible to mix the water throughoutthe entire water column, from the bottomof the tank to the outer walls and every-where in between.

While these near-laminar-flow mixerscan circulate up to 10,000 gal (38,000 L)per minute, they require very little powerdue to the minimal head, or lift, in the up-flow pump design and they can be drivenby an electronically controlled DCmotor. The low power requirement al-lows them to be powered by 80- to 300-watt solar photovoltaic arrays, combinedwith a deep-cycle storage battery, toallow 24/7 operation.

With the near-laminar-flow mixerfloating in the water tank and a solarpower source installed on the tank roof,the equipment can operate around theclock, completely mixing the tank to pro-vide consistent disinfectant residual, andeliminate thermal stratification and de-terioration (see Figure 3).

Mixing in chloraminated systemsWhile approximately 70% of munic-

ipal water systems use chlorine as theirprimary disinfectant, a growing numberhave switched to chloramines. Continu-ous, active mixing is beneficial with bothtypes of disinfectants, but is especiallyimportant in chloraminated systems.

If chloraminated water is allowed to

stratify and age too long due to poormixing, ammonia-oxidizing bacteria(AOB) may convert free ammonia to ni-trites. The American Water Works Asso-ciation has noted that nearly two-thirdsor more of tanks with chloraminatedwater experience unwanted nitrificationand a loss of residual disinfectant, espe-cially when water temperatures rise dur-ing warm weather.

When the temperature of chlorami-nated water rises above 15C, AOB,which are 13 times more resistant tochlorine than most bacteria, begin togrow rapidly, especially on the floor andwalls of the tank. Therefore, it is criticalthat the mixing scheme circulates wateralong the walls and bottom of the tankand exposes AOB to disinfection chemi-cals.

Trihalomethanes controlMixing can help with other water qual-

ity problems as well. In water systemswith natural organic matter (NOM) con-

tent, chlorine added at the treatment facil-ity will react with NOM to form disinfec-tion byproducts called trihalomethanes(THMs). Formation of THMs is a concernbecause of potential health risks. The cur-rent limit is 80 ppb, but this will be low-ered to 60 ppb over the next few years.

As newly treated water flows into thetank from the water treatment plant, ittends to have its highest levels of THMs.In poorly mixed storage tanks, the newhigh-THM water tends to be the last inand first out, short-circuiting the older,stratified water above it. THMs naturallydissipate over time, so this older waterusually has fewer THMs. By homogeniz-ing water in the tank, continuous, activemixing distributes and dilutes THMsthroughout in the entire water columnand minimizes the concentration of themin the effluent water.

Quality monitoringWhile active mixing with a near-lami-

nar-flow mixer can provide consistent dis-infectant residual, eliminate thermalstratification, and ensure that all of thewater in the tank is of a uniform age,water quality still has to be monitored ona regular basis to ensure that it meets re-quirements. With active mixing, there willbe much higher confidence in the sam-pling results due to the elimination ofstratification. As a result, when testing re-veals that the residual disinfectant level islow, the correct amount of chlorine can beadded to boost the level of disinfectant.

Joel Bleth is with SolarBee, Inc. For more information,

visit www.solarbee.com.

Figure 2: Turbulent, high-horsepower mixers agitate the water in the vicinity ofthe blades but often do a poor job of homogenizing the water along the outerwalls and bottom of the tank where biofilms form.

Figure 3: With a continuous, active, near-laminar-flow mixer, water is drawnfrom the bottom of the tank and flows up and outward toward the outer wallsand back down, eliminating stratification.

May2011_ES&E_4_2010 01/06/11 10:44 PM Page 30


CET constructions, while still remainingwithin budget.

"With glass-fused-to-steel, there is noextra cost or time for sandblasting or paint-ing in the field, which means shorter con-struction timelines," says Scott Burn, VicePresident of Greatario. "There was alsoconcern about excessive noise and spraysthat could potentially be harmful to the ad-jacent residential neighborhood. These donot occur with a factory-coated tank."

Mr. Ming was also familiar with Aqua-store glass-fused-to-steel tanks, being a

former employee of a Sturgeon Falls areapaper mill. "I was charged with treatingindustrial wastewater at the mill. We usedanaerobic digesters with tanks supplied byGreatario for the treatment, so I knew the

Nestled in the town of SturgeonFalls, Ontario, stands a new,46 m tall, 652,000 litre ca-pacity composite elevated

tank (CET) system, which represents atown transitioning from one era to thenext.

The former paper mill town, locatedin West Nipissing, is now primarily atourist haven for fishing and wildlife. Itwas in dire need of a new water storagetank for some 8,000 residents as its oldone was deteriorating rapidly.

"The access ladder on the old towerwas in very poor shape, and it wasstrongly recommended by a consultingfirm to condemn the tower," says PeterMing, Manager of West Nipissings Waterand Wastewater Operations. "Leaks, dueto corrosion, occurred numerous timesand we had to get a welder to spot weldthem. The only way to do this was to bor-row a bucket lift from the City of GreaterSudbury. It cost us $10,000 each time weneeded to use it."

After the old water tower was deemedinaccessible in 2009, the Municipalitywas awarded a $2 million grant from theCanadian government's Community Ad-justment Fund Program. It required thatthe replacement tank had to be finishedwithin budget and by a firm deadline ofMarch 31, 2011. Otherwise fundingcould be revoked.

With such stringent stipulations, Mr.Ming contacted AECOM's Sudbury of-fice to help find a system that fit withinthe grant's parameters. The two technolo-gies selected for the request for proposalwere a glass-fused-to-steel Aquastoretank, supplied by Greatario EngineeredStorage Systems, and a welded-steel ele-vated storage tank. Due to lower capitaland maintenance costs, the Greatario sys-tem was the one chosen.

Greatario and AECOM focused on adesign that would make the constructionaesthetically pleasing. The team specifieda pedestal configuration that offered adifferent appearance to other Greatario

tank would hold up for this purpose. Wewere also looking for something thatwould minimize maintenance costs 20 or30 years from now," says Mr. Ming.

With initial construction beginning inApril 2010, it was anticipated that themajority of the tank portion of the con-struction would have to be done in unfa-vorable working conditions. Constructionof the concrete pedestal was completedone week ahead of schedule. Then, glass-fused-to-steel panels were raised one-by-one and were assembled, using jacksdirectly on top of the pedestal. Workersstood on a walkway less than one metrewide and successfully built the tank,while weathering the dangerous seasonalwind gusts off Lake Nipissing.

According to Chris Cecchetto, ProjectManager of AECOM, building a weldedsteel CET construction during inclementweather conditions would have been verycostly and present a longer constructiontime. "All glass-fused-to-steel panels aremanufactured in a controlled environ-ment in an off-site factory, and they've allbeen QA (Quality Assured) and QC(Quality Control) tested before beingshipped. We're basically just bolting pan-els together. Welding and painting duringearly spring months, with frequent lowtemperature conditions, poses some sig-nificant challenges. Glass-fused-to-steelcan be assembled in any sort of weatherconditions."

In spite of the obstacles, the newAquastore CET was fully operational inNovember 2010 and has serviced cus-tomers with no complications. Accordingto Mr. Ming, the Canadian governmentwas satisfied with the timeliness of theconstruction. Only minor site restorationremains, which will be completed afterthe grant deadline. All remaining costsare fully covered by the Municipality.

For more information, E-mail:[email protected]

Sturgeon Falls installs badlyneeded water storage tank

Greatario and AECOM focused on a design that would

make the constructionaesthetically pleasing.

May2011_ES&E_4_2010 01/06/11 10:44 PM Page 31


Many safety and environ-mental managers preferspill pallets and contain-ment devices that are con-

structed of steel. This is not becaus

Environmental Science and Engineering Magazine May-June 2011

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Transcript of Environmental Science and Engineering Magazine May-June 2011