Regional District of Central Okanagan

Draft Biosolids Management

Plan

WRWWTP Stakeholder Select Committee

November 19, 2015

Outline for Today

Project background

Regulatory framework & possible changes

Process & stakeholder meeting

Overview - Biosolids Management Plan (BMP)

Goals

Regular and Major milestones

Criteria for decision-making

Unforeseen events

Consultation, communication, education

Research collaboration (e.g. UBCO)

Background & Plan Objectives

BMP Terms of Reference

Will guide governance, decision-making, and operational and financial planning

20-year plan

Process-focused: not intended to evaluate and recommend disposal/reuse options

But will include schedule & framework for periodic

technical & financial reviews/option analyses

A tool for Risk Management

BMP Scope

Not intended to evaluate and recommend process or disposal/reuse options (e.g. composting)

Outline process that should be followed to ensure RDCO is identifying and implementing most cost effective and sustainable solution

“Living document” – periodic updates

Similar to a Quality or Environmental Management System (QMS/EMS)

Regulatory Framework & Possible Changes

Organic Matter Recycling Regulation

OMRR (2002) regulates:

Quality of biosolids – Class A or B based on metals,

pathogens, and foreign matter content

Treatment of biosolids – to reduce pathogens and

vector attraction

Land Application Plans (LAP)– prepared by

Qualified Professionals

Composting Facility Requirements, record

keeping, sampling

Companion guidelines (part of regulation)

Update started in 2011

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS 2015 Technical Working Group and Advisory Council

Technical Working Group conducting a scientific review of biosolids (in progress)

Develop monitoring and testing regime

Review effectiveness of LAPs

Review biosolids effects on wildlife

Assess potential impacts on FN Aboriginal Title and Rights

Principals Table directing - Nicola Valley First Nations participating since October 8

Advisory Council supporting

BMP Development Process & Issues

BMP Development Process

1. Background review

2. Drafted “Issues Report”

3. Facilitated stakeholder workshop - October 16

4. Draft plan development

5. Stakeholder Select Committee

6. Draft BMP Report

7. Final BMP Report

8. Additional presentations to councils & committees

Overview of Issues Regulatory, technical, and financial

• The regulatory environment for biosolids management in B.C. is evolving.

• The science and engineering of biosolids management is progressing.

• There is some uncertainty in the future costs of biosolids programs because of shifting regulatory framework, new science, and potential public concerns.

Overview of Issues Soil, water, and air quality – environment and human health concerns

• Although beneficial to soils if applied according to

agronomic rates, over-applying or poor application

methods can compromise soil quality.

• Poor application practices could result in the

movement of contaminants to groundwater or

surface water.

• Concerns about the effects of pathogens and ESOCs

on human health.

• Odour and dust can be a nuisance and/or health

hazard.

Overview of Issues Wildlife and domestic animals

Although livestock is addressed in OMRR and guidelines, the public has concerns about potential effects on wildlife

Overview of Issues Socio-community

• “Yuck factor” and a lack of meaningful consultation and education contributes to negative public opinion.

• Imbalance between who benefits and who bears the costs (i.e. generators vs. receivers). Low awareness of social benefit to agriculture in B.C. Interior.

• Concerns may cause people to avoid traditional foods & medicines.

Overview of Issues: Other Socio-community

• There can be a lack of public confidence in biosolids management consultants and contractors.

• Multi-stakeholder interest in Crown land affects feasibility of biosolids beneficial use options.

• As population increases and waste treatment processes improve, the amount of biosolids will increase and the number of suitable local land application sites will decrease.

BMP General Principles

BMP General Principles (Draft)

Consistent with Regional Growth Strategy & other higher-level plans

Specific to WRWWTP

process & local issues

First seek opportunities

to manage biosolids

within the boundaries of

RDCO

A living document that

will be updated every 3-

5 years

RDCO will collaborate with the university research community Comply with regulations and aim to meet best practices Anticipate challenges Manage risk (economic, social, environmental, legal, & reputation)

Recommended Milestones

Purpose of BMP Milestones

Anticipate problems and identify solutions

Manage costs

Ensure regulatory compliance

Stay current with “state of the art” technology and environment/health research

Enable Partner, stakeholder & public communication

Due diligence

Annual (“Minor”) Milestones

Semi-annual sampling for ESOCs

Rationale: Value in obtaining site-specific data to

reflect unique process; anticipate questions

Review emerging issues & potential risks

Rationale: Minimize potential for unforeseen events

with financial, social or environmental implications

Regulatory review and update operating plans

Rationale: Minimize potential for unforeseen events

with financial, social or environmental implications

Annual (“Minor”) Milestones (cont.)

Training & professional development

Rationale: Stay current; update team skills

(technical, communication, risk management, etc.)

Review higher-level plans (e.g. OCPs)

Rationale: Two-way communication with planning

department to ensure consistency

Review communication strategy

Rationale: Stay current with issues & risks (Strategy

is Major Milestone)

Annual (“Minor”) Milestones (cont.)

Operational contract review

Rationale: Routine contract management plus

regulatory compliance & due diligence

Report to community (Web site & Open House)

Rationale: Increase transparency and enable

community “ownership”; education

Report to RDCO Board

Rationale: Routine program management & Directors’

due diligence

Major Milestones

Review of Biosolids

Management Options

Rationale: Identify “best

option in face of change

Triple Bottom Line

decision-making

framework

Community engagement

Service Area Population &

Land Use Update

Rationale: Re-forecast

biosolids volumes; anticipate

quality issues

Major Milestones (Cont.)

3. High Value Contracts:

RFP or Renewal

Rationale: Optimize

ratepayer value; Take

advantage of new systems;

adjust to new rules & issues

4. Communications

Strategy (2016)

Rationale: Augment existing

WWTP communications with

biosolids information;

transparency & education

Major Milestones (Cont.)

3. Periodic Independent

Audit

Rationale: Value for $$;

process optimization; “fresh

set of eyes”

4. Review/Renew

Research Partnerships

Rationale: Enables system

improvements; helps build

community trust

Estimated Level-of-Effort

Regular Milestones

About 18-20 person-days per year

Major Milestones

Average about 24-28 person-days per year

Option Review is the potential big ticket item

Recommended Evaluation Criteria

Evaluation Criteria – General Framework

• “Triple Bottom Line” (TBL) approach recommended

to Structured Decision Making

Social

Economic

Environmental (including human health)

• Uncertainty or Risk should also be brought in to

adjust the initial TBL outcome

• Formally apply to Major Milestone decisions, but

guide others

Triple Bottom Line

Used for sustainability

planning since 1990s

(incl. RDCO)

Examples & guidelines

are available

Effective at choosing

option best suited to

local circumstance

Help to “advance overall

sustainability of

wastewater operations”

TBL in Practice

• Type of Multi-Criteria Analysis → Select 2+ sub-

criteria under each of Economic, Social &

Environment

• “Simple is Best”

• Benefits from structured “workshop” process with

mix of technical specialists & stakeholders

• Document process for transparency

• Information collected to support decisions

• Weighting & Trade-Offs

Biosolids Sub-Criteria Examples

Economic

Capital costs

O&M costs

Property values

Social

Odour potential

Truck traffic

Land tenure

Loss of use of land

Environmental

Greenhouse gas

emissions

Beneficial re-use value

Water quality

Questions

Extra slides (backup)

Triple Bottom Line (TBL) provides

a “perspective” or “lens” in which

to make decisions

The TBL + Risk “Framework” is one example of a specific framework, incorporating particular methodologies, for structured decision-making in a context of sustainability

Risk

It explicitly accounts for

risk attributes of different

ideas or actions, as well as

TBL attributes

Risk Factor Examples

Financial

Operational

Environmental

Regulatory change

Human Health

Reputation

Political