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2024 WCW Annual Conference & Exhibition
Monday, September 16
 

3:00pm CDT

Community Clean up
Monday September 16, 2024 3:00pm - 7:00pm CDT
We will be leaving the Delta hotels lobby at 3 pm and we will be walking down to McFadyen Park located at 416 Assiniboine Ave to clean up that park.
If you want to head straight to the park we should be there around 3:20.
  • Please dress for the weather – this clean-up will be rain or shine
  • Please wear long pants, comfortable shoes
  • Please bring gloves, water bottle, hat

Sponsors
Monday September 16, 2024 3:00pm - 7:00pm CDT
 
Tuesday, September 17
 

7:00am CDT

Registration
Tuesday September 17, 2024 7:00am - 8:00am CDT
Registration in the East Concourse-Ground Floor
Pick up your registration package. Nametags will be required for all Conference events.
Tuesday September 17, 2024 7:00am - 8:00am CDT
East Concourse, Main Floor RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg

7:00am CDT

Quiet Lounge
Tuesday September 17, 2024 7:00am - 8:00pm CDT
The Quiet Lounge, Sponsored by Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions, is a space designed for relaxation and calmness.
Tuesday September 17, 2024 7:00am - 8:00pm CDT
Meeting Room 12 WCC Main Floor

8:00am CDT

W2 Safe at Every Step
Tuesday September 17, 2024 8:00am - 11:30am CDT
Registration Required - Cost: $175 + GST
 John Evinger of Acklands Grainger
  • Fundamentals of Confined Space Entry (CSE) – Program development and implementation, including exploration of CSA Z1006:16 (R2020), the requirements for management of work in confined spaces, program alignment, and latest product demonstration and hands-on experience.
  • Gas Detection Made Easy (GDME) – Key concepts of gas detection applicable to any gas detection user: from a detailed examination of gas detection fundamentals and atmospheric hazard identification, to hands-on instrument exposure, including examples of real-world applications. Additionally, insights will be provided into gas sensor technologies, sampling procedures, and an exploration of the world of connected safety.
  • Fall Protection (FP) – Program development and implementation, with an in-depth look at the latest CSA standards and applications for leading-edge and understanding, SRL inspections, and recertification.
  • Rescue – Exploring various new systems and devices for rescue with hands-on applications for both CSE and FP.
  • Conversation on “Stop the Drop” – The prevention of dropping tools with a look at program development, systems, and applications.
Exhibition Attendees
avatar for John Evinger

John Evinger

Booth 52, Grainger Canada
Tuesday September 17, 2024 8:00am - 11:30am CDT
Meeting Room 2 WCC Main Floor

8:00am CDT

W1 Inspection and Condition Assessment of Gravity and Pressure Pipelines
Tuesday September 17, 2024 8:00am - 4:00pm CDT
Registration Required - Cost: $375 + GST
Speakers
  • Adam Byard, Jacobs
  • Ramesh Mani, Jacobs
  • Joel Batters, Lone Drone Solutions
  • Chris Macey, AECOM
  • William Jappy, Pure Technologies, Xylem
This workshop will provide valuable insights on inspection and condition assessment for municipal pipelines for a proactive asset management approach. Aging pipeline infrastructure continues to be a challenge for municipalities. A proactive approach reduces lifecycle costs and mitigates risks.
Attendees will learn how to collect the correct data to make smart decisions using best practices. They will hear about the latest in technological advances, including how artificial intelligence is being leveraged for both gravity and pipeline condition assessment and asset management.
Who should Attend: Pipeline asset owners and managers, and anyone interested in working on pipeline inspection or condition assessment (consultants, vendors, contractors, etc).

Speakers
avatar for Bill Jappy

Bill Jappy

Booths 99 & 100, Xylem Canada LP
Bill joined Pure Technologies, a Xylem brand company, in 2020 as Business Development Manager- Assessment Services. He has held similar sales and management positions since joining the industry in 2008 including: PICA Corporation, Inland Pipe Rehabilitation, Pressure Pipe Inspection... Read More →
Tuesday September 17, 2024 8:00am - 4:00pm CDT
Meeting Room 1 WCC Main Floor

8:30am CDT

T2 Cartier Regional Water Co-Op Headingley Water Treatment Facility
Tuesday September 17, 2024 8:30am - 9:30am CDT
Registration Required - Cost: $50 + GST Sold out
The largest facility owned by Cartier Regional Water Co-op, and designed by Stantec Engineering, has been in operation since April 2016. The facility utilizes Veolia’s (formally GE/SUEZ) dual-stage membrane technology to treat and distribute water from the Assiniboine River to the current distribution network, which spans multiple municipalities, including the RMs of Headingley, Rosser, West St. Paul, and the Stony Mountain Institute.

requires PPE (shoes, vest & hard hat)
All tours buses will depart from the main entrance on the north side of the Winnipeg Conference Centre.
Tour participants are to meet in the Southeast Concourse main floor area. 
Tuesday September 17, 2024 8:30am - 9:30am CDT
Southeast Concourse, Main Floor

8:30am CDT

T1 City of Winnipeg South End Water Pollution Control Center Featuring the Recent BNR Upgrade/Expansion
Tuesday September 17, 2024 8:30am - 12:00pm CDT
Sold Out
The new expansion and upgrade was designed by Jacobs and its subconsultants to meet the growing needs of the City of Winnipeg, address the higher standards of wastewater treatment mandated by the Province of Manitoba, and meet effluent standards for total phosphorus, total nitrogen, and ammonia-nitrogen.

requires PPE (shoes, vest & hard hat)
All tours buses will depart from the main entrance on the north side of the Winnipeg Conference Centre.
Tour participants are to meet in the Southeast Concourse main floor area. 
Tuesday September 17, 2024 8:30am - 12:00pm CDT
Southeast Concourse, Main Floor

9:00am CDT

WCW Board Meeting
Tuesday September 17, 2024 9:00am - 4:00pm CDT
10:00 AM Board Orientation
11:30 AM Lunch, Board meeting & AGM
Tuesday September 17, 2024 9:00am - 4:00pm CDT
Meeting Room 10 WCC Main Floor
  Meeting
  • Host Organization WCW

12:30pm CDT

T4 The Leaf, Assiniboine Park
Tuesday September 17, 2024 12:30pm - 3:00pm CDT
Registration Required - Cost: $50 + GST
Sustainability and Architecture Tour: The design process of The Leaf prioritized sustainability and integrates numerous features unparalleled elsewhere in Canada. Travel through The Leaf’s biomes and discover some of the architectural features that make the building visually stunning, and learn about the many sustainable building options that highlight Assiniboine Park’s commitment to the environment.

All tours buses will depart from the main entrance on the north side of the Winnipeg Conference Centre.
Tour participants are to meet in the Southeast Concourse main floor area. 
Tuesday September 17, 2024 12:30pm - 3:00pm CDT
Southeast Concourse, Main Floor

12:30pm CDT

T3 City of Winnipeg South End Water Pollution Control Center Featuring the Recent BNR Upgrade/Expansion
Tuesday September 17, 2024 12:30pm - 4:00pm CDT
Sold Out
The new expansion and upgrade was designed by Jacobs and its subconsultants to meet the growing needs of the City of Winnipeg, address the higher standards of wastewater treatment mandated by the Province of Manitoba, and meet effluent standards for total phosphorus, total nitrogen, and ammonia-nitrogen.

requires PPE (shoes, vest & hard hat)
All tours buses will depart from the main entrance on the north side of the Winnipeg Conference Centre.
Tour participants are to meet in the Southeast Concourse main floor area. 
Tuesday September 17, 2024 12:30pm - 4:00pm CDT
Southeast Concourse, Main Floor

12:30pm CDT

W3 Accessibility and Inclusion in the Workplace
Tuesday September 17, 2024 12:30pm - 4:00pm CDT
Registration Required - Cost: $175 + GST
Speaker - Melissa Graham, Manitoba League of Persons with Disabilities (MLPD) 
The MLPD, a provincial non-profit organization, champions accessibility and inclusion for all. Comprised of experienced and diverse staff and volunteers, the organization provides expert education and guidance on accessibility-related issues. Collaborating with various businesses and organizations across Manitoba, the MLPD aims to bridge the gap between inclusivity values and practical implementation in the workplace. This interactive workshop offers a fun and informative space to explore accessibility and inclusion, inviting participants to bring their questions and curiosity. Together, participants will delve into how fostering inclusion can drive innovative change in both workplaces and communities, leveraging the expertise of individuals with disabilities.
Tuesday September 17, 2024 12:30pm - 4:00pm CDT
Meeting Room 2 WCC Main Floor

12:30pm CDT

W4 PFAS as an Emerging Contaminant
Tuesday September 17, 2024 12:30pm - 4:00pm CDT
Registration Required - Cost: $175 + GST
Speaker:
  • Brandi Wilson – Pinchin LTD 
  • Soroosh Mortazavian, WSP Canada 
This workshop provides an overview of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), their source, their exposure limits and health effects, and the current Canadian and global regulations. The current available testing methods, options for remediation and treatment, and the challenges and uncertainties with their management will also be explored.
  • Overview of PFAS
  • Sources
  • Exposure and Health Effects of PFAS
  • Testing for PFAS
  • Remediation and Water Treatment
  • Challenges and Uncertainties with PFAS management
    • Costs
    • Liability
    • Insurance
    • Waste disposal
Presented in collaboration with the Manitoba Environmental Industries Association.
Tuesday September 17, 2024 12:30pm - 4:00pm CDT
Meeting Room 3

4:00pm CDT

Exhibition Beach Party
Tuesday September 17, 2024 4:00pm - 8:00pm CDT
Join us for our evening Exhibition Beach Party where we will be serving up tasty appetizers and you'll have access to a cash bar. A free drink ticket is included with your conference registration.
Play Beach Bingo, win fun prizes and a chance for a $500 WestJet Gift Card.
Sponsors
avatar for MPE Engineering Ltd

MPE Engineering Ltd

MPE Engineering Ltd
Tuesday September 17, 2024 4:00pm - 8:00pm CDT
Hall D WCC Third Floor

8:00pm CDT

YP Pub Night
Tuesday September 17, 2024 8:00pm - 10:00pm CDT
Join WCS AWWA at the Exhibition After Party. It is open to all conference delegates. Complimentary food and drink will be offered on a limited basis.
Sponsors
Tuesday September 17, 2024 8:00pm - 10:00pm CDT
Rudy's. Manitoba Hydro Building 375 Graham Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3C 0H6
  Networking
 
Wednesday, September 18
 

7:00am CDT

Registration
Wednesday September 18, 2024 7:00am - 3:30pm CDT
Registration in the East Concourse-Ground Floor
Pick up your registration package. Nametags will be required for all Conference events.
Wednesday September 18, 2024 7:00am - 3:30pm CDT
East Concourse, Main Floor RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg

7:00am CDT

Quiet Lounge
Wednesday September 18, 2024 7:00am - 4:30pm CDT
The Quiet Lounge, Sponsored by Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions, is a space designed for relaxation and calmness.
Note that the Lounge will be in use for the First Timers Reception 10-11 AM.
Wednesday September 18, 2024 7:00am - 4:30pm CDT
Meeting Room 12 WCC Main Floor

8:00am CDT

Opening Breakfast, Awards & Keynote
Wednesday September 18, 2024 8:00am - 10:00am CDT
Ceremonies to open the Conference, meet our special guests, and hear from our Keynote speaker Catherine Wreford. Awards presentations will also be made for WCW, WCS AWWA and WCWEA
Speakers
avatar for Catherine Wreford

Catherine Wreford

THE AMAZING RACE CANADA WINNER | CANCER SURVIVOR | ACTOR | DANCER | ADVOCATECatherine Wreford is a true inspiration and a force to be reckoned with. Catherine's extraordinary journey is defined by resilience, passion, and remarkable achievements. However, her path took an unexpected... Read More →
Sponsors
Wednesday September 18, 2024 8:00am - 10:00am CDT
Meeting Rooms 4-8 WCC Main Floor

10:00am CDT

Break
Wednesday September 18, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Caffeinate in the Exhibition.
Wednesday September 18, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Hall D WCC Third Floor

10:00am CDT

First Timers Welcome Reception
Wednesday September 18, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Learn about WCW and how to get the most of your Conference experience.
Wednesday September 18, 2024 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Meeting Room 12 WCC Main Floor

10:00am CDT

Exhibition
Wednesday September 18, 2024 10:00am - 1:30pm CDT
Visit with 95 companies on the Exhibition floor. 
Wednesday September 18, 2024 10:00am - 1:30pm CDT
Hall D WCC Third Floor

11:00am CDT

Best of the West Taste Test
Wednesday September 18, 2024 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT
The WCS AWWA hosts the annual Best of the West Water Taste Test in conjunction with the WCW Annual Conference and Exhibition.
We invite AWWA Utility Members or Utilities with AWWA Members to submit a water sample that will be tasted and scored individually by a panel of independent judges. The winning utility will then move on to represent our Section at the Best of the Best Taste Test event at AWWA's Annual Conference and Exhibition (ACE) the following year. 
This competition celebrates the important work our utility members do everyday to deliver safe, high quality drinking water to their customers.
Sponsors
avatar for ISL

ISL

ISL Engineering
At ISL, we share an enthusiasm for community infrastructure. From planning through to design and construction management, we create nimble teams to tackle the unique requirements of every project. Our technical knowledge encompasses transportation, land use planning, civil engineering... Read More →
Wednesday September 18, 2024 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Hall D WCC Third Floor

11:30am CDT

Exhibition Lunch
Wednesday September 18, 2024 11:30am - 12:30pm CDT
Lunch & Learn with our Exhbitors. Lunch will feature different hot food stations and are complimentary with your conference registration.
Sponsors
avatar for MPE Engineering Ltd

MPE Engineering Ltd

MPE Engineering Ltd
Wednesday September 18, 2024 11:30am - 12:30pm CDT
Hall D WCC Third Floor

1:00pm CDT

WCS AWWA Board Meeting
Wednesday September 18, 2024 1:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Wednesday September 18, 2024 1:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Meeting Room 10 WCC Main Floor
  Meeting

1:30pm CDT

Lessons Learned from Commissioning and Operation of SEWPCC Plant, Winnipeg MB
Wednesday September 18, 2024 1:30pm - 2:00pm CDT
City of Winnipeg's South End Water Pollution Control Centre (SEWPCC) has undergone a major expansion and upgrade, allowing the plant to meet more stringent discharge limits and to increase its peak secondary treatment capacity from 100 ML/d to 225 ML/d. The previous High Purity Oxygen (HPO) tanks were replaced by three integrated fixed film activated sludge (IFAS) bioreactors set up in a preanoxic, anaerobic, anoxic, aerobic, and post aerobic configuration. The HPO tanks were converted to two primary sludge fermentation units to provide the substrates required to enhance biological phosphorous removal performance. In the absence of the fermenters, operation logic of the bioreactors was modified to promote biological phosphorus removal and lower the ferric chloride consumption that was dosed to the bioreactors' mixed liquor to chemically precipitate phosphorous. The BNR process at SEWPCC has resulted in considerable improvement in the effluent quality with TSS
Speakers
avatar for Mahdi Bazri

Mahdi Bazri

Process Engineer and Project Manager, Jacobs
Mahdi is a process engineer and technical lead with Jacobs. Mahdi’s experience spans from developing conceptual designs to procurement, construction, commissioning, and handover of multiple water and wastewater treatment plants as well as landfill gas management systems.Mahdi has... Read More →
Wednesday September 18, 2024 1:30pm - 2:00pm CDT
Meeting Room 2 WCC Main Floor

1:30pm CDT

Machine Learning for Multiparameter Coagulation Optimization in Western Canada
Wednesday September 18, 2024 1:30pm - 2:00pm CDT
Coagulation chemistry is a complex process impacted by several variables and is regarded as “the single most important factor affecting treatment plant performance” (AWWA M37). Machine learning is a subset of artificial intelligence that has the potential to ‘learn' complex chemical processes. The City of Lethbridge Water Treatment Plant has used machine learning modelling of the coagulation process as an operational support tool since February 2023. The tool provides recommendations to operators in real time based on raw water characteristics and treatment system conditions to achieve multiparameter optimization. In the first year of implementation this tool has helped operational staff optimize treatment during both stable and rapidly changing raw water conditions, resulting in a reduction in coagulant and polymer usage by approximately 21% while exceeding treatment objectives. Over the last year assessments have been completed at several other conventional water treatment plants in Western Canada to assess the transferability of the technology. The assessments have included WTPs with varying source waters, coagulants, clarification technologies, and levels of instrumentation. This presentation will provide an overview of coagulation, machine learning, and the results of the WTP evaluations. Specific challenges related to data gathering, exploratory data analysis, and modelling will be highlighted. Potential challenges and benefits of the technology will be discussed, and the overall results of the assessments will be shared.
Speakers
avatar for Tyler Bennett

Tyler Bennett

President, Coagtech
Tyler is a water and wastewater engineer with experience in design, construction, and operation of water and wastewater treatment plants. He first started exploring the concept of using machine learning to optimize plant processes during his masters degree, and since that time has... Read More →
Wednesday September 18, 2024 1:30pm - 2:00pm CDT
Meeting Room 1 WCC Main Floor

1:30pm CDT

Water Reuse - All Water Has Value
Wednesday September 18, 2024 1:30pm - 2:00pm CDT
Buildings across Canada typically use 50% to 95% of centrally treated water for non potable purposes. This is typically irrigation, toilets, washing machines, cooling towers and process water. Which provides a significant opportunity to collect and reuse various onsite waters for these non potable purposes. These onsite waters can be rainwater, stormwater, AC condensate, foundation drainage, grey water or process water. By effectively reusing onsite water with a One Water approach and valuing all water sources we can turn this nuisance onsite water into an assets fostering water conservation and sustainability. Let's discuss how we can successfully reuse onsite water and discuss how we can ensure the water is treated to meet the "fit for purpose". Together we can reshape the water resource landscape in Canada. Turning onsite nuisance water into a valuable water resource.
Speakers
BM

Benjamin Morrison

COO. - Water Resources Engineering Technologist, Cleanflo Water Technologies Inc
Benjamin Morrison is a Water Resources Engineering Technologist with 10 years of experience in the water reuse industry. He has been designing and installing water reuse systems across Canada. Currently, Benjamin oversees product manufacturing at Cleanflo Water Technologies Inc... Read More →
Wednesday September 18, 2024 1:30pm - 2:00pm CDT
Meeting Room 3

2:00pm CDT

18.6km Electromagnetic Inspection for the City of Winnipeg
Wednesday September 18, 2024 2:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
Abstract In 2022 Pure Technologies, along with AECOM performed an electromagnetic inspection on the Branch Aquaduct 2 1650mm - 18.6 km pipeline for the City of Winnipeg. The inspection was performed via the PipeDiver platform. It was the longest PipeDiver inspection completed to date in North America. This abstract will discuss all the planning, inspection details and results of the inspection. The City of Winnipeg retained Pure Technologies, a Xylem brand (Pure Technologies), to conduct a condition assessment of the prestressed concrete cylinder pipe (PCCP) in the 1650-millimetre Branch II Aqueduct in Winnipeg, Manitoba. On September 21, 2022, Pure Technologies used its proprietary PipeDiverâ„¢ platform, a non-destructive electromagnetic inspection technology to locate and identify pipes that have broken prestressing wire wraps. The PipeDiver inspection covered a cumulative distance of 18.63 kilometres and spanned a total of 3,826 pipes from the Deacon Water Treatment Plant to the South Cell of the Wilkes Reservoir. Analysis of the data obtained during the inspection determined that 33 pipes in the 1650-millimetre Branch II Aqueduct displayed an electromagnetic anomaly consistent with prestressing wire damage, ranging from 5 to 20 broken wire wraps. Following the conclusion of the inspection, Pure Technologies performed structural evaluations on the PCCP pipes of the Branch II Aqueduct. The structural evaluations are intended to determine if the pipeline is operating under safe conditions based on design standards, as well as show the structural consequences of broken prestressing wires on a pipe. These evaluations include: - American Water Works Association C301 and C304 Design Analysis - Three-dimensional non-linear finite element analysis (FEA)
Speakers
avatar for Bill Jappy

Bill Jappy

Booths 99 & 100, Xylem Canada LP
Bill joined Pure Technologies, a Xylem brand company, in 2020 as Business Development Manager- Assessment Services. He has held similar sales and management positions since joining the industry in 2008 including: PICA Corporation, Inland Pipe Rehabilitation, Pressure Pipe Inspection... Read More →
Wednesday September 18, 2024 2:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
Meeting Room 1 WCC Main Floor

2:00pm CDT

Current Regional and Global Water Reuse Guidelines - Where Are We at and Where Are We Heading?
Wednesday September 18, 2024 2:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
Recent trends of climate change impacts have been gesturing that water reuse may become a 'compulsory' rather than an 'arbitrary' water source in the next few decades in Western Canada. Recurring droughts, receding glaciers, drying streams, and shrinking groundwater sources are sending alarming signals about water availability and security, indicating that reclaimed water may have to become inevitably an integral source of non-potable and potable water supply in this part of Canada. Many municipalities, regions, and districts around the world have been through similar situations (e.g., drought conditions threatening local and regional water sources); to increase their water supply resiliency, some have been practicing recycled water use for years to different extents and have developed regulations and guidelines pertinent to their territories' needs and conditions. Florida started water reuse in 1960s. California has had the reuse regulations for over 100 years (first adopted in 1918) for non-potable reuse and has just adopted the direct potable reuse regulations in the end of 2023. Texas was the first state in the United States that adopted the regulations allowing direct potable reuse. In 1992, a National Water Quality Management Strategy (NWQMS) involved Australian and New Zealand governments jointly developing national water quality policies, processes, and guideline documents; these national guidelines served as a baseline for the states to develop their own guidelines for the use of different qualities of recycled water for specific purposes, incorporated into regulations as necessary. Currently in Canada, no federal or provincial policies or regulations are available governing water reclamation and reuse, including Saskatchewan (SK), Alberta (AB), and Ontario (ON). AB has a Guidelines for Residential Rainwater Harvesting Systems since 2010 and has recently published Guidelines for Residential Rainwater Harvesting Systems in 2021. British Columbia (BC) Reclaimed Water Guidelines serves as a companion document for the BC Municipal Wastewater Regulations; as it is practically functioning as part of the regulations, it makes BC the only province with a document pertaining to reuse regulations. The limited number of available guidelines and almost no regulation gets one thinking whether Western Canada would be ready from regulations and guidelines standpoint for the time comes when reclaimed water use will have to be integrated into our water/wastewater infrastructure and management system. While all the existing international regulations exist to be drawn from for the existing and future projects in Western Canada, regional guidelines and regulations should be developed or expanded, to speak into and account for regional conditions, including existing and alternative water sources matching the region's profile, public perception for reuse in the region, evolving climate conditions in the region, etc. This abstract (and the expanded discussion in the associated presentation/talk) tends to act as a torch for shedding light on the importance of initiating discussions about water reuse topic in Canada and developing Canadian recycled water use legislations and regulations to proactively prepare for our national and provincial future water needs.
Speakers
RP

Roya Pishgar

Process engineer, Jacobs
Roya is a wastewater process engineer with Jacobs. She has a total of 13 years of experience in biological waste management, with 3 years in consulting and 10 years in academia. Roya has worked on wastewater and biosolids projects for municipal clients and is interested in circular... Read More →
Wednesday September 18, 2024 2:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
Meeting Room 3

2:00pm CDT

The Wastewater Treatment Plant is on Fire: From Emergency Response to Recovery
Wednesday September 18, 2024 2:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
November 1, 2023, was a relatively normal day at the City of Red Deer's wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). A portion of the WWTP was shut down to upgrade electrical components that were at the end of their service life. Following completion of the work, as electrical loads were being reconnected a fire occurred in the yet to be replaced main electrical switchgear. Red Deer Emergency Services responded quickly and put out the fire. Within an hour of the fire being put out, a meeting of all WWTP staff on site was convened to evaluate the operational impacts to the WWTP. While the plant has back up power, most of it is routed through the switchgear where the fire occurred. As a result, a large portion of the plant was without power including the aeration blowers for 50% of the available plant bioreactor capacity and most of the solids handling processes. Further, the loss of the switchgear impacted the laboratory, administration building and the plant entrance gates. A list of operational priorities and a series of supporting tactics to accomplish the priorities were developed. The highest priority was getting the aeration and pumping systems for the bioreactors and secondary clarifiers back on-line. The contractor that was upgrading the electrical components had a mobile switchgear on site that they had been using while components were upgraded. Fortunately, the contractor allowed us to use their mobile switchgear until the contractor was able to complete a permanent replacement of the burnt-up switchgear. While the repairs were underway, the operations staff contacted our regional customers to try and limit the amount of wastewater they were discharging. A portion of the wastewater flow was diverted to three on-site equalization lagoons to avoid overloading the bioreactors that were not impacted by the fire. A more robust monitoring program including increased nutrient testing frequency and microscopic observation of the biomass was carried out for the first week after the fire. Thanks to the efforts of plant electrical and instrumentation staff and the electrical contractor, aeration was restored in 17 hours and the bioreactor and clarifier mechanical systems were fully operational in 27 hours. All electrical systems were back on-line within 48 hours. Thanks to the operators and lab staff, the WWTP came through the event with minimal impact on treatment and very minor reporting violations under our Alberta Environment and Protected Areas operating approval. The presentation will discuss in greater detail the cause of the fire, the response steps taken and how the recovery went.
Speakers
avatar for Tom Marstaller

Tom Marstaller

Environmental Planning Superintendent, City of Red Deer
Tom has an M.Sc. in Environmental Engineering from University of Manitoba . After 5 years of learning the ropes in the consulting world, Tom has worked for the Cities of Red Deer and Kamloops for the last 28 years. While he has worked in a wide variety of roles including fleet and... Read More →
Wednesday September 18, 2024 2:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
Meeting Room 2 WCC Main Floor

2:30pm CDT

Navigating a Challenging Future with Proper Watermain Design, Installation, and Asset Management
Wednesday September 18, 2024 2:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
Standard engineering practices aim to provide a reliable engineering design that allows water and wastewater pipeline tolerate standard loading conditions. Reliability threats such as construction and maintenance errors, cyclic fatigue, transient pressures, corrosion control, and extreme loading conditions, remain a challenge for pipeline owners. It is becoming increasingly apparent that unavoidable failures are occurring due to the magnitude and intensity of wildfires, earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, and extreme weather conditions; thereby, emphasizing the need for a resilient and sustainable performance-based engineering practice to ensure that impacts are minimized on pipelines, recovery is quick, and functionality is maintained in the long term while considering the consequences for society, the economy, and the environment. In this presentation, we will define pipeline resilience, and discuss design, construction, and asset management strategies for balancing engineering design practices that ensure the reliability, resilience, and sustainability of future water and wastewater pipelines. This is would help us navigate a future full of environmental, social, and economic uncertainties.
Speakers
SG

Sam Ghosn

Regional Director, Canada, DIPRA
Saher is a Civil Engineer with over three years of experience delivering municipal infrastructure projects in Manitoba, Alberta, and Northwestern Ontario. His project responsibilities include water distribution network modelling and planning, conceptual and detailed design, scheduling... Read More →
Wednesday September 18, 2024 2:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
Meeting Room 3

2:30pm CDT

Sustainable Water Treatment Plant Expansion for Manitoba's Fastest Growing Community: Design and Implementation
Wednesday September 18, 2024 2:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
This presentation outlines a comprehensive project undertaken by Associated Engineering for the Manitoba Water Services Board and the Town of Niverville, a rapidly expanding municipality in Manitoba. Faced with a burgeoning population and increased demand for water, the existing 20 L/s treatment plant struggles to meet requirements during peak periods. The proposed 40 L/s water treatment plant expansion aims not only to address current deficiencies but also to accommodate the anticipated growth, reaching a forecasted capacity of 80 L/s over the next two decades. The presentation outlines the detailed design, including reservoir storage, membrane treatment units, and iron filtration for bypass streams, along with upgrades to remote well sites. The strategic approach involved minimal disruption to existing infrastructure, ensuring scalability for future expansions. The project's multifaceted scope, involving equipment RFP package creation and tender documentation, emphasizes sustainability, resilience, and long-term viability for the Town's evolving water needs.
Speakers
avatar for Ken Anderson

Ken Anderson

Practice Lead, Water - Winnipeg Water Group, Associated Engineering
Ken is the water group manager for Associated Engineering's Winnipeg office. Ken is responsible for delivering water and sewer projects throughout Manitoba for a variety of municipal clients. He is excited to be here to share his experiences with this project.
Wednesday September 18, 2024 2:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
Meeting Room 1 WCC Main Floor

2:30pm CDT

Tackling Cold Wastewater Seasonal Nitrification and Poor Settleability with Densified Sludge Control
Wednesday September 18, 2024 2:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
The challenge of maintaining wastewater treatment performance during cold weather is a common problem for many biological nutrient removal (BNR) wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) across Canada, including the EPCOR Gold Bar WWTP in Edmonton. With an average treatment capacity of 310 MLD (82 MGD) and a peak capacity of 420 MLD (111 MGD) for secondary treatment, the Gold Bar WWTP faces operational hurdles when the wastewater temperature drops, leading to poor settling sludge and reduced clarifier capacity. To address this challenge, the plant has installed the inDENSE™ hydrocyclone technology on one of its eleven BNR trains. This technology uses hydrocyclones to enhance sludge settleability through selective sludge wasting and retaining well-settling sludge. Compared to other intensification alternatives like Membrane Bioreactor, inDENSE™ offers a less costly solution, potentially deferring large capital investments. Nevertheless, whether inDENSE technology is appropriate for facilities with cold wastewater is not well understood. With commissioning in Summer of 2023 and process optimization in the Fall, the system showed significant improvements in the sludge settleability by December 2023. Process optimization included the implementation of intermittent mixing and reduction in return activated sludge rates. Historically, the mixed liquor has exhibited poor settleability with SVI values over 250 mL/g in the winter. With inDENSE and the process optimization, the SVI improved dramatically, stabilizing around 150 ml/g, even as the temperature dropped from 19ºC to 14ºC over the five-month period. To further assess performance improvements, Stantec and EPCOR Gold Bar WWTP are collaborating to conduct intensive site testing through the Winter and Spring of 2024. This includes tall settling column testing, analysis of bioreactor nutrient profiles, clarifier flocculation test, sieve analysis, morphology, and kinetic rate tests. The BNR system with inDENSE technology will undergo testing where flow rates will be increased to stress the system's operational limits. These assessments will provide a comprehensive understanding of the additional flows and loads that can be managed by a bioreactor/secondary clarifier system equipped with selective sludge wasting compared to conventional treatment trains. The collected data will provide valuable insights for selective wasting, a cost-effective treatment intensification process, with a focus on cold wastewater BNR facilities across Canada.
Speakers
avatar for Esmond Tang

Esmond Tang

Water/Wastewater Process Engineer in Training, Stantec Consulting Ltd
Esmond Tang is an Engineer-in-Training at Stantec with over six years of engineering experience. Throughout his career, he has been involved in multiple wastewater projects that utilize various physical, chemical, and biological treatment techniques. In this presentation, Esmond will... Read More →
Wednesday September 18, 2024 2:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
Meeting Room 2 WCC Main Floor

3:00pm CDT

Break
Wednesday September 18, 2024 3:00pm - 3:30pm CDT
Introduce yourself to someone new.
Sponsors
avatar for ISL

ISL

ISL Engineering
At ISL, we share an enthusiasm for community infrastructure. From planning through to design and construction management, we create nimble teams to tackle the unique requirements of every project. Our technical knowledge encompasses transportation, land use planning, civil engineering... Read More →
Wednesday September 18, 2024 3:00pm - 3:30pm CDT
East Concourse, Main Floor RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg

3:30pm CDT

Assessing Robustness of Water Treatment Plants Subject to Highly Variable Source Water Quality
Wednesday September 18, 2024 3:30pm - 4:00pm CDT
Water treatment plants supplied by surface water must ensure that treatment processes are sufficiently robust to handle rapid increases in raw water turbidity and natural organic matter (NOM) that occasionally accompany spring runoff or heavy rainfall events. Climate change is expected to increase the likelihood of extreme weather events, causing more variability in source water quality and underscoring the importance of robust treatment operations. Robustness refers to the ability of treatment systems to produce safe drinking water and maintain desired water quality consistently, even during adverse changes in raw water quality. High turbidity creates obvious challenges for clarification and filtration processes, whereas high NOM increases coagulant demand, not only affecting turbidity removal but also increasing disinfectant requirements and associated by-product formation. For plants relying on UV disinfection, controlling NOM is particularly important for maintaining adequate UV transmittance. The robustness framework developed by Nemani et al. (2023) applies quantitative metrics to all critical treatment processes, taking into account both turbidity and NOM removal, to allow an overall assessment of robustness. This presentation illustrates how a combined approach, using indices for both turbidity and NOM removal, has been applied to ten years of water quality and operational performance data to determine the robustness of two plants that occasionally experience extremely adverse source water quality conditions with turbidities >1000 NTU and colour > 100 TCU. After reviewing historical operational practices and treatment effectiveness during extreme source water quality events, alternative short-term adaptation options were evaluated. The resulting recommendations will allow a more proactive approach to applying operational interventions during impending events. The evaluation is also expected to guide long-term planning decisions related to infrastructure upgrades and alternative process selection. Reference: Nemani, K.S., S. Peldszus, P.M. Huck, 2023. ACS Environmental Science & Technology - Water, 3(5), 1305-1313.
Speakers
WJ

Wendell James

Process Development Specialist, EPCOR Water Services
Wendell has an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Environmental Science & Engineering, both from the University of Alberta. Most of his career over the past three decades has been related to water and wastewater treatment. His role as a specialist... Read More →
Wednesday September 18, 2024 3:30pm - 4:00pm CDT
Meeting Room 1 WCC Main Floor

3:30pm CDT

Plant Automation Commissioning - How to Avoid the Headaches
Wednesday September 18, 2024 3:30pm - 4:00pm CDT
The commissioning phase of any greenfield or brownfield project is typically the most stressful. Contractors, engineers, and owners need to come together to prove the system's functionality and safety before it is handed over to operations. While everyone involved typically has good intentions, conflicts can easily arise regarding design issues, scope of work, and expectations. Without proper planning and control of the work, this can lead a project to drastically slip in both schedule and budget. This presentation will focus on the commissioning of the automated control system and how it relates to other trades and stakeholders involved in the site. A case study from a complicated commissioning project for a new water treatment plant in Saskatchewan will be presented to point out the successes and the lessons learned. As part of the case study analysis, aspects of proper commissioning planning, testing requirements, contractor coordination, best practices, and documentation will all demonstrate how to avoid the common pitfalls of the start-up and testing phase. This information will shed light on the challenges faced by system integrators and how they can be overcome with proper planning and coordination. It will also demonstrate the proper testing strategies and steps to fully validate a complex control system so that operations can take it over with confidence.
Speakers
avatar for Greg Smythe

Greg Smythe

Booth 25 & 26, Delco Water
Greg Smythe graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics. Shortly after graduation, Greg began work with Delco Automation as an automation developer where he specialized in programming and commissioning PLCs, HMIs, SCADAs... Read More →
Wednesday September 18, 2024 3:30pm - 4:00pm CDT
Meeting Room 3

3:30pm CDT

The Gates of Hell - Saskatoon's Bioreactor Gate Replacement Project
Wednesday September 18, 2024 3:30pm - 4:00pm CDT
Have you ever looked at (or designed/installed) an isolation gate and thought “Glad I wont be around when this needs replacing…” or “I wonder how much life is left in this gate…”. Or have you ever been asked to shutdown half your plant process capacity (Bioreactors and Clarifiers)? This presentation covers the City of Saskatoon's innovative approach to replacing 70 water control slide gates in both of their Bioreactor trains. The original gates were made of Aluminum and installed in 1995. In the 27 years of service they had developed significant corrosion, pinholing and material loss. The condition raised concerns of imminent failure, thus required replacement. The Bioreactors were never designed for complete bypass (instead intending to just bypass a set of cells at any given time for normal maintenance using the control gates) and thus the shutdown to replace all the gates created an operational challenge. The options varied from accelerating the construction of a third train, to temporary secondary treatment systems, to modifying existing infrastructure. The City ultimately did a series of 1 day shutdowns to install coffer dams and three additional slide gates in the Bioreactor Effluent channels which then allowed for a modified treatment process. One bioreactor train was fully drained for gate replacement while the other was operated with a significantly increased MLSS and the Bio effluent flow was then split through the new gates to all six of the plant secondary clarifiers. The process was repeated for the other bioreactor the following summer (due to construction issues). This allowed the plant to maintain acceptable nutrient removal throughout the replacement process without excessive costs or accelerating future capital expansion.
Speakers
MK

Mitchel Knaus

Wastewater Systems Engineer, City of Saskatoon
Mitchel Knaus is a dedicated Professional Engineer with over 6 years experience specializing in the operations and maintenance of a class 4 treatment facility. Currently serving as a Wastewater Systems Engineer at the Saskatoon WWTP, Mitchel has supported numerous capital projects... Read More →
Wednesday September 18, 2024 3:30pm - 4:00pm CDT
Meeting Room 2 WCC Main Floor

4:00pm CDT

Investigating Operational Parameters for Phramaceutical Micropplutants Removal from Wastewater through Electrooxidation
Wednesday September 18, 2024 4:00pm - 4:30pm CDT
Pharmaceutical micropollutants such as antibiotics are extensively used for the treatment of diverse infections by killing bacteria, leading to their excretion into wastewater following human metabolism. This phenomenon contributes to the contamination of aquatic systems through the introduction of antibiotic residues. Tetracycline Hydrochloride (TC-HCl), a common pharmaceutical antibiotic often found in wastewater, presents environmental and health risks due to its persistence, potential toxicity, and association with antibiotic resistance, as well as its ability to disrupt aquatic ecosystems. For this, efficient removal, and treatment of TC-HCl from wastewater are crucial to prevent the emergence of antibiotic resistance in environment. This study investigates the application of Electrooxidation, using a Boron-Doped Diamond (BDD) electrode, as a sustainable approach for TC-HCl removal. The research focused on evaluating the impact of different TC-HCL concentrations (4000, 8000, 12000 µg/L); time intervals (every 15 minutes up to 1 hour), pH levels (3.5, 7, 9), current densities (6, 10, 14 mA/cm²) on the efficiency of TC-HCL removal from wastewater aiming to enhance the understanding and optimization of this electrochemical process. The electrooxidation process involves the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) through the application of an electric potential to the BDD electrode submerged in wastewater. These ROS initiate the oxidative degradation of TC-HCl, transforming it into less harmful byproducts. The choice of the BDD electrode brings unique advantages, such as high conductivity, chemical stability, and resistance to fouling, making it a promising method for sustainable wastewater treatment. The investigation begins by examining the impact of current densities found a positive correlation between higher current density and increased TC-HCl removal. This observation suggests that elevated electrooxidation intensity contributes to enhanced degradation kinetics for TC-HCL removal. The influence of pH levels shows that in alkaline conditions, particularly at pH 9, exhibit the highest removal rate, reaching 93.36%. The alkaline environment is conducive to the electrooxidation process, promoting the generation of ROS and facilitating the breakdown of TC-HCl molecules. It is also observed that extended treatment durations, especially beyond 45 minutes to 1 hour, result in enhanced TC-HCl removal. This suggests that extended operation time positively correlate with enhanced TC-HCL removal. However, the study uncovers an inverse relationship between TC-HCl removal efficiency and initial concentration. Lower concentrations (4000 µg/L) exhibit excellent removal rates compared to higher concentrations (8000, 12000 µg/L). This observation could be attributed to the saturation effect or competitive adsorption mechanisms at higher concentrations, leading to reduced removal efficiency. In summary, the electrooxidation process employing a Boron-doped Diamond electrode demonstrated promising results for tetracycline hydrochloride removal from wastewater. The pH, current density, and initial concentration were identified as critical factors influencing the efficiency of the process. The optimal conditions were found to be at high pH (9), high current density (14 mA/cm²), and an operation time of 1 hour. This study contributes valuable insights into the design and optimization of electrooxidation processes for the removal of pharmaceutical contaminants from wastewater. Further research is required to explore the underlying mechanisms and potential scale-up applications for real-world wastewater treatment scenarios.
Speakers
MT

MD Tanvir Hasnine

PhD Candidate, University of Manitoba
Environmental Engineer and scientist, passionate about sustainable solutions for wastewater treatment and solid waste management. Specializing in electrochemical oxidation for landfill leachate treatment, Pharmaceuticals micro-pollutants, and microplastic removal from wastewater... Read More →
Wednesday September 18, 2024 4:00pm - 4:30pm CDT
Meeting Room 2 WCC Main Floor

4:00pm CDT

Occupational Certification for Water Treatment Plant Operators in the NWT
Wednesday September 18, 2024 4:00pm - 4:30pm CDT
In 2009, the Northwest Territories (NWT) Public Health Act made it mandatory to have certified operators in each water plant. The NWT has successful, skilled operators that provide safe drinking water within their communities. Since 2009, many water treatment plants have upgraded from a Small System to a Class I, or a Class I to a Class II with more complex treatment. The increased use of computer programming and more complex water treatment trains has meant that operators have a steeper learning curve to ensure safe, potable water within their community. Traditional certification exams have proven to be challenging for many operators, leaving them uncertified, often due to the test format or other barriers. Community water plant operators often find that certification exams do not reflect what they do in their water plants. Some operators take longer to learn, or learn differently, and the teaching style may need to be tweaked based on an individual operator's needs. The NWT has been re-assessing how to better support operators. Occupational Certification can support varied learning behaviours and styles (more hands-on learning and physical operator demonstration of their skills). In light of that, the NWT is now moving toward Occupational Certification. This program aims to focus largely on demonstrable aspects of water treatment, where operators can work with the Circuit Riders or a third party to demonstrate that they understand all functions of the water treatment train, chemical testing, on-site bacteria sampling (TC/EC) Colilert tests, and the math required for daily operation. Once an operator is confident in their skills, a third-party water treatment expert will assess them based on their knowledge and expertise within their own water plant. The goal is to get the best out of operators in smaller communities and increase their sense of pride and confidence in their work.
Speakers
DD

Dan Drimes

Senior Technical Officer - Water and Sanitation, MACA
Dan is the Senior Technical Officer for Water with the Government of the Northwest Territories' Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. His focus areas are water treatment plants, Circuit Rider training, and certification. Prior to his current role, Dan was the Small Systems... Read More →
Wednesday September 18, 2024 4:00pm - 4:30pm CDT
Meeting Room 1 WCC Main Floor

4:00pm CDT

Optimizing Clarifier Drives: Inspection, Maintenance, and Rebuilding
Wednesday September 18, 2024 4:00pm - 4:30pm CDT
In the water and wastewater industry, finding solutions for equipment maintenance and service can be challenging. When dealing with clarifier equipment, one can consider several approaches to ensure optimal performance and longevity. For clarifier drives, there are three main options: rebuilding the existing unit, opting for a refurbished unit, or replacing it with a new one. When considering a rebuild, it's important to work with specialists who can restore the unit to its original specifications. Refurbished units offer a cost-effective alternative with a shorter delivery, providing a balance between new and old, while new units ensure the latest technology and reliability. Regarding aerator and mixer gearboxes, complete rebuilds or replacements are often necessary. This process involves not just repairing or replacing parts but also ensuring that the entire system functions seamlessly. When choosing a provider for this service, look for those with a wide range of experience across different brands. Parts availability is crucial in maintaining water and wastewater equipment. A robust inventory of new and used parts ensures quick replacements and repairs. When selecting parts, consider options that offer enhanced durability and corrosion resistance. For example, stainless steel clevises with nylon inserts can significantly reduce wear and tear in skimmer arms. On-site inspections and troubleshooting are essential services. It's beneficial to have experts who can perform comprehensive checks, regardless of the equipment's original manufacturer. This approach helps in early identification of potential issues, saving time and resources in the long run. Labor services in this field require specialized skills. Trained professionals who are licensed and insured can provide efficient, reliable, and prompt service. For comprehensive service needs in the water and wastewater industry, a one-stop approach can be effective. This involves partnering with a service provider that offers a range of solutions from equipment repair to part replacements and labor services, ensuring continuity and quality in maintenance and repair work.
Exhibition Attendees
EA

Eric Anderson

Booth 69, Sentry Equipment Corp.
Wednesday September 18, 2024 4:00pm - 4:30pm CDT
Meeting Room 3

4:30pm CDT

WOW - Women of Water Networking
Wednesday September 18, 2024 4:30pm - 6:30pm CDT
This event is designed to connect, empower, and support women working in our water industry, providing a platform for sharing experiences, building professional relationships, and promoting gender diversity within the field.
Sponsors
avatar for Jacobs

Jacobs

Sharmila Muraali, Calgary, Jacobs
Wednesday September 18, 2024 4:30pm - 6:30pm CDT
Capital Bar and Grill 275 Broadway, Winnipeg, MB R3C 4M6
  Networking
  • Host Organization WCW
 
Thursday, September 19
 

7:00am CDT

Registration
Thursday September 19, 2024 7:00am - 10:30am CDT
Registration in the East Concourse-Ground Floor
Pick up your registration package. Nametags will be required for all Conference events.
Thursday September 19, 2024 7:00am - 10:30am CDT
East Concourse, Main Floor RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg

7:00am CDT

Quiet Lounge
Thursday September 19, 2024 7:00am - 4:30pm CDT
The Quiet Lounge, Sponsored by Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions, is a space designed for relaxation and calmness.
Thursday September 19, 2024 7:00am - 4:30pm CDT
Meeting Room 12 WCC Main Floor

8:00am CDT

Breakfast
Thursday September 19, 2024 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Fuel for the upcoming day and meet new friends.
Sponsors
avatar for WSP Canada Inc

WSP Canada Inc

Justin Rak-Banville, WSP Canada Inc
Thursday September 19, 2024 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Meeting Rooms 4-8 WCC Main Floor

9:00am CDT

Actionable Data Through Targeted Water and Wastewater Based Surveillance
Thursday September 19, 2024 9:00am - 9:30am CDT
C.E.C. Analytics is addressing the growing worldwide demand for analysis and understanding of water as it relates to One Health. With increasing awareness of the challenges of waterborne pathogens and chemical contaminants, C.E.C. analytics is uniquely positioned to service numerous horizontal and vertical markets and establish itself as the leader in affordable, accessible, science-based solutions for understanding water data. The emphasis on compact, versatile products coupled with advisory services distinguishes C.E.C. Analytics from competitors. Our patented autosamplers allow for targeted wastewater based surveillance (WBS), giving high-quality, actionable data that organizations can leverage to better support community and environmental health. As opposed to WBS at WWTP's, we collect at the source, providing data at the building, dormitory, floor, or ward level. The data obtained allows for tailored interventions, saving our clients time, money, and uncertainty. Similarly, our compact size and ease of use allows for strategic water collection within freshwater systems, with analysis for contaminants of emerging concern. This presentation will provide an overview of our work, including: - Advanced warning to mitigate outbreaks of respiratory virus infections (RSV, Influenza A&B, SARS-CoV-2, etc), including analysis and confirmation within 1 hour; - Early detection of drug poisoning agents to enable harm reduction through preparation and education of staff and residents at homeless facilities. These drug poisoning agents were under limits of detection at the local WWTP; - Environmental monitoring for contaminants, including 6PPD-quinone which has been shown to have devastating effects on salmon and trout populations. Our work has been validated through projects with the Public Health Agency of Canada, Health Canada, the University of Calgary, the University of Alberta, as well as several First Nations communities across western Canada.
Speakers
PW

Paul Westlund

Founder and CEO, C.E.C. Innovations Ltd
Paul Westlund is the Founder and CEO of C.E.C. Analytics, a company dedicated to science-based solutions for actionable and accessible water and wastewater data. Taking a One Health approach to water, Paul has done extensive research on water and wastewater management, having over... Read More →
Thursday September 19, 2024 9:00am - 9:30am CDT
Meeting room 17 WCC Main Floor

9:00am CDT

Exploring Deployable Technologies for Algae Removal in Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Canals
Thursday September 19, 2024 9:00am - 9:30am CDT
Speakers
SH

Sepideh Hashemi Safaei

Sepideh Hashemi is a PhD student in Environmental Systems Engineering at the University of Regina, working under the supervision of Dr. Stephanie Young on an ADF-funded project focused on the removal of filamentous algae from the Lake Diefenbaker irrigation canals. As a member of... Read More →
Thursday September 19, 2024 9:00am - 9:30am CDT
Meeting Room 1 WCC Main Floor

9:00am CDT

Transforming Water Industry Operations: Harnessing Open Automation for Efficiency and Sustainability
Thursday September 19, 2024 9:00am - 9:30am CDT
The water industry faces increasingly complex challenges, from aging infrastructure to growing demand and environmental concerns. To address these challenges effectively, there is a pressing need for innovative solutions that enhance operational efficiency, optimize resource utilization, and ensure sustainable practices. This presentation explores the transformative potential of Open Automation in revolutionizing water industry operations. Open Automation, characterized by the integration of open-source software, interoperable hardware, and collaborative development frameworks, offers a paradigm shift in industrial automation. By leveraging open standards and modular architectures, Open Automation enables seamless integration of diverse systems and devices, fostering flexibility, scalability, and resilience in water management processes. This presentation highlights the key benefits of adopting Open Automation in the water industry, including: Enhanced Operational Efficiency: Open Automation empowers water utilities to streamline workflows, automate routine tasks, and optimize resource allocation. By leveraging real-time data analytics and predictive maintenance algorithms, operators can identify inefficiencies, preempt equipment failures, and minimize downtime, thus maximizing productivity and reducing operational costs. Improved Asset Management: With Open Automation, water utilities can gain unprecedented visibility and control over their assets, including pumps, valves, sensors, and treatment facilities. By deploying intelligent monitoring and control systems, operators can monitor asset performance, detect anomalies, and implement proactive maintenance strategies, prolonging asset lifespan and minimizing disruptions. Facilitated Collaboration: Open Automation fosters collaboration and knowledge-sharing among stakeholders, including utilities, vendors, researchers, and regulatory agencies. By embracing open-source principles and collaborative development models, the water industry can accelerate innovation, drive standardization, and address common challenges collectively, thus fostering a culture of continuous improvement and resilience. Empowered Decision-Making: By harnessing the power of data analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, Open Automation equips water utilities with actionable insights and decision support tools. From optimizing treatment processes to forecasting demand patterns and mitigating risks, operators can make informed decisions in real-time, ensuring reliable and sustainable water supply for communities. In conclusion, this presentation advocates for the adoption of Open Automation as a catalyst for transforming the water industry into a more efficient, resilient, and sustainable ecosystem. By embracing open standards, interoperability, and collaborative innovation, water utilities can overcome existing challenges, seize new opportunities, and pave the way for a future where clean and accessible water is available for all.
Speakers
ML

Mike Lauchlan

Business Development Manager, Schneider Electric
Mike Lauchlan is a Business Development Manager for the Water Process Automation in Schneider Electric. Mike holds a BSc in Engineering Physics from Queen's University, and has lived in downtown Toronto since 2020.
Thursday September 19, 2024 9:00am - 9:30am CDT
Meeting Room 3

9:00am CDT

Upgrading Lagoon Based Treatment Systems to Meet More Stringent Limits for BOD, TSS and Nutrient Removal.
Thursday September 19, 2024 9:00am - 9:30am CDT
More stringent effluent requirements for BOD, TSS, ammonia and phosphorus are being mandated at lagoon facilities across Canada. Add in a cold climate that adversely affects winter treatment performance, and many lagoons struggle to stay in compliance with their current permit or meet the challenges of new regulations. Lemna Environmental Technologies (LET) will present an updated approach for lagoon based wastewater treatment including a brief comparison of past design standards with current methods, an overview of lagoon technologies used for advanced treatment including nutrient removal, and in-depth review of several cold weather case studies demonstrating how lagoons are being successfully updated in order to meet the challenges of present and future effluent requirements. Using wastewater treatment process design modeling software, which models biological, chemical, and physical treatment processes, LET has optimized the design, performance and reliability of lagoon based treatment systems. Using historical DMR data from an installation base of over 500 facilities, LET created a unique software model of its LemTec Biological Treatment Process, which utilizes a combination of aerated and settling lagoon cells for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and total suspended solids (TSS) removal, and the Lemna Polishing Reactor (LPR) for nitrification. The model enables LET to consider the effects of non-steady state factors such as peak flows, constituent loading, and ambient air and water temperatures on treatment performance, improving upon traditional steady state wastewater treatment process design methodology. The discussion will provide data and specific case studies demonstrating the predicted performance vs. actual data, using the calibrated model. Regional case studies will be used to demonstrate the benefits of modeling practices for lagoon design.
Speakers
TB

Tom Birkeland

Booths 83 & 84, Lemna Environmental Technologies
Tom Birkeland is the Director of Project Development for Lemna Environmental Technologies. He previously held management positions with North American Wetland Engineering, Jacques Whitford, Stantec and Natural System Utilities. He holds Class C Water and Wastewater licensees and received... Read More →
Thursday September 19, 2024 9:00am - 9:30am CDT
Meeting Room 2 WCC Main Floor

9:00am CDT

WCWEA Board Meeting
Thursday September 19, 2024 9:00am - 11:45am CDT
Thursday September 19, 2024 9:00am - 11:45am CDT
Meeting Room 10 WCC Main Floor
  Meeting
  • Host Organization WCWEA

9:00am CDT

Fresh Ideas Poster Contest
Thursday September 19, 2024 9:00am - 12:00pm CDT
The WCS AWWA hosts the annual AWWA Fresh Ideas Poster competition in conjunction with the WCW Annual Conference and Exhibition.
The Fresh Ideas Poster Contest is an annual poster competition organized by the American Water Waterworks Association (AWWA). Fresh Ideas Poster Contest is designed to encourage Young Professionals (YP) and students to participate at conferences held by individual AWWA Sections as well as the annual AWWA conference. The contest provides participants an excellent opportunity to showcase and share their insight and experience and to exchange ideas with a wide range of water professionals.
Each AWWA Section holds its own competition at its Section Conference to determine the winner. All Section winners are then eligible to move on to compete at the next AWWA Annual Conference and Expo (ACE).
The first step in participating in the contest is to submit an abstract regarding a poster topic. Presenters will then be chosen from submitted abstracts to participate in the poster competition at the WCW conference.

Thursday September 19, 2024 9:00am - 12:00pm CDT
East Concourse, Main Floor RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg

9:30am CDT

Anaerobic Digestion with Nutrient & H2S Control - What if Your Digesters were the Sidestream?
Thursday September 19, 2024 9:30am - 10:00am CDT
While popular as a source of renewable energy, traditional Anaerobic Digestion (AD) processes can create undesirable challenges at WWRFs. These problems increase chemical and energy costs and create many operational challenges. By adding an Acid Digester before and an Aerobic Reactor after AD, some significant improvements in plant, digester and dewatering performance can be realized. These proven processes are well-established but, when they are used in concert with an innovative recycle loop, the solids process is enhanced in many ways while providing nutrient control to benefit the liquid stream. The denitrification step inhibits H2S and Struvite Production and produces more and cleaner gas, reduces odor and ensures robust digester performance. This can be accomplished without addition of FeCl, adding further savings and optimization.
Speakers
MW

Matthew Williams

Matt Williams is a Regional Sales Manager and Anaerobic Product Manager at Thermal Process Systems and has worked in the water and wastewater industry for nearly 20 years, with an emphasis on biosolids and Anaerobic Digestion. He was the lead author for the Stabilization chapter of... Read More →
Thursday September 19, 2024 9:30am - 10:00am CDT
Meeting Room 2 WCC Main Floor

9:30am CDT

Engineering-Grade OT Security
Thursday September 19, 2024 9:30am - 10:00am CDT
This presentation is an updated version of a briefing Waterfall has provided to a dozen government agencies to date, in Canada, the USA and around the world. We start with the Waterfall Threat Report, the most conservative and incontrovertible OT security incident report on the planet. In spite of its conservatism, the 2023 report shows exponential growth in cyber attacks that impair physical operations, including in the water sector. The 2024 edition is scheduled to release in April of 2024. In this briefing, Rees Machtemes will include a preview of the data and conclusions of the 2024 report-in-progress. The presentation then shifts gears from problem to solution, presenting an overview of the US DOE's initiative at Idaho National Laboratory, developing a Cyber Informed Engineering (CIE) body of knowledge. In layman's terms, CIE positions managing cyber risk to critical infrastructures as "a coin with two sides." One "side" is cybersecurity - teach engineering teams about cyber risks and cybersecurity mitigations - nothing new here. The other "side" is engineering - use powerful engineering tools, such as mechanical overpressure-relief valves and manual operations fallbacks to take entire classes of cyber risk off the table. These tools do not exist in IEC 62443, ISO 27001 or other cybersecurity guidance, the tools are powerful methods of addressing cyber risk, and they need to start being applied much more universally and systematically than they are today. We finish the presentation with an introduction to network engineering from Andrew's new book "Engineering-Grade OT Security: A manager's guide." The book "flies high and slow," introducing in a story-telling style important OT, risk, cybersecurity and engineering concepts that today's business decision-makers need in order to fulfill their due-care responsibilities to their stakeholders and to the public. Network engineering is positioned as living at the boundary between engineering and cybersecurity bodies of knowledge, deterministically protecting reliable operations as well as protecting safe operations in the face of nation-state-grade ransomware and other cyber threats. Free copies of the new book will be available to conference participants, courtesy of Waterfall Security Solutions.
Speakers
avatar for Andrew Ginter

Andrew Ginter

VP Industrial Security, Waterfall Security
At Waterfall, Andrew leads a team of experts who work with the world's most secure industrial enterprises. Before Waterfall, Andrew led the development of high-end industrial control system products at Hewlett-Packard, of IT/OT middleware products at Agilent Technologies, and of the... Read More →
Thursday September 19, 2024 9:30am - 10:00am CDT
Meeting room 17 WCC Main Floor

9:30am CDT

Multi-Stage Slow Sand Filtration, Design and Operation
Thursday September 19, 2024 9:30am - 10:00am CDT
The Multi-Stage Slow Sand Filter combines the simplicity of a slow sand filter with the pre-treatment processes that allow its use on relatively high colour and organic laden waters. The pre-treatment includes roughing filtration and when required pre-ozonation. This presentation will focus on the key design aspects and the operational requirements of the system with reference to two case studies, one in Saskatchewan operating since 2009 with pre-ozone, and one in Ontario commissioned in 2023 also with pre-ozone.
Speakers
RL

Robert LeCraw

President, MS Filter Systems Inc
Kristof Karpiuk is the Director of Operation for MS Filter Systems Inc. He has a Bachelor of Civil Engineering Degree from Carleton University. Kristof has experience designing and implementing MS Filter pilot studies and full MS Filter drinking water treatment packages across Canada... Read More →
Thursday September 19, 2024 9:30am - 10:00am CDT
Meeting Room 1 WCC Main Floor

9:30am CDT

The Assessment of Artificial Intelligence Capability in Predicting the Levels of Electrical Conductivity and Nitrates in Groundwater Sources: A Case Study of Artificial Neural Network ANN and Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System ANFIS Methods)
Thursday September 19, 2024 9:30am - 10:00am CDT
Groundwater resources in arid and semi-arid area are the most important sources of water used in agriculture and drinking. In recent decades, artificial intelligence (AI) systems have created a new space in evaluating water and environmental engineering issues. In this study, the usual kriging method as a linear statistical estimator and two intelligent methods of artificial neural network ANN and adaptive neural fuzzy inference system ANFIS were evaluated in predicting the amount of electric conductivity and nitrate in groundwater. In order to conduct studies, electrical conductivity and nitrate concentration (using spectrophotometer method) in 40 wells were measured. The input data of the artificial neural model, including the length and width of the geographies, the nitrate concentration, and the electrical conductivity value were determined as the output of the model. In order to investigate the performance and efficiency of artificial intelligence models in predicting qualitative information, qualitative information of 50% of the wells was used for calibration and 50% of the wells were used for validating the models. Finally, the output of the models was compared with the value measured in the observation wells based on the mutual error evaluation criteria. The results showed that the ANFIS model performed better than the other two interpolation models in predicting the value of electrical conductivity and nitrate, respectively, with the root mean square error (RMSE) and (mg/l) of 5.362, with the mean bias error (MBE). 2.365 with a correlation coefficient (R) of 0.767. Also, the ANN model had far better results than the usual kriging method. Based on this, ANFIS model is proposed for spatial prediction of electrical conductivity and nitrate in the study area.
Speakers
NN

Navideh Najafpour

lecturer, Azad university
Thursday September 19, 2024 9:30am - 10:00am CDT
Meeting Room 3

10:00am CDT

A Journey From Boil Water Advisory to Meeting Drinking Water Requirements - The Story of Lynn Lake WTP Project
Thursday September 19, 2024 10:00am - 10:30am CDT
The Town of Lynn Lake is a remote community of 579 people in northern Manitoba known for its mining and premier sport fishing in the province. The Town's water supply infrastructure was originally constructed in 1955-56 by the local mine to utilize the West Lynn Lake as a raw water source and supply drinking water to both the Town and the mine. No treatment of raw water was provided at the time except for chlorination. A Water Treatment Plant (WTP) building was constructed in 2003 but did not include a treatment system. Due to limited funds, only the building and reservoirs were constructed, and some upgrades to the existing pumphouse were implemented. Between 2010 and 2012, the Town solicited and commissioned a water treatment system consisting of greensand filtration followed by membrane filtration. Shortly after, the treatment system experienced multiple operational issues and equipment failures resulting in the treatment equipment going completely offline. Untreated raw water was chlorinated and stored in an underground concrete reservoir and distributed via the Town's recirculating distribution system. The treated water did not meet the provincial drinking water standards and the Town was put on a boil water advisory in October 2012. In 2020, Stantec was retained to undertake a feasibility study addressing future growth requirements, review alternative raw water supply sources (groundwater vs surface water) and develop/design an appropriate water treatment system to lift the boil water advisory. Groundwater and alternative surface water sources were evaluated, but the only viable option was to continue drawing surface water from West Lynn Lake. Raw water is characterized by high organics (7 to 13 mg/L TOC), color (30 to 60 TCU), iron (0.25 to 1.1 mg/L), low turbidity ( 1 to 3.0 NTU) and very low total alkalinity of 8 to 13 mg/L. Based on technical and economic factors, a dissolved air flotation (DAF) followed by gravity filtration was identified as an appropriate and cost-effective approach to meet the challenges of the raw water quality. A bench-scale study was completed to confirm the effectiveness of the DAF/gravity filtration process including optimal operating conditions and identifying appropriate treatment chemicals and their dose. Utilizing a collaborative approach with the Town, Stantec developed a design that included selective re-use of existing infrastructure, maintaining water supply to the Town during the upgrades/construction, and implementing a DAF/gravity filtration process to meet the drinking water requirements and lift the boil water advisory. The project was delivered within the available budget of $6.4 M and achieved substantial completion on November 3rd, 2023, despite supply chain issues during the COVID-19 era. The Lynn Lake WTP provides a new beginning for the Town as they plan to extend services to promote local mining activity, and residents have seen a significant improvement in their potable water quality. The paper showcases the planning, process design and construction challenges for a small remote community that has struggled with providing the basic amenity of providing clean drinking water to its residents for over a decade.
Speakers
SB

Saibal Basu

Water/Wastewater Treatment Lead (Prairies and Territories), Stantec Consulting Ltd
Saibal is a Senior Process Engineer and Water/Wastewater Lead for Stantec in the Paraires and the Territories Region. He has over 33 years of diverse Water and Wastewater experience in both municipal and industrial sectors. Saibal is a member of WCW, WEF and AWWA.
Thursday September 19, 2024 10:00am - 10:30am CDT
Meeting Room 1 WCC Main Floor

10:00am CDT

Barren Lands First Nation Lagoon - Resolving Decades Long Operational and Design Issues
Thursday September 19, 2024 10:00am - 10:30am CDT
Situated in Northern Manitoba, Barren Lands First Nation (BLFN) is home to approximately 520 people. The First Nation initially operated a two-cell facultative lagoon to treat wastewater from both Barren Lands First Nation and the neighbouring community of Brochet. The lagoon was initially constructed in 2006 and although plenty of capacity remained, the lagoon was in need of several major repairs. The liner had floated in multiple locations forming pockets of gas which breached the surface of the lagoon. Adding to that, the berm had also collapsed in several locations and previous attempts to repair only achieved moderate levels of improvement. The First Nation's confidence in the lagoon had waned and a new aerated lagoon was selected as a replacement. Stantec Consulting Ltd. was retained to provide design and engineering services for a new sewage lagoon, lift station upgrades, along with repairs and upgrades to the existing sewage collection system. Several of the lift stations were experiencing operational issues which causes upstream manholes to overflow at times. All 5 of the existing lift stations received new pumps while three lift stations needed control system upgrades. A forcemain flushing and CCTV camera program was included to clean the forcemain and locate areas in need of repair. With a goal of simplicity and ease of operation, a new HDPE lined two-cell aerated lagoon using high efficiency fine bubble diffusers was selected for its smaller footprint versus a facultative lagoon. Following the lagoon and two cell Submerged Attached Growth Reactor was designed to provide nitrification for removal of ammonia. The new lagoon cells were constructed with self-draining under drains and vent pipes, which combined with a layer of sand covering the HDPE liner will prevent the liner from floating. The second lagoon cell was designed to be 1.4m lower than the first cell following the profile of bedrock encountered onsite and allowing the entire system to be designed to flow by gravity through all stages before discharge into the nearby lake.
Speakers
RD

Rob De Koninck

Stantec Consulting Ltd.
Rob is an Associate and Practice Lead in Stantec's Winnipeg Water Group. Rob has over 13 years experience in water and wastewater treatment projects serving rural communities and First Nations in Manitoba and Northwest Ontario.
Thursday September 19, 2024 10:00am - 10:30am CDT
Meeting Room 2 WCC Main Floor

10:00am CDT

It is Hard to be a 'Smart' Smart City
Thursday September 19, 2024 10:00am - 10:30am CDT
There has been a proliferation of IoT (Internet of Things) devices that are used by municipalities to collect data from Collections Systems, including data from Pump Stations, flow meters, level meters and rain gauges. Integrating this Collection System data with data from numerous other sources is part of the desire by Municipalities to create “Smart” Cities, but that integration has proved to be a daunting task. This presentation will therefore focus on what is available and can be done today, to collect flow/level/rain data, then send it to a cloud-environment where it can be analyzed, which leads to informed decisions, whether on a near-real time basis for operational control, or for more long-term planning by engineers for infrastructure decisions. Topics discussed will include: - Goal of “Smart” Cities, and obstacles to date. - Current monitoring technologies for Flow, Level and Rain meters. - Data collection methods. - Cloud-based software platforms for Data Storage, Analysis and Machine Learning applications. - Sharing data with other software platforms via the use of API's and other transfer methods. - Uses of Collections Systems flow, level and rain data for Operations and for Engineering.
Exhibition Attendees
avatar for Dave Belomy

Dave Belomy

Booth 40, ADS Environmental Technologies Inc.
ADS Environmental Technologies has been helping clients with flow, level and rain monitoring in Collections Systems for over 45 years. We provide turn-key services for HW/SW, Data Analysis, Field Service, or we sell the HW/SW direct for use by internal operations groups. Applications... Read More →
Thursday September 19, 2024 10:00am - 10:30am CDT
Meeting Room 3

10:00am CDT

Protecting SCADA from threats by using a hybrid cloud
Thursday September 19, 2024 10:00am - 10:30am CDT
Operational Technologies (OT) networks are faced with new challenges in maintaining and protecting their SCADA networks against modern threats. These critical networks face many threat actors and unapproved access can result in harm to public safety and/or finances. Cloud SCADA offers a modern solution to protect these systems while simultaneously improving operator SCADA access. Migrating your SCADA network to the cloud will streamline your SCADA operations while protecting your most critical assets. Cloud SCADA can provide operators with the ability to access a fully functional SCADA and Historian clients securely on their phones, tablets, or laptops. Managers can now have easy and reliable access to all their data through trending, historical analysis, and custom reports. Many municipalities throughout BC are seeing improved communication uptime in their OT network after swapping to cellular and fiber plans as a backbone of their Cloud SCADA network. We will discuss a high-level overview of how a Cloud SCADA solution can be securely implemented and utilized in your municipal applications.
Thursday September 19, 2024 10:00am - 10:30am CDT
Meeting room 17 WCC Main Floor

10:30am CDT

Break
Thursday September 19, 2024 10:30am - 11:00am CDT
Grab a coffee and solve a problem!
Thursday September 19, 2024 10:30am - 11:00am CDT
East Concourse, Main Floor RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg

11:00am CDT

Harringtom Mews Sinkhole Response
Thursday September 19, 2024 11:00am - 11:30am CDT
During a heavy rainfall in early June 2023 a sinkhole developed over a large diameter storm outfall that threatened nearby homes and the Albert Memorial Bridge. In response, the City activated the Emergency Operations Centre which undertook an emergency project to restore critical storm water service to protect public health and safety. The project presented many challenges including tight timelines and working conditions, working on private property and managing public expectations, the application of innovative construction techniques, and coordinating the efforts of numerous City departments, various levels of government, and public sector partners. This presentation details the efforts taken to stabilize and eventually decommission the outfall while at the same time maintaining storm water service.
Speakers
KS

Kevin Syrnick

City of Regina, Manager, Water and Sewer Engineering, City of Regina
Kevin Syrnick was raised in Weyburn, Saskatchewan, and attended the University of Regina (U of R) graduating with a B.A.Sc. in Industrial System Engineering (ISE) in 1988. Kevin has over thirty years of professional experience in both the private and public sectors and is currently... Read More →
Thursday September 19, 2024 11:00am - 11:30am CDT
Meeting Room 3

11:00am CDT

Managing FOG in Your Wastewater System - A Pathway to Success
Thursday September 19, 2024 11:00am - 11:30am CDT
Fats, Oil and Grease (FOG) is the number one cause of blockage in the City of Calgary wastewater system. It is estimated that about half is contributed by Food Services Establishments (FSE), despite this category accounting for only two to three per cent of Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional (ICI) customers. Currently, Calgary has more than 7000 FSE's. To protect the wastewater system from FOG buildup and blockages, the City Wastewater Bylaw 14M2012 has specific regulations for FSEs, with requirements for proper installation, regular maintenance and record keeping of their pre-treatment systems, mainly grease interceptors. Starting in 2012, a pilot project with 144 FSEs was conducted, with the intention to develop a FOG compliance program, FSE inspections tools and to determine if the Wastewater Bylaw requirements related to grease interceptors were being complied with by these customers. Later a FOG education campaign was launched which included creating a slogan (Stop and Think! Not down the Sink!), educational material (posters, stickers, BMPs and handouts) and a FOG program video as well as updating the FOG program landing webpages. In January 2022, The City initiated a customer education-first approach using Water Educators. Educators audited more than 7000 FSE's sites with the objectives to educate customers on FOG onsite management practices using educational materials developed during the FOG campaign and to determine the state of compliance and the level of risk associated with each FSE. Following the audit each business was categorized by risk for further enforcement or follow up from the compliance team. So far, this approach is working very effectively, within a short two year's period, the compliance team was able to work with the businesses to install XX new grease interceptors, which are estimated to prevent more than 170,000 lbs/year of FOG from entering the city wastewater system. Success and challenges experienced throughout the FOG program journey and statistical outcome as well as our next steps for achieving sustainability of the program will be presented.
Speakers
DA

Didier Arnould

Industrial Monitoring and Compliance Inspector, The City of Calgary, Water Quality and Regulatory Assurance
Didier has worked in the water industry at the City of Calgary for 20 years; though ironically, he is still not a big fan of swimming. He has spent the last 12 years as a dedicated Industrial Compliance Inspector, protecting wastewater infrastructure as well as the environment... Read More →
Thursday September 19, 2024 11:00am - 11:30am CDT
Meeting Room 2 WCC Main Floor

11:00am CDT

Progressive Design Build and Winnipeg's Biosolids Upgrade Project
Thursday September 19, 2024 11:00am - 11:30am CDT
The City of Winnipeg is trying something new. It is using Progressive Design Build (PDB) as its delivery model for its Biosolids Upgrade which has a budget of $1.035 Billion. This presentation will go over what PDB is, what hurdles the City had to do to switch to PDB, where the City is currently in the PDB process, and lessons learned from trying something new.
Speakers
LO

Lana Obach

Senior Project Engineer, City of Winnipeg
Lana Obach and Jaimee Sekanjako are both Project Engineers with the City of Winnipeg's Water and Waste Department. They are both actively working on a collaborative delivery model for the North End Sewage Treatment Plant's Biosolids Project.
Thursday September 19, 2024 11:00am - 11:30am CDT
Meeting room 17 WCC Main Floor

11:00am CDT

What Wouldn't Homer Do
Thursday September 19, 2024 11:00am - 11:30am CDT
When many of us think of Nuclear Power, we likely think of the Simpsons, and certainly, we all recognize the classic cartoon figure, Homer Simpson. The Nuclear Power Plant Operator who eats donuts, constantly falls asleep, and neglects his duties. Homer had no idea how to operate such a complex facility and certainly wouldn't be any better off with today's technological advancements and the strive for continuous improvement. The EPCOR (Great Lakes Partners) Darlington Demineralized Water Treatment Plant (DWP) is located on the footprint of the Darlington Nuclear Generation Facility in Ontario. In 2021, EPCOR began a 30-year Design, Build, Finance, Own, Operate, and Maintain Agreement (DBFOM) with Ontario Power Generation (OPG). The Darlington Facility generates over 20% of Ontario's electricity needs and is the future home of Canada's first grid-scale Small Modular Reactor. This presentation will outline the structured 30-year partnership, how risk is transferred to and managed by EPCOR, how the facility was commissioned and integrated into the OPG operation, a sneak peek of the systems employed, how we continue to add value after the construction is complete, and how we work to create and maintain trust over time. And, of course, we will touch on the technology employed, which allows us to take water from Lake Ontario and purify it down to a resistance of fewer than 0.005 microSiemens per meter and total solids of less than 80 micrograms per kilogram!
Speakers
avatar for Joe Zimmer

Joe Zimmer

Operations Manager, EPCOR Water Services
My passion for engineering began growing up on a mixed farm in west central Saskatchewan, and continued during my studies as a Civil Engineer at the University of Saskatchewan. I was first introduced to wastewater treatment when I began working as a summer student for the City of... Read More →
Thursday September 19, 2024 11:00am - 11:30am CDT
Meeting Room 1 WCC Main Floor

11:30am CDT

Achieving Greater Capacity out of Critical Aging Infrastructure through the use of Complex Hydraulic Analysis
Thursday September 19, 2024 11:30am - 12:00pm CDT
A major current industry challenge is critical aging infrastructure being put under increasing pressure from growth through densification and catchment expansion, whilst also being asked to provide more for less with respect to capital and operational expenditure, without compromising mitigation of environmental and social impacts. This context creates unique and complex engineering problems like those presented on the Port Coquitlam Pump Station project. The pump station is the single point of collection and outlet for the City of Port Coquitlam with a catchment of 30 km2, a population of over 60,000, and bordered by federally protected salmonid and other fish bearing rivers. The station was constructed in 1976 along with the original forcemain, with a second larger forcemain built 30 years ago. The forcemains have significantly different hydraulic characteristics and profiles, including size, material, intermediate high points, and inverted siphon sections. Both forcemains discharge to an interceptor that experiences varying degrees of surcharge. The required capacity upgrade to address the projected growth exceeds the design of the current system, and as such the combination of these conditions lead to exceptionally complex system hydraulics. Jacobs was engaged to complete the engineering analysis and design for the system upgrade, whereby a combination of the existing forcemains are required to be used to obtain the necessary hydraulic capacity as the pipelines pass through sensitive environments and impacts must be limited. This task was further complicated as the original forcemain had been condemned due to poor condition and associated failures. Jacobs approached the problem incrementally: investigating and recommending specific rehabilitation for the original forcemain, completing field data sampling to establish the actual hydraulic characteristics of elements, hydraulic modelling to validate the field data and enable it to be extrapolated for the entire system, and complex holistic system hydraulics to determine possible system capacities under the wide range of operational and hydraulic scenarios. The complex hydraulics were key to understanding the problem and the solution. Analysis was completed via multiple methods to establish the steady-state upper and lower bound hydraulic conditions, the hydraulic envelope, and identifying hydraulic control points and transition regions. These envelopes and transition zones confirmed how the system could operate so the design could be completed to optimize system performance and assess how the system would respond under unplanned events such as hydraulic transients during a station power failure and what mitigation measures should be incorporated. This paper will present the engineering analysis completed by Jacobs with focus on the development and solution of the complex hydraulic evaluations associated with existing aging infrastructure. The analysis enabled Jacobs to select new pumps, design station upgrades and reliably recommend a system solution that provided exceeded the required capacity increase for the specified design horizon, but also future proofed the system for future capacity increases. This solution provided the optimal long-term solution considering capital and operational cost, adaptability for future changes and longevity of infrastructure, and mitigated environmental and social impacts, which is needed to address our industries aging infrastructure in the current climate.
Speakers
IG

Izak Green

Mechanical Conveyance Engineer, Jacobs
Izak Green is a seasoned engineer with over 14 years of experience in the water industry. Having worked in South Africa, Australia, and Canada, Izak brings a global perspective to his expertise. He currently serves as mechanical conveyance engineer at Jacobs, where he specializes... Read More →
Thursday September 19, 2024 11:30am - 12:00pm CDT
Meeting Room 2 WCC Main Floor

11:30am CDT

Optimizing Water Treatment: Adding a Closed Circuit RO to City of Winkler's WTP Expansion
Thursday September 19, 2024 11:30am - 12:00pm CDT
Speakers
avatar for Ken Anderson

Ken Anderson

Practice Lead, Water - Winnipeg Water Group, Associated Engineering
Ken is the water group manager for Associated Engineering's Winnipeg office. Ken is responsible for delivering water and sewer projects throughout Manitoba for a variety of municipal clients. He is excited to be here to share his experiences with this project.
Thursday September 19, 2024 11:30am - 12:00pm CDT
Meeting Room 1 WCC Main Floor

11:30am CDT

Traditional vs Emerging: Alternative & Collaborative Delivery Methods for Successful Water Projects
Thursday September 19, 2024 11:30am - 12:00pm CDT
Wastewater and water project delivery is changing. Projects are most typically delivered using traditional methods such as Design-Bid-Build as they are the most common, well-understood models that provide perceived stability, certainty and confidence. However, in the aftermath of covid, the pressures have exponentially increased which has resulted in a paradigm shift. Project expectations have accelerated to greater speeds, higher quality and reduced rates, at a time when the risks are much greater as we are still living with the aftershock of unprecedented uncertainty and instability across all supply chains. There continues to be an ongoing desperate struggle to supply materials, equipment and labor to meet specific project schedules, demands and expectations. Regardless of which role any of us plays in our water and wastewater project deliveries, owners, project managers, engineers, and construction experts are all experiencing negative and significant impacts. As a total industry we need to take a step back and objectively view the unique challenges inherent in our projects and consider that we need to consider a different approach to their foundational set up including the delivery method used. The alternative and collaborative delivery methodology includes Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), Alliancing, and even Progressive Design Build (PDB). These methods are all focused on integrated practices that break down silos within our industry, especially between design and construction. They are focused on early contractor involvement to designing in constructability, supply chain availabilities, and increased consideration for innovation. They have an increased focus on proactive, integrated, adaptive, and agile planning systems to reconcile and balance all variables in improved ways to achieve owners' value proposition working within constraints of time and budget. This has also raised increased awareness on the importance of the more humanistic domains and related topics for work team environments including team performance, engagement, behaviors, trust and culture. Lastly and possibly more importantly, these methods also have proven themselves as a way to lower risk, stabilize schedule and navigate our increased complexity. This session will explore the new and emerging methodologies that are playing out in North America in infrastructure and dig into the key aspects and challenges to delivering them. Attendees will walk away with a better understanding of how to determine when to consider these models, and how to prepare themselves for successfully implementation.
Speakers
CC

Carla Ciepliski

National Director, Lean & IPD Practice, Colliers Project Leaders
Carla is a Lean Integration coach, advisor and industrial engineer with over 25 years of multi-sector experience including in the infrastructure and built environment. For the past 12 years, she has been deeply imbedded in the design and construction community, having coached every... Read More →
Thursday September 19, 2024 11:30am - 12:00pm CDT
Meeting room 17 WCC Main Floor

11:30am CDT

Wet Weather Treatment with Pile Cloth Filtration
Thursday September 19, 2024 11:30am - 12:00pm CDT
Wet weather conditions can bring about challenging conditions for operators of municipal wastewater treatment facilities, especially those facilities that operate with a combined sewer system. Extreme wet weather conditions can bring about flows that exceed the hydraulic capacity of the mainstream treatment process, leading to bypass events that channel the excess water away from the mainstream treatment process. Although dilute, the bypassed water can still carry harmful contaminants that should be reduced prior to discharge. In this presentation, we will review pile cloth filter configurations for wet weather and primary wastewater treatment. Full-scale designs and pilot-scale results will be showcased to demonstrate the technology for these wet weather conditions at municipal wastewater treatment facilities.
Speakers
avatar for Tanner Devlin

Tanner Devlin

Booth 37, Nexom
Tanner Devlin is a process engineer with Nexom specializing in water and wastewater treatment system design.
Thursday September 19, 2024 11:30am - 12:00pm CDT
Meeting Room 3

12:00pm CDT

Absorbent Landscaping & Permeable Pavement to Reduce Icy Sidewalks: A Retrofit Case Study in Edmonton
Thursday September 19, 2024 12:00pm - 12:30pm CDT
Many municipalities experience troubles with drainage crossing pedestrian walkways, creating maintenance and safety concerns, especially during freezing months. The neighborhoods of Donsdale and Carter Crest in Edmonton have experienced issues with water ponding and icy sidewalks in winter due to concrete swales between neighboring backyards collecting flows and draining them directly to sidewalks prior to overflowing to the treed boulevard and road gutter. Stantec was retained to design Absorbent Landscapes or other LID facilities to slow and promote the infiltration of flows conveyed by the concrete swales. This included designing a method of conveying the storm flows below the sidewalk and determining how to install the preferred LID facilities around existing obstacles including mature trees, Canada Post mailboxes, and utilities to minimize disturbance while maximizing the LID storage capacity. This project was completed on behalf of EPCOR Drainage and consisted of the conceptual and detailed design (complete) and support during/post construction (Fall 2023 and expected completion in 2024). Various locations experiencing ponding and ice issues were inspected and solutions were developed including Absorbent Landscapes, Bioretention Gardens, Soil Cells, Permeable Pavement, and grey infrastructure (i.e., catch basins connecting to the existing sewer). Fourteen locations were selected from the concept design to proceed to detailed design and construction. A method for flows to cross the sidewalk from the concrete swale outlet to the Absorbent Landscapes in the boulevard was developed and Stantec coordinated with the City of Edmonton Urban Forestry to construct the facilities around City trees to maximize LID storage while protecting existing tree roots. This presentation will summarize the LID locations and designs, some of the construction challenges and successes, and discuss the applicability of this stormwater management approach to other municipalities.
Speakers
SK

Sara Kardash

Civil Engineer in Training, Stantec Consulting Ltd.
Sara Kardash is a Water Resources EIT with a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering and an Environmental Specialization. Prior to joining Stantec, Sara spent time with EPCOR drainage in the construction and LID teams. Based in the Stantec Edmonton Water Resources group, Sara currently provides... Read More →
Thursday September 19, 2024 12:00pm - 12:30pm CDT
Meeting Room 3

12:00pm CDT

Hybrid DAF and Clarifier: The best of both worlds
Thursday September 19, 2024 12:00pm - 12:30pm CDT
This presentation will showcase a unique hybrid DAF technology implemented at the Ruthven Water Treatment Plant in Southwestern Ontario and will cover the existing system, the basics of DAF, how the new hybrid DAF was integrated into the existing system, and the performance since construction. The raw water source for the plant is Lake Erie. Lake Erie is the shallowest and warmest of the Grate Lakes, which leads to frequent and severe algae blooms often concentrated near the plant's intake. Additional challenge is posed by so-called high turbidity events (HTE), i.e. periods when lake sediments are disturbed either by storms on the lake or by pulsing river discharge. The turbidity of raw water intake may exceed 400 NTU. Water treatment systems in such conditions need to be able to simultaneously and effectively remove solids that naturally tend to float, like algae and heavier mineral suspension which tends to settle. The existing treatment plant comprised of upflow clarifiers followed by gravity sand filters. The clarifiers were effective in the removal of heavier mineral solids but struggled with removing algae. A pilot test of a conventional DAF proved that DAF would be able to remove the algae, but it could be overwhelmed with mineral solids during HTE. The project team chose a third option: combining the two technologies for a different solution. In 2020, the project converting one of the clarifiers to a hybrid DAF commenced. The clarifier mechanism was completely removed and a new internal mechanism including flocculation well, reaction zone, new scum throughs and sludge rakes was installed. The result was a system that effectively doubled the unit capacity without increasing its footprint. The new hybrid system proved to be easy to operate, and resilient to both fluctuating water demands and fluctuating intake characteristics.
Speakers
DK

Damian Kruk

Booth 36, Napier-Reid
Damian Kruk is a process engineer with 17 years of experience in water and wastewater treatment. He recently moved from Nexom to its sister company Napier-Reid, a Canadian-based manufacturer of water and wastewater treatment systems, where he leads the team of dedicated Application... Read More →
Thursday September 19, 2024 12:00pm - 12:30pm CDT
Meeting Room 1 WCC Main Floor

12:00pm CDT

Newton Force Main River Crossing
Thursday September 19, 2024 12:00pm - 12:30pm CDT
This project replaced a failing system to ensure the safe, daily conveyance of over 2.3 million litres of wastewater across the Red River in Winnipeg. The existing crossing was installed along the river bottom in 1978 and was connected to lands that became densely urbanized limiting replacement solutions. An alternate solution was developed to both reroute the force main and install it safely within the bedrock strata below the river. The solution required 780 metres of new force main including a 466-metre-long river crossing installed using horizontal direction drilling. The selected alignment considered several environmental, infrastructure and social issues and included both horizontal and vertical curves (a first for Manitoba). The project was commissioned safely, and the crossing is now effectively supporting the wastewater flows across the Red River in Winnipeg.
Speakers
RO

Ray Offman

KGS Group Consulting Engineers
Ray Offman is a Municipal Director for KGS Group and the Municipal Department Head for KGS Group’s Manitoba Offices where he has worked for 21 years. Mr. Offman holds three degrees from the University of Manitoba including a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, and a Master... Read More →
Thursday September 19, 2024 12:00pm - 12:30pm CDT
Meeting Room 2 WCC Main Floor

12:00pm CDT

Planning for the Future - the City of Winnipeg WEWPCC Facilities Plan
Thursday September 19, 2024 12:00pm - 12:30pm CDT
Speakers
AK

Andrew Kleisinger

Water & Wastewater Manager, MPE a division of Englobe Corp
Andrew holds a bachelor's degree in Environmental Systems Engineering (2006) from the University of Regina. Andrew has been with MPE since graduation and during his more than 17 years with the firm, has experience in planning, design and construction of water and wastewater treatment... Read More →
Thursday September 19, 2024 12:00pm - 12:30pm CDT
Meeting room 17 WCC Main Floor

12:30pm CDT

Lunch
Thursday September 19, 2024 12:30pm - 1:30pm CDT
Network and nourish, there's still an afternoon of sessions and a celebration to get to!
Thursday September 19, 2024 12:30pm - 1:30pm CDT
Meeting Rooms 4-8 WCC Main Floor

1:30pm CDT

Combating Lead in Drinking Water - A Corrosion Control Study
Thursday September 19, 2024 1:30pm - 2:00pm CDT
The City of Brandon's Water Treatment Facility (Facility) operates as a conventional lime softening plant with residuals treatment with a current capacity of 54 ML/d, with the intent to increase the water system capacity with the construction of a new membrane plant. The transition from a conventional solid contact unit (SCU) facility to a combined SCU and membrane water treatment facility may affect water quality stability and the potential for corrosion or scaling in the distribution system due to the lower pH and alkalinity of the filtered water. Consequently, filtered water will be mixed with treated facility water before distribution to mitigate these effects. Health Canada recently lowered the maximum allowable concentration (MAC) of lead from 10 to 5 µg/L at the consumer's tap. Despite the City's regular replacement of lead service connections within public rights-of-way, it seeks additional methods to reduce lead concentrations in its distribution system. As a result, the City is conducting a bench-top study (Rapid Response Rig) to assess current and future water quality impacts using harvested lead service connections. Current corrosion control treatment (CCT) at the water treatment facility includes pH adjustment with carbon dioxide. However, the City plans to implement orthophosphate-based CCT as part of the Facility upgrades. The findings from this Rapid Response Rig will guide the selection and dosage of the corrosion inhibitor. Jacobs conducted a desktop water quality assessment to understand the current corrosivity of the Facility's raw, treated, and distributed water, as well as the expected corrosivity of future treated water following the addition of the membrane plant, the blending of the existing Facility and membrane plant waters, and the addition of orthophosphate. Initial desktop modeling of the expected water chemistry and corresponding scaling and corrosion indices provided theoretical estimates for water chemistry and pipe scale behaviors. These modeling results were used to design the Rapid Response Rig, the operation of which will proceed in two phases. The reasoning behind and the details of these phases will be discussed, as well as the available results from the study. This presentation will be of interest to owners and operations staff who are implementing or optimizing corrosion control programs due to the reduction in lead and copper MAC values.
Speakers
JI

Jezuli Iddrisu

Process Specialist, Jacobs Engineering
Thursday September 19, 2024 1:30pm - 2:00pm CDT
Meeting Room 1 WCC Main Floor

1:30pm CDT

Do I Need Grit Removal?
Thursday September 19, 2024 1:30pm - 2:00pm CDT
The purpose of this presentation is to clearly answer the question “Do I Need Grit Removal?” This will be accomplished in a straightforward, easy to understand manner with references to widely known and commonly used literature in the wastewater industry. The information presented will be backed up with clear and simple photos which put the values into real and tangible sizes which we are all familiar with. Grit in wastewater is often thought of as a necessary evil as it settles throughout the treatment plant. Cleaning of grit-laden basins and repair of rotating equipment due to grit wear are commonly seen as routine maintenance. As wastewater technology progresses and the processes used to treat wastewater become more complex, the need for grit removal will increase to protect these processes. This presentation will also outline the cost of such grit related maintenance items so the attendee can clearly understand the true cost of grit in their plant and decide if grit removal will save enough money in repairs to offset the initial purchase and installation costs of a grit removal system. However, we acknowledge that every plant is different and as such, the amount of grit related maintenance varies widely. It is not every plant which has the need for grit removal because some can simply store it in their lagoons or dispose of it in their sludge. This presentation is intended to help each plant engineer, owner, or operator know what information they need to gather so they can decide for themselves if their plant has reached the point of needing grit removal.
Speakers
PH

Patrick Herrick

Booths 85 & 86, Hydro International
Pat Herrick is Regional Sales Manager for Hydro International – Water & Wastewater Division which specializes in the development, design and fabrication of unique, high performance equipment and systems for removal of grit, sugar sand, abrasives and fixed solids. Mr. Herrick has... Read More →
Thursday September 19, 2024 1:30pm - 2:00pm CDT
Meeting Room 2 WCC Main Floor

1:30pm CDT

How to Select a Contract Model for Your Project
Thursday September 19, 2024 1:30pm - 2:00pm CDT
This presentation will provide a simple process for owners of water / wastewater / conveyance projects to select a Contract Model for their engineering and construction project. The presenter Brian Maksymetz has over 25 years of Project Management experience from employment with the Project Owner, the Design Consultant, and the Construction Contractor. Brian is an expert in procurement for water treatment and conveyance projects in the private and public sectors. In addition to improved risk management and more successful projects, the Right choice of contract model will provide a return on investment to the Owner for the costs of using that model in the first place. And there's nothing wrong with the old way of doing things. The presentation will explain how to optimize the traditional design-bid-build and construction management methods for more successful project outcomes. Brian's company is www.better-projects.ca.
Speakers
BM

Brian Maksymetz

Lead Consultant, Better Projects Incorporated
Thursday September 19, 2024 1:30pm - 2:00pm CDT
Meeting room 17 WCC Main Floor

1:30pm CDT

Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Asset Condition Reporting at 23 Indigenous Communities in Manitoba
Thursday September 19, 2024 1:30pm - 2:00pm CDT
Asset Management of water and wastewater infrastructure is at the forefront of the decision-making process for infrastructure management, maintenance, and planning in Indigenous communities in Manitoba. This presentation focuses on utilizing a mobile electronic field data management tool to collect, analyze, and present asset knowledge gained from site inspections. The approach was developed to conform to the requirements of Indigenous Services Canada's (ISC's) Extended Asset Condition Reporting System (e-ACRS). Dillon Consulting completed site inspections and asset condition reporting for 23 First Nation communities in Manitoba totalling more than 1800 assets including lagoons, lift stations, water and wastewater treatment plants, pumping stations, and piping infrastructure. The assessment team utilized ESRI Survey123 to collect data on-site including each asset's general information (name, quantity, year of construction, location), General Condition Rating (GCR), Estimated Remaining Life (ERL), and deficiencies. All data was collected digitally using consumer-grade mobile devices with data synchronized in real-time to a web-accessible geospatial database. The project's subject matter experts reviewed and managed the collected data using ESRI Survey123. The collected data was analyzed to develop a 35-year Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) and Estimated Replacement Value (ERV) for each asset. Collecting data using digital methods and avoiding paper allowed for easier integration with ISC's reporting templates and asset management protocols, reduced person hours, reduced data entry and analysis human error, and increased time available for data analysis and conversion of information into actionable knowledge. The Asset Condition Reports are distributed to participating communities, which provides asset managers and/or public works departments with asset inventories, LCCA, and maintenance priorities. These data and summary analysis allow First Nation communities to take the lead on managing their water and wastewater infrastructure assets according to the desired level of service identified by the community. The expectation of the e-ACRS reporting includes improved understanding of asset intervention needs, more efficient planning, and active insightful asset management to achieve more resilient infrastructure.
Speakers
avatar for Saher Ghanem

Saher Ghanem

Civil Engineer, Dillon Consulting Limited
Saher is a Civil Engineer with over three years of experience delivering municipal infrastructure projects in Manitoba, Alberta, and Northwestern Ontario. His project responsibilities include water distribution network modelling and planning, conceptual and detailed design, scheduling... Read More →
Thursday September 19, 2024 1:30pm - 2:00pm CDT
Meeting Room 3

1:30pm CDT

WCW Editorial Committee Meeting
Thursday September 19, 2024 1:30pm - 3:00pm CDT
Current and interested WCW Editorial Committee volunteers are welcome to attend this meeting.
Thursday September 19, 2024 1:30pm - 3:00pm CDT
Meeting Room 10 WCC Main Floor
  Meeting
  • Host Organization WCW

2:00pm CDT

Improving Hydraulic Conditions in Rectangular Secondary Clarifiers for Process Intensification
Thursday September 19, 2024 2:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
Gold Bar Wastewater Treatment Plant (GBWWTP) operated by EPCOR in Edmonton, Alberta has a limited footprint for expansion. To meet the treatment demand for population growth and regulatory requirement in the future, EPCOR strives to improve the treatment efficiency by intensifying the existing process. One of those efforts was to improve the settling performance by improving the hydraulic condition of secondary clarifiers. The purpose of this presentation is to share some of the experiences learned from this journey with others. The GBWWTP currently has 11 biological nutrient removal (BNR) bioreactors, each followed by a rectangular secondary clarifier. Mixed liquor from each BNR bioreactor is distributed to its secondary clarifier via a mixed liquor channel (MLC) through 10 distribution ports. Each secondary train is designed for a maximum flow of 42 million liters/day (MLD) and average of 28 MLD. In 2018, a dye test was completed in selected secondary clarifiers. During the test it was noticed that dye added at the end of the bioreactor was almost immediately visible in one front corner of the secondary clarifier. It was concluded that the MLC was not evenly distributing the mixed liquor into the secondary clarifier and density currents were causing short circuiting within the clarifier. In 2019, further field testing was completed to better understand flow patterns in the clarifier. Multiple measurements were taken using a portable flowmeter at each MLC distribution port into the clarifier, at both 28 and 42 MLD. The results confirmed the short circuiting when the mixed liquor was distributed to the secondary clarifiers. The amount of mixed liquor distributed through the distribution ports of the MLC varied from -8 to 248% of the average. In 2020, baffles were designed and installed based on computer fluid dynamic (CFD) modelling of the MLC and two full-width baffles were installed in the clarifier. Access and maintainability were strong drivers in the design. Baffles were hinged or removable to allow access, materials were chosen to reduce maintenance, and spacing was designed to reduce solids build-up With the MLC baffles, modelling predicted the amount of mixed liquor distributed through each distribution port in the range of 90% to 107% of the average flow. To validate the actual effects of the baffles, additional dye testing and field measurements were performed in 2023. In general, the dye test indicated that the baffles provided a 20% improvement on overall hydraulic retention time in secondary clarifiers. The field flow measurements showed that the MLC baffles significantly improved the distribution of mixed liquor to secondary clarifiers. The amount of mixed liquor through each distribution port is about 69% to 180% of the average flow, which presents a significant improvement and provides validation of the CFD model. Although baffles are a relatively simple means of improving clarifier hydraulics, this study took a systematic approach in design and validation of in-tank and MLC baffles. Unique challenges were experienced throughout this study, especially during performance validation, and learnings from these challenges could be helpful for other utilities undergoing this journey.
Speakers
avatar for Saif Molla

Saif Molla

Manager, Planning and Engagement, EPCOR Water Services
Thursday September 19, 2024 2:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
Meeting Room 2 WCC Main Floor

2:00pm CDT

Maintaining Decentralized Systems: Alexander First Nations Cistern and Septic Inspection Program
Thursday September 19, 2024 2:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
Connecting to a centralized water or wastewater system is not always possible for many Canadians, whether it be due to remote location, cost of connection, or both. Therefore, numerous rural residents and First Nations communities rely on decentralized systems, including cisterns and septic systems. Maintaining these systems is critical to providing reliable potable water and safe wastewater management. This presentation will focus on an inspection program developed by ATAP to assess cisterns and septic systems in First Nations communities throughout Alberta. In particular, this presentation will focus on using this inspection program at Alexander First Nation where 170 cisterns and 250 septic systems were inspected. During this presentation, our team will provide the perspective of the inspector and the administrator. The inspector will provide an overview of the program, which uses an ArcGIS data collection program and a submersible camera to identify potential maintenance and contamination concerns. The administrator will discuss the importance of communication with community members to ensure the program is successful.
Speakers
avatar for Sarah Larlee

Sarah Larlee

Process Engineer, Associated Engineering
Sarah Larlee is a Process Engineer with Associated Engineering in the Edmonton office. She primarily works with small communities in Alberta, B.C., and Nunavut on their water and wastewater systems.
Thursday September 19, 2024 2:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
Meeting Room 3

2:00pm CDT

Starting Up a Business in the Water Industry
Thursday September 19, 2024 2:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
Speaker will outline his journey from establishing a a sole proprietorship in 2006 and becoming incorporated in 2015 as Almaquin Enterprises Limited. The company is a merging of the owners technical background in water treatment and writing responses to Request for Proposals (RFPs). Will cover the following topics: number of certified operators; increasingly stringent regulations driving technology, plant classification, what operators want, what clients want, value of marketing and website, and price-to-win.
Speakers
MH

Mike Hewitt

Business Capture Manager, Almaquin Enterprises Limited
Mike Hewitt, founder of Almaquin Enterprises Limited, started his business in 2006, becoming incorporated in 2015. With a technical background in water treatment and expertise in RFPs, he has participated responses to the RCAF Future Aircrew Training program, CFS Alert Commercial... Read More →
Thursday September 19, 2024 2:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
Meeting room 17 WCC Main Floor

2:00pm CDT

Strategies and Considerations for Organics Removal
Thursday September 19, 2024 2:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
A recurring challenge for water treatment systems using surface water sources in Northern Manitoba and Northern Ontario is ensuring that disinfection by-product (DBP) concentrations in treated water are below their Maximum Allowable Concentrations (MACs) as outlined in the provincial and federal guidelines. Two (2) groups of DBPs of interest include trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs). Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and total organic carbon (TOC) are known as DBP precursors as they can react with chlorine, a commonly used method to disinfect drinking water, to form DBPs. An effective water treatment system must therefore be able to reliably and consistently remove sufficient DBP precursors to ensure that DBPs are below their respective MACs. The same levels of DOC / TOC in one system may behave differently from the DOC / TOC drawn from another source. Further, concentrations of DOC / TOC can have considerable seasonal variations even from the same water source, underscoring the importance of obtaining as much historical raw water quality data and completing as much site-specific testing as soon as possible, as well as utilizing conservative design practices. Neegan Burnside Ltd., with the help of various water treatment suppliers and laboratories, has recently completed bench-scale and pilot-scale testing programs for several communities in Northern Manitoba and Northern Ontario to inform and support treatment system design. The primary focus of the bench-scale and pilot-scale testing programs was the removal of DOC / TOC and preventing the formation of THMs and HAAs. Simulated distribution system testing was completed to evaluate THM and HAA formation. Several alternative treatment technologies were evaluated including conventional filtration, membrane filtration, slow sand filtration, granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration, ion-exchange as a post-treatment process, and Magnetic Ion Exchange (MIEX®) as a pre-treatment process. In addition to treatment effectiveness, technologies were evaluated against other criteria including capital and operation and maintenance (O&M) cost, ease of operation, and operator familiarity, among others. An important consideration was the lifespan over which filtration media would provide effective treatment, and the process required to restore treatment capability of the media. As an example, GAC filtration has historically been used as an effective post-treatment process to remove organic content in water. Over time, GAC media is exhausted and must be replaced or treatment performance will decline. Rapid small scale column testing (RSSCT) for GAC media was completed to estimate the lifespan of GAC media and the results indicated a short lifespan at some sites, dependent on the other water treatment processes upstream. Information such as this suggests that the required replacement frequency of GAC media to maintain treatment at an acceptable level should be considered using site-specific testing, especially if there is a reliance on the media to remove sufficient DOC / TOC to meet the required guidelines.
Speakers
MW

Matthew Winter

Water/Wastewater Project Engineer, Neegan Burnside Ltd
Greg Koncan and Matthew Winter are Project Engineers with Neegan Burnside and their work experience has covered a wide area of responsibilities including planning, studies, preliminary and detailed designs, approvals and construction. Through this work Greg and Matthew have been involved... Read More →
Thursday September 19, 2024 2:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
Meeting Room 1 WCC Main Floor

2:30pm CDT

Implementation of Residuals Management Project - City of Medicine Hat WTP Residuals Management Facility
Thursday September 19, 2024 2:30pm - 3:00pm CDT
In 2018, the City was required to undertake an environmental impact study of the waste stream's effects on the South Saskatchewan River. The purpose of the study was to assess the downstream impact the treatment system residuals will have on the receiving stream and to determine the assimilation capacity of the receiving water body. The study was completed by Clearwater Environmental Consultants Ltd. From the evaluation of the process waste streams, it was found that the CBD, FBW, and FTW streams would not meet discharge requirements and would require further treatment. Following this study, the City was required to construct a residuals management facility before December 30th, 2024, to handle the WTP waste streams and maintain the City's Operating Approval. In 2020, MPE and our design partner AE2S were commissioned by the City to provide engineering services for the detailed design, tendering, and construction of the WTP Residuals Management Facility. MPE/AE2S began with an extensive preliminary design phase, which included a thorough review of the basic design concepts previously established and the development of the final design criteria. Review of final design concepts with Alberta Environment and Protected Areas (AEPA) was also a key component. The strategy utilized for the CBD stream was connecting to existing piping near all the existing clarifiers to reroute the flows to the new Blowdown Transfer Pump Station (BTPS). After reaching the BTPS, the CBD would be pumped to the new Residuals Management Facility (RMF) on the eastern part of the site. At the RMF the CBD would be dewatered for disposal. The FBW and FTW waste streams require additional treatment to avoid any negative impacts on the South Saskatchewan River. The Residuals Clarifier was added for further treatment of the FBW/FTW streams prior to being discharged to the river. The CBD from this process will be transferred to the RMF to go through the same dewatering process as the blowdown from the existing Solid Contact Unit Clarifiers. All liquid residuals from the thickening and dewatering process at the RMF will be pumped to the Residuals Clarifier Building (RCB) for further treatment prior to river discharge. Tendering of this project occurred between the fall of 2022 and the spring/summer of 2023, utilizing multiple contracts. Construction commenced on site in late March, 2023 and will continue through the remainder of 2023, 2024 and into the spring/summer of 2025. Full implementation of the project is required by the end of 2025. This paper provides a background for the entire project, focusing on the design concept development. Discussion on the early phases of construction will also be included.
Speakers
AK

Andrew Kleisinger

Water & Wastewater Manager, MPE a division of Englobe Corp
Andrew holds a bachelor's degree in Environmental Systems Engineering (2006) from the University of Regina. Andrew has been with MPE since graduation and during his more than 17 years with the firm, has experience in planning, design and construction of water and wastewater treatment... Read More →
Thursday September 19, 2024 2:30pm - 3:00pm CDT
Meeting Room 1 WCC Main Floor

2:30pm CDT

M.O.B.y Dick – Chasing the White Whale of Winter Nitrification
Thursday September 19, 2024 2:30pm - 3:00pm CDT
Mobile Organic Biofilm (MOB) technology has been implemented at several sites throughout North America to increase the settling characteristics of Wastewater Treatment Plant Biomass. The increase in settling allows for increased biomass capacity resulting in the ability to achieve greater Biological Nutrient Removal (ie. in cold conditions). Currently, the H. McIvor Weir Wastewater Treatment Plant in Saskatoon does not achieve cold weather nitrification due to a combination of the slower biological activity at cold temperatures, the Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT) of the aerobic zones within the Bioreactors and the design solids loading rate of the secondary clarifiers under conventional conditions. Pilot implementation of the MOB technology will be used to increase the mixed liquor suspended solids and biological activity within the constrained aerobic HRT, while using the increased settling characteristics to increase the design solids loading rate of the secondary clarifiers and protect final effluent quality. The increased settling characteristics of MOB also allow for peak flows to be better handled while minimizing the risk of biomass washout. Pilot implementation to MOB technology will also be used to simulate storm flows to determine allowable peak flow loading that can be encountered at the H. McIvor Weir Wastewater Treatment Plant without affecting final effluent quality. This presentation will provide a background on MOB technology and its purpose for being trialed at the plant, the process of trial implementation, the validation of trial success and the lab data obtained to date on pilot progress.
Speakers
MS

Mike Sadowski

Wastewater Treatment Plant Manager, City of Saskatoon
Mike Sadowski With a career spanning 17 years at the Saskatoon Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), Mike Sadowski is a seasoned professional in the field of wastewater management. He has held various roles with the WWTP, including Operations Manager, Maintenance Manager, and currently... Read More →
Thursday September 19, 2024 2:30pm - 3:00pm CDT
Meeting Room 2 WCC Main Floor

2:30pm CDT

Saving Money and Time with an Operation and Maintenance Specialist
Thursday September 19, 2024 2:30pm - 3:00pm CDT
Did you know there is a simple way to save money and time while improving the design and construction of a water or wastewater facility upgrade and/or expansion? Understanding the importance and key role of operability and maintainability in the design and construction phase is crucial for the long-term success of a water or wastewater facility upgrade and/or expansion project. By including the expertise of an operation and maintenance specialist into the project team valuable experience is inputted during the planning, design and construction stages resulting in a project that has reduced whole life cycle costs, minimized risks, improved communication with stakeholders and a completed facility that is operable, maintainable, safe, and sustainable over its lifespan.
Speakers
avatar for Kerri Barenz

Kerri Barenz

Project Manager | Operation and Maintenance Specialist, Jacobs
Kerri is a water professional with over 14 years of hands-on experience in the industry. She has over a decade of experience as a certified operator in Manitoba, managing, operating and optimizing BNR facilities. Over the past decade her shifted her career to project management where... Read More →
Thursday September 19, 2024 2:30pm - 3:00pm CDT
Meeting room 17 WCC Main Floor

2:30pm CDT

Water Infrastructure & Resiliency in Remote and Northern Communities
Thursday September 19, 2024 2:30pm - 3:00pm CDT
Since 2019, WSP water & wastewater subject matter experts and engineering professionals have assisted several communities across Canada navigate the challenges faced during unique water crises. Informally known as the WSP Emergency Ready Team, their services have been employed in several critical situations across Canada. These Project include several water shortage and water quality emergencies in Iqaluit, a water contamination & flooding event in Whitedog First Nation, and a water shortage emergency in Attawapiskat First Nation. This presentation discusses the many challenges in designing and maintaining water services remote & northern communities, addressing unique water emergencies across Canada, and applying the lessons learned toward future resiliency and sustainability.
Speakers
avatar for Ian Moran

Ian Moran

Process Designer, Water & Wastewater, WSP Canada Inc.
Ian Moran is an Engineer-In-Training working for WSP based out of Winnipeg, Manitoba.He specializes in membrane filtration and has designed, hand-constructed, and operated several pilot-scale membrane filtration systems for water treatment plants in Western Canada.Ian’s pilot-scale... Read More →
Thursday September 19, 2024 2:30pm - 3:00pm CDT
Meeting Room 3

3:00pm CDT

Break
Thursday September 19, 2024 3:00pm - 3:30pm CDT
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Sponsors
avatar for ISL

ISL

ISL Engineering
At ISL, we share an enthusiasm for community infrastructure. From planning through to design and construction management, we create nimble teams to tackle the unique requirements of every project. Our technical knowledge encompasses transportation, land use planning, civil engineering... Read More →
Thursday September 19, 2024 3:00pm - 3:30pm CDT
East Concourse, Main Floor RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg

3:30pm CDT

Corrosion a Generational Problem
Thursday September 19, 2024 3:30pm - 4:00pm CDT
Corrosion in water infrastructure has been largely misunderstood by cites, designers and operators for decades. There are many ways to protect water infrastructure and those solutions can get jumbled and confusing. This presentation will get back to the science of what corrosion is and how it directly effects the most important resource. Many believe that the science of corrosion is simple. We put metal components in the ground, and they get broken down. This is a false and misleading narrative and can be confusing for professionals to fine the right solutions. Microbial and galvanic corrosion have different effects and properties. Moisture content, sulfides, redox, PH value, bi-metallic connections and stray currents all have an impact on how the metal components in water systems will be affected by corrosion. Corrosion in water systems can be stopped but first it must be understood. Prevention is also greatly misunderstood, there are several ways to stop corrosion but even more companies that provide them. This presentation will go through all the main corrosion prevention methods: bonded coatings, polyethylene encasement, cathodic protection and petrolatum tapes will all be discussed. Going through all the methods giving a background of science will shed light one a previously confusing subject. The waterworks industry will always use metal components this presentation will explain how to protect them for generations.
Speakers
avatar for Brent Williamson

Brent Williamson

Booth 65, Integrity Pipeline Products West
Corrosion and protection specialist, representing the Denso product lines. Works with Cities municipalities and engineers to strengthen their corrosion specifications.Denso Road Products are also available, that can save thousands in road maintenance
Thursday September 19, 2024 3:30pm - 4:00pm CDT
Meeting Room 1 WCC Main Floor

3:30pm CDT

Enhancing Water System Resilience: Assessing Drought Preparedness Across 100 Public Water Systems in Manitoba
Thursday September 19, 2024 3:30pm - 4:00pm CDT
In recent years, the escalating challenges posed by more frequent and intense intermittent droughts have heightened concerns about water supply in the Western Canadian Provinces. As part of the development of Manitoba's Water Management Strategy, stakeholders emphasized a pivotal measure to improve water supply availability: the initiation of a sector-by-sector analysis of water needs. This analysis is vital for informed decision-making in meeting basic human needs, sustaining healthy ecosystems, ensuring food security, generating energy, and fostering economic growth. In alignment with this strategy, Manitoba Environment and Climate Change engaged Associated Engineering to conduct a resiliency assessment on 100 water systems across the province. The objective was to gain a deeper understanding and document risks within the municipal water supply sector (municipalities, water cooperatives, etc.) for effective drought planning and response. The presentation will offer insights into the project methodology, the engagement of 100 Public Water Systems through a comprehensive questionnaire and interview process, and the presentation of high-level overview findings from the assessment.
Speakers
JO

Jeff O'Driscoll

Jeff is a professional engineer with over 30 years of experience in consulting engineering related to the design, construction, and operations of water and wastewater infrastructure. Jeff graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1990 and has spent his career in Winnipeg. In recent... Read More →
Thursday September 19, 2024 3:30pm - 4:00pm CDT
Meeting Room 3

3:30pm CDT

Safeguarding Water Quality in the Elk Valley
Thursday September 19, 2024 3:30pm - 4:00pm CDT
Teck Coal stands as a beacon of environmental sustainability and development in the global mining industry, exemplifying a steadfast commitment to the responsibility of preserving natural ecosystems in which it operates. Central to this commitment is the Water Quality Management in the Elk Valley, aimed at mitigating the environmental impacts of mining activities. Of particular interest are the residual rocks containing elements such as selenium and nitrate which are a natural byproduct of the mining process. When carried by water runoff, these elements pose a threat to aquatic health in the local watershed. The innovative water quality management approach by Teck includes the development of a breakthrough passive water treatment technology known as a Saturated Rock Fill (SRF) and the utilization of Active Water Treatment Facilities (AWTFs). Such efforts showcase a multifaceted strategy to addressing the complex environmental challenges posed by mining steelmaking coal. Leading by example with state-of-the-art water treatment facilities and diligent monitoring, Teck Coal achieves an impressive 95% removal of selenium and nitrate, marking a monumental stride towards safeguarding water quality in the Elk Valley. With a notable four-fold increase in treatment capacity to 77.5 million liters per day since 2020, Teck anticipates a stabilization and reduction of selenium trends, aligning with the primary objectives of the Elk Valley Water Quality Management Plan. With two facilities in the Elk Valley, Teck's SRFs treat 50 million litres of water per day utilizing naturally occurring biological processes in former mining pits backfilled with spill rock and saturated with water to remove selenium and nitrate. Within the SRFs, the growth of bacteria strains that efficiently convert selenium into solid forms and nitrate into inert nitrogen gas is promoted. This optimization can enhance the process of selenium removal and storage within the SRF. By harnessing the power of biological processes, Teck's SRF technology offers a sustainable and efficient solution for environmental restoration in mining areas, ensuring the safe release of treated water back into the ecosystem. Teck also operates two AWTFs in the Elk Valley Region that treat 27.5 million litres of water per day. Similar to the SRF pit, Bioreactors house anaerobic bacteria proficient in selenium and nitrate removal from water. Bioreactors in these facilities promote denitrification, the process in which nitrates are converted into nitrogen gas, and the removal of selenium through biological reduction processes. Regular monitoring of influent and effluent water parameters, advanced laboratory technologies and the maintenance of appropriate environmental conditions within the bioreactors and SRF are all crucial components for optimized water quality management within the Elk Valley. Teck stands as a global vanguard in driving forward these advancements, exemplifying leadership through its pioneering efforts in enhancing efficiency, capacity and establishing cost-effective treatment solutions.
Speakers
avatar for Libanshu Malhotra

Libanshu Malhotra

Water Technician, Elk Valley Resources
Libanshu Malhotra Libanshu Malhotra is currently a Water Operations Technician at Elk Valley Resources' Level 4 Active water treatment facility. With a degree in Water Resource Science, Libanshu has overseen projects in municipal and mining water wastewater treatment sectors. Libanshu... Read More →
Thursday September 19, 2024 3:30pm - 4:00pm CDT
Meeting room 17 WCC Main Floor

3:30pm CDT

Threading the Needle - Pump Selection at the Winnipeg Perimeter Road Pump Station
Thursday September 19, 2024 3:30pm - 4:00pm CDT
PUMP SELECTION AT THE WINNIPEG PERIMETER ROAD PUMP STATION
The Perimeter Road Pump Station (PRPS) acts as the headworks for the West End Water Pollution Control Centre (WEWPCC), conveying wastewater from western Winnipeg to the influent screen channel at the plant. The PRPS has four different pumps in parallel, each with a unique suction and discharge piping arrangement. The PRPS also uses a branching force main system, with two force mains of different sizes and different lengths which separate from each other at the PRPS and rejoin in the WEWPCC just upstream of the discharge into the screen channel. The force mains and pipe network have changed since construction, but the pumps are mostly original, meaning they no longer operate in their original design conditions, and they require a specialized control strategy to keep pumps maximally operating in their allowable ranges.
The pumping system is also subject to a large set of operational constraints. Neither the PRPS or the WEWPCC are supplied with potable water services. The process water at the WEWPCC is supplied by the incoming wastewater from the PRPS. Therefore at least one pump at the PRPS is required to be running at any given time. The wet well is also relatively small for the flows to the station so the pumping system is required to precisely match their discharge rate to the incoming flow. The incoming flows vary widely, therefore, the pumps are required to cover a very wide range of flows by varying their speed.
Therefore, pumps with large and specific allowable operating regions were required. The smaller of the two pumps was required to meet the minimum measured dry weather flow during nighttime operation. The larger of the two pumps was required to achieve a maximum of almost 8 times the minimum flow. Finally, the two pumps were required to have ranges significantly overlapping each other and the ranges of the other two dissimilar pumps in order to smoothly stage one pump to the next in many possibly scenarios.
Finally, valuable operator insight into historic performance demanded additional constraints on the pump speed and impeller free channel size. Meeting all of these constraints simultaneously required many hours of precise hydraulic modelling and coordination with many pump vendors in order to identify a set of two ideal pumps.
Precise modelling of a relatively complex system was required. Two complementary models – one in Bentley WaterCAD, and the other an internally-designed program based on the Darcy Weisbach formula – were created. These models were calibrated with the help of City operators, and were then used to complement each other in the precise prediction of pump performance in a wide array of possible combinations of running pumps, pump speeds, and open force mains, and thereby develop a control strategy complementing the four pumps in the station.
Speakers
BB

Brett Baker

Project Engineer, Englobe Corp
Brett Baker is a Process Engineer with MPE a Division of Englobe and a graduate student at the University of Manitoba. He has 9 years of experience in municipal, civil, structural, and process design. In recent years his design work has included a variety of wastewater pumping systems... Read More →
Thursday September 19, 2024 3:30pm - 4:00pm CDT
Meeting Room 2 WCC Main Floor

3:30pm CDT

WCW Joint Operators Committee Meeting
Thursday September 19, 2024 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT
AWWOA, SWWA,MWWA and NTWWA will be represented at this meeting. Members interested in operator related industry issues are welcome to attend. 
Thursday September 19, 2024 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT
Meeting Room 10 WCC Main Floor
  Meeting
  • Host Organization WCW

4:00pm CDT

A Unique CIPP Lining Process Solves Logistics for a Large Diameter Pipeline
Thursday September 19, 2024 4:00pm - 4:30pm CDT
ARROW Utilities (formerly Alberta Capital Region Wastewater Commission) serves a large geographical area surrounding Edmonton. It operates the 3rd largest WWTP in Alberta, serving 400,000 residents in 13 municipalities with a conveyance system including 138 km of gravity sewers and 58 km of forcemains. ARROW identified 3.2 km of 1350 mm diameter concrete pipe in need of repair or replacement. A design/build request for proposal was issued, and CIPP lining was selected as the rehabilitation method. The pipe alignment runs through an environmentally sensitive area and is close proximity to residences in other areas. The project was planned to minimize liner installations to reduce impacts to these areas while optimizing cost effectiveness. The project was installed in five segments, with the longest over 700 m. The liners required for these long installations far exceeded the allowable transport weight. The project was only feasible using a unique process, over the hole wetout (OTHW). For the vast majority of CIPP lining projects, the dry liner is shipped from manufacturing to a regional wetout facility where it is impregnated with resin. For the OTH process, the dry tube is transported to installation site, where a mobile wet out facility is constructed, and the resin is introduced. This is one of few OTH installations in Western Canada. This presentation describes the project background, design and tendering, and installation with the OTH system. It discusses key considerations including environmental impact mitigation, site for curing equipment and resin tankers, and the overall OTH process.
Speakers
avatar for George Bontus

George Bontus

Director of Engineering, Booth 19, Insituform Technologies Limited
Insituform® CIPP has been used for more than 45 years to protect pipelines from corrosion, restore structural integrity, reduce infiltration, eliminate leaking joints, improve water quality and increase pipeline flow capacity. We offer a variety of solutions for renewing wastewater... Read More →
Thursday September 19, 2024 4:00pm - 4:30pm CDT
Meeting Room 2 WCC Main Floor

4:00pm CDT

Industrial Wastewater Re-use through Irrigation for a Southern Alberta Food Processor
Thursday September 19, 2024 4:00pm - 4:30pm CDT
Inner City neighbourhoods are often some of the oldest developments in a large metropolitan area. Due to the vintage of the area, their drainage infrastructure is often limited in it's performance and does not meet modern standards. The often do not contain any defined overland drainage paths. Implementation of drainage upgrades are often difficult due to the retrofit nature of the setting: set underground drainage inverts, utility congestion, poor record information, and mature trees. Stantec was retained to provide engineering consultant services to EPCOR for the design of a flood mitigation project in the mature Parkdale neighbourhood of Edmonton, including sewer separation and a dry pond, and had to over come many of the difficulties with inner City drainage upgrades. The Parkdale Dry Pond and Sewer Separation Project has many components that showcase EPCOR's commitment to providing storm water management services that protect communities long term. The Parkdale neighborhood was identified through EPCOR's Stormwater Integrated Resource Plan (SIRP) as being exposed to significant health and safety, environmental, social and financial risks caused by stormwater impacts. This project aims to reduce the risk posed to this community through separating targeted combined sewers into dedicated sanitary and storm sewers, installing a dry pond supplemented with underground storage, and installing absorbent landscaping and low-impact development in the area to provide stormwater management for varying rainfall conditions. 2D modeling was completed under a variety of storm scenarios to better understand the areas of surface ponding concern and sewer surcharge. This in combination with EPCOR's data on floods reported by residents played a part in selecting the location of the dry pond and the areas targeted for sewer separation. The dry pond will be located within an existing Parkdale school field (constructed in 1912) and the decision was made to incorporate underground storage as this would allow the dry pond bottom to be raised up and create a larger space for community activities and recreation. New storm sewers in the area direct surface runoff first to the underground storage system before surcharging into the dry pond. For the majority of storm events, runoff will be stored in the underground storage system and only in very large events will it surcharge into the dry pond. This combined storage system then outlets to a deep existing storm trunk at a controlled release rate to damped the impacts to the downstream system. It is anticipated that there will be new residential development downstream of this site and by creating this storage opportunity, capacity in the storm trunk will be made available for these future developments. In the vicinity of the dry pond and sewer separation, absorbent landscaping was installed in public boulevards to help manage the road runoff from smaller storm events (approximately the first 17mm of rainfall) and will be planted with shrubs and grasses. Minimal ponding will be allowed in these facilities and a primary function will be the storage of runoff in the soil media and the plants themselves.
Speakers
GC

Guillermo Charles Garcia

Stantec Consulting LTD
Guillermo Charles Garcia is a senior project manager with over 30 years of experience in the Water Industry, that includes the completion of numerous studies, conceptual and detailed designs, technical and cost reviews, as well as construction supervision of water and wastewater treatment... Read More →
Thursday September 19, 2024 4:00pm - 4:30pm CDT
Meeting Room 3

4:00pm CDT

Integrating Human and Technical Approaches for Resilient Water Systems
Thursday September 19, 2024 4:00pm - 4:30pm CDT
Engineering has historically been a technical discipline, but water engineers have the unique opportunity to make a lasting social impact. By expanding our perspective beyond pure technical knowledge, we can integrate critical social, cultural, and human factors into our designs. This holistic approach is essential for creating sustainable solutions that address the diverse needs of communities.
In Colombia, water challenges vary widely – from the contamination of Bogotá's rivers to the severe water shortages in La Guajira. These issues stress the importance of understanding not only the technical problems but also the human context, including local infrastructure, trust, and cultural resilience. For example, while urban centers like Bogotá deal with industrial pollution, rural areas such as Anolaima face challenges related to resource limitations and public engagement. In La Guajira, indigenous communities struggle with water scarcity exacerbated by climate change.
By incorporating human factors into technical decision-making, we can develop solutions that are more equitable and enduring. This approach reminds us that clean, accessible water is not just a technical goal but a fundamental human right that connects us all. Through case studies in Colombia, this presentation will demonstrate how water engineers can contribute to resilient, inclusive systems that uplift underserved communities and protect ecosystems.
Speakers
avatar for Carlos Rodriguez

Carlos Rodriguez

Designer EIT, WSP Canada Inc.
Carlos Rodriguez is a Chemical Engineer who began his career in industrial wastewater treatment at a former refinery in Brooklyn, NY providing engineering and compliance support. After moving to Canada, he gained experience in environmental site assessments and site remediation, eventually... Read More →
Thursday September 19, 2024 4:00pm - 4:30pm CDT
Meeting room 17 WCC Main Floor

4:00pm CDT

Leak Detection/Monitoring and Pressure Management to Reduce Non-Revenue Water (Water Loss) and Pipe Bursts
Thursday September 19, 2024 4:00pm - 4:30pm CDT
Managing Water Loss in today's water systems is a significant challenge for all Water System Managers. The need to supply water at adequate pressures for all types/demands of customers, as well as for fire protection is an ever-changing challenge. Adding the Financial and Regulatory demands that are now requiring water managers to do even more with less money, as well as reduce the water being supplied. pressure management and leak detection are key strategies to help achieve everyone goals. Managing water pressure can help save water, money, and reduce pipe bursts, and then adding a leak detection and leak monitoring program will help save as much lost water as possible Key topics of the session - What is Non-Revenue Water (NRW) - Why do we want to reduce it - 4 Pillars of Water Loss Reduction - What option does one have for Leak Detection and Leak Monitoring, and how to implement them to save water and reduce system downtime. - Pipe Condition Assessments and how they help guide you to the right pipe to be replaced. - District Meter Areas (pressure zones) how these are implemented for system management - How does Pressure Reduction reduce leakage and pipe burst. - Different methods and equipment to reduce pressure
Speakers
JM

Jody Malo

Booth 6, CB Process
Jody has worked in the water industry for over 30 years after graduating from UBC in Vancouver, BC. Previously Jody was the Director of Sales for Singer Valve, an automatic control valve manufacturer for the water industry based in British Columbia. At Singer he traveled the world... Read More →
Thursday September 19, 2024 4:00pm - 4:30pm CDT
Meeting Room 1 WCC Main Floor

4:30pm CDT

Closing Carnival Reception
Thursday September 19, 2024 4:30pm - 6:30pm CDT
Join us for our Happy Hour Carnival. A complimentary drink ticket and snacks will be offered to all conference delegates, Play games, win prizes, and celebrate.
The WCW Presidential Gavel transfer will also take place.
Thursday September 19, 2024 4:30pm - 6:30pm CDT
Ballroom, Delta Hotels Winnipeg 350 St Mary Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3C 3J2, Canada
 
Friday, September 20
 

7:00am CDT

Registration
Friday September 20, 2024 7:00am - 8:00am CDT
Registration in the East Concourse-Ground Floor
Pick up your registration package. Nametags will be required for all Conference events.
Friday September 20, 2024 7:00am - 8:00am CDT
East Concourse, Main Floor RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg

7:00am CDT

Quiet Lounge
Friday September 20, 2024 7:00am - 12:00pm CDT
The Quiet Lounge, Sponsored by Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions, is a space designed for relaxation and calmness.
Friday September 20, 2024 7:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Meeting Room 12 WCC Main Floor

8:00am CDT

Closing Breakfast
Friday September 20, 2024 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Break your fast for the last day of sessions.
Sponsors
avatar for KGS Group

KGS Group

KGS Group
Friday September 20, 2024 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Meeting Rooms 4-8 WCC Main Floor

9:00am CDT

Design and Implementation of UV Disinfection System for Secondary Treatment WWTP Upgrading
Friday September 20, 2024 9:00am - 9:30am CDT
Aquatera Utilities Inc.'s Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) is a major facility providing wastewater treatment services to the Grande Prairie region, covering the City of Grande Prairie and surrounding communities. The current treatment process includes primary sedimentation, biological treatment with a modified Johannesburg process, and secondary clarification. The plant has equalization basins both upstream and downstream of the treatment plant, where Aquatera makes use of these basins to equalize flow prior to treatment, and downstream of the WWTP prior to discharge to the Wapiti River; this project component is critical as further outlined below. Based on regulatory drivers, the WWTP is to implement disinfection to meet an effluent quality of 100 CFU/100 mL fecal coliforms (monthly average) prior to discharge. The project goal includes the design and implementation of a new disinfection system with a treatment capacity of 65 MLD. The project is unique in that both final effluent from the secondary clarifier, as well as gravity discharge from Aquatera's final effluent lagoon, are to be used as the influent feed into the new UV disinfection facility. This provides Aquatera with flexibility in operation of their plant. Currently, the project is in the detailed design phase, with construction scheduled to begin in Fall 2024 and construction completion by August 2025. Stantec conducted a thorough review of various disinfection technologies and ultimately recommended utilizing open channel UV disinfection due to its lowest net present value and proven reliability with lower operational and maintenance requirements. Following the technology selection, Stantec collaborated with Aquatera to further assess potential locations and configurations at the existing WWTP site. Multiple hydraulic analyses were conducted to ensure the design address the limitations in the plant's pumping and conveyance system; this included maintaining flexibility in terms of diverting flow to and from the final effluent lagoon. Additionally, a life cycle cost analysis was provided to assist Aquatera in selecting an option aligned with their satisfaction. Stantec has recently finalized the preliminary design and is now working with Aquatera through the detailed design stages. This presentation will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various disinfection options considered, the selection criteria for UV systems, design considerations for tie-in requirements, and the operational strategy for UV disinfection.
Speakers
avatar for Alex Munoz

Alex Munoz

Sr. Process Systems Engineer, Stantec Consulting Ltd
Alex is a researcher, wastewater expert and senior plant operator. Alex was involved in the mechanical and process design of the Regina, Moose Jaw, and Lumsden WWTP Upgrades from the initial study through to project commissioning. Alex has conducted wastewater treatment facility planning... Read More →
Friday September 20, 2024 9:00am - 9:30am CDT
Meeting Room 1 WCC Main Floor

9:00am CDT

Phosphorus Recovery and Recycling Approaches in Industrialized Countries: The InnoCyclone and Sludge Composting as an Alternative in Canada
Friday September 20, 2024 9:00am - 9:30am CDT
Phosphorus (P) is a non-renewable resource, an irreplaceable macronutrient for life, critical in food production. However, the inefficient use of P led to an exceeding of safe limits and subsequent losses into water bodies and landfills, posing a threat to aquatic life and, enacting the urgency of adopting preventive measures of P pollution in aquatic environments. By recovering P, not only can water body pollution be mitigated, but the reclaimed phosphorus can also be reused to meet demand, thereby preventing resource depletion. Physico-chemical and biological processes are mainly used for phosphorus removal, and techniques such as sludge composting, crystallization, and thermal and thermochemical processes achieve P recovery for reuse purposes. The choice of technology is contingent on national regulations, soil properties, and the specific target plants for the application of the recovered phosphorus. Therefore, different technologies and various levels of phosphorus recovery are experienced in various industrialized countries in the European Union and North America. Innovantage has developed the InnoCyclone technology to support municipalities and industries in Manitoba and Canada to achieve cheaper wastewater clarification and move from P precipitation to P recovery from municipal lagoons. A unique study conducted by Innovantage in collaboration with the University of Manitoba has proven that chemically precipitated sludge discharged by the InnoCyclone can be composted, and phosphorus can be rendered bioavailable for plant uptake, dispelling the misconception of the non-recoverability of chemically precipitated sludge. The produced compost met the CCME classification of Class A compost. When applied to Canola and switchgrass plants, the phosphorus uptake, biomass yield, plant growth, and health were better compared to chemical fertilizers (MAP) used as a reference. This opens the gate to alternative resource recovery for the benefit of our local agriculture.
Speakers
AZ

Ali Zoungrana

Environmental Engineer, Innovantage Inc.
Friday September 20, 2024 9:00am - 9:30am CDT
Meeting Room 2 WCC Main Floor

9:00am CDT

Soil as Infrastructure for Stormwater Retention, Detention and Water Quality
Friday September 20, 2024 9:00am - 9:30am CDT
Cityscapes were initially designed around a purpose and in the case of Winnipeg, it was being a hub for commerce and distribution. While practical for the time it was built, this design neglected natural processes from the beginning and the issues with these oversights will only grow overtime. Concrete environment - while an excellent medium for building foundations - are not what would be considered ideal for stormwater management and as such, require plenty of catch basins, piping and maintenance all to plan ahead for the 100-year flood event. Soil as Infrastructure for Stormwater Retention, Detention and Water Quality will detail an approach using soil cells to allow for an uncompacted soil beneath concrete to be utilized for stormwater management. This approach involves placing support structures underneath concrete where there typically would be a 95 Proctor compacted aggregate used to support the hardscapes in urban landscapes. These structures provide a 90% void space that can be filled with uncompaced soil, allow for utilities to run through them rather than underneath and can hold a firetruck on top of them to allow for the typical loading the compacted medium under concrete may need to endure. The pore space of uncompacted soil allows for stormwater to remain inside the urban environment, acting as an additional layer of flood mitigation where it would normally be considered a hazard. This water can then be utilized for social infrastructure - namely, growing large mature trees - which add to stormwater mitigation through interception in their large canopies, enrich the surrounding environment and create more desirable and prestigious landscapes. These projects include blocks on Broadway and Selkirk Mainstreet, two of the earliest developments in Manitoba's history as a trading hub. With several projects around Manitoba already constructed or currently scheduled, soil cells are already demonstrating effects when it comes to flood mitigation, peak flow reduction and water quality. An area of potential for this technology for this approach would be using it to reduce the size of detention ponds suburban developments. This would allow for new developments to make full use of the land or to substitute in some other feature.
Speakers
DA

Devan Asu

Booth 34, Emco Waterworks Winnipeg
Devan Asu is part of the Strategic Development program at EMCO Waterworks Winnipeg. Devan is a University of Manitoba, Price Faculty of Engineering graduate with an Environmental Specialization from the Biosystems Engineering program. Devan is working to expand the Green Infrastructure... Read More →
MJ

Mike James

DeepRoot Canada Corp
Michael James is the General Manager of DeepRoot Canada Corp. Mike has been in the municipal street tree / Stormwater industry for over 25 years and has worked extensively with landscape architects, municipalities, engineers, and landscape contractors to provide solutions for the... Read More →
Friday September 20, 2024 9:00am - 9:30am CDT
Meeting Room 3

9:30am CDT

Inner City Flood Mitigation: Parkdale Dry Pond
Friday September 20, 2024 9:30am - 10:00am CDT
There has been a proliferation of IoT (Internet of Things) devices that are used by municipalities to collect data from Collections Systems, including data from Pump Stations, flow meters, level meters and rain gauges. Integrating this Collection System data with data from numerous other sources is part of the desire by Municipalities to create “Smart” Cities, but that integration has proved to be a daunting task. This presentation will therefore focus on what is available and can be done today, to collect flow/level/rain data, then send it to a cloud-environment where it can be analyzed, which leads to informed decisions, whether on a near-real time basis for operational control, or for more long-term planning by engineers for infrastructure decisions. Topics discussed will include: - Goal of “Smart” Cities, and obstacles to date. - Current monitoring technologies for Flow, Level and Rain meters. - Data collection methods. - Cloud-based software platforms for Data Storage, Analysis and Machine Learning applications. - Sharing data with other software platforms via the use of API's and other transfer methods. - Uses of Collections Systems flow, level and rain data for Operations and for Engineering.
Speakers
DB

David Burton

Water Resources Engineer, Stantec Consulting Ltd
David is a Water Resources Engineer and Engineering Discipline Lead for the western Canada Urban Drainage sector with 12-years of experience mainly in urban drainage improvement modelling and design. This includes a number of flood mitigation studies throughout the City of Edmonton... Read More →
Friday September 20, 2024 9:30am - 10:00am CDT
Meeting Room 3

9:30am CDT

Lower Chemical Costs, Prevent Odor Complaints, and Extend Asset Life with Data-Driven H2S Management in Collection Systems and Water Treatment Plants.
Friday September 20, 2024 9:30am - 10:00am CDT
Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) causes severe problems in wastewater collection and treatment plants. Equipment corrosion, odor complaints, and operator/public safety are some of the issues routinely encountered with H2S. Chemical dosing is typically used to control H2S, but to better manage facilities and optimize mitigation practices, utilities need more information to understand how H2S behaves throughout the sewer networks and facilities over time. New H2S sensor technologies enable operators to continuously measure H2S in both liquid and gas phases in collections systems and treatment plants. Through their installation, they give a complete and dynamic overview of H2S impacts, providing a path to proactive and data-driven approaches to H2S management. Trends and trouble-spots can be identified before they become problems. The result of this is optimized chemical dosing, minimized odor complaints, prevention of equipment corrosion and premature equipment failure, and protection operator and public safety. These probes are robust, C1D1 rated, and can operate in remote locations. They are easily cleaned, maintained, and calibrated. Importantly, their successful operation has been proven with multiple case studies documenting their efficacy.
Speakers
SN

Sean Naaykens

Project Manager, Hach
Sean Naaykens, MBA, PMP Mr. Naaykens is a water industry professional with over 35 years of experience. His background includes environmental engineering, hazardous waste treatment, product manufacturing, and has held roles with 2 utilities, EPCOR and AltaLink. He has had his Project... Read More →
Friday September 20, 2024 9:30am - 10:00am CDT
Meeting Room 2 WCC Main Floor

9:30am CDT

Odour and Corrosion Control in Municipal Collection Systems
Friday September 20, 2024 9:30am - 10:00am CDT
Odour and corrosion are long-standing concerns for all municipal collection systems. If a utility is not receiving any odour complaints, then there is a tendency to think that everything is good. Unfortunately, this is not always the case as even low levels of untreated hydrogen sulphide in a collection system are a human safety problem and can lead to corrosion concerns. In this presentation we will present the background information that all operators need to understand why odours are generated in a collection system, why they are a problem and how we can best treat the odours. In addition, we will discuss how untreated odours can lead to corrosion and how we can monitor the collection system to understand the source and magnitude of the problem. The first portion of the presentation will focus on the background theory of what is happening in a collection system to create untreated hydrogen sulphide. This is material that all operators are already likely to be familiar with, but we will provide a complete A-to-Z of collection systems showing the causes of odour generation and all options available to treat these odours. The second portion of the presentation will work through specific case studies from at least two collection systems in Alberta and BC, providing the details of the comprehensive monitoring and treatment programs that are in place at these systems.
Speakers
DS

David Speed

Booth 1, BioMaxx Environmental
30+ Years in utility infrastructure sector. Talk to me about wastewater treatment, collection system odour and corrosion control, and water treatment. Call me at 1-778-888-2230.
Friday September 20, 2024 9:30am - 10:00am CDT
Meeting Room 1 WCC Main Floor

10:00am CDT

Bigger Better Bugs: Improving MBR Performance with Biomass Densification
Friday September 20, 2024 10:00am - 10:30am CDT
Biomass densification is an efficient way to intensify conventional activated sludge by improving mixed liquor settling characteristics. External physical selection via hydrocyclones combined with adequate biological selection in continuous flow bioreactors helps to maximize densification performance. Although Membrane Bioreactors (MBR) are not directly impacted by settling characteristics, preliminary work indicates that continuous flow densification can improve mixed liquor filterability, which could have a positive impact on MBR operation. This presentation explores the coupling of densified biomass with continuous flow MBR. The main topics covered include: process concept, modeling, full-scale demonstration plant and expected benefits for MBR design and operation including reduced OPEX, improved sludge quality, and improved performance.
Speakers
Friday September 20, 2024 10:00am - 10:30am CDT
Meeting Room 1 WCC Main Floor

10:00am CDT

Avoiding Pitfalls: Effectively Navigate Wastewater Lagoon Risks with a Robust Lagoon Management Strategy
Friday September 20, 2024 10:00am - 10:30am CDT
In the Spring of 2023, Lethbridge County partnered with Hydrasurvey Ltd. to formulate a comprehensive Lagoon Management Strategy, a sophisticated approach to Risk Management planning of their Wastewater Lagoons. Like many counties, Lethbridge faces the challenging responsibility of managing and upgrading critical infrastructure within constrained budgets. To effectively allocate resources, proactive planning and budgeting for projects is essential. Unlike some types of infrastructure that can be visually assessed and inspected more easily, Wastewater Lagoons present a unique challenge. Being bodies of water, problems often manifest beneath the surface, making it difficult to predict when issues will arise. To pre-emptively address significant problems in their Wastewater Lagoons, Lethbridge County engaged Hydrasurvey to conduct Bathymetric Sludge Surveys on four lagoons in April 2023. These surveys employed the latest RTK GPS mapping technology, single-beam sonar for sludge thickness mapping, manual liner measurements, and sludge sampling to determine disposal criteria. This information was presented in a comprehensive report incorporating a detailed Lagoon Management Strategy. This strategy systematically outlines the dredging and desludging priorities for each cell by ranking the lagoon's capacity occupied by sludge, estimated dry tonnes, dredgeable sludge volumes, and disposal criteria. Armed with this information, Lethbridge County was able to solicit accurate and comparable budgets from dredging contractors, specifying the volume of sludge to be dredged. The strategy also facilitates verification of completed dredging through post dredge surveys. This proactive approach, coupled with the detailed insights gained through the Bathymetric Sludge Surveys, empowers Lethbridge County to navigate infrastructure challenges with heightened efficiency and fiscal responsibility. By addressing potential issues before they escalate, the county is better positioned to make informed decisions, optimize resource allocation, and enhance overall infrastructure management.
Exhibition Attendees
AA

Andrew Ambrocichuk

Booth 88, Hydrasurvey Ltd.
Friday September 20, 2024 10:00am - 10:30am CDT
Meeting Room 2 WCC Main Floor

10:00am CDT

EPCOR WTP Flood Mitigation
Friday September 20, 2024 10:00am - 10:30am CDT
Rossdale and E.L. Smith Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) provide drinking water to the City of Edmonton and surrounding areas and are operated by EPCOR Water Services Inc. (EPCOR). These plants are critical infrastructure identified as vulnerable to overland flood damage from the adjacent North Saskatchewan River. Stantec Consulting Ltd. (Stantec) was commissioned in 2020 to quantify the flood risk further and undertake the preliminary design of flood mitigation measures at both WTP sites. The project is now in the detailed design phase, with construction scheduled to commence in Summer 2024. The design consists of a combination of earthen embankments and cast-in-place concrete floodwalls at each site that meets the design basis of a 1:500-year river flood plus 1.0 m of freeboard. Temporary flood control measures also form part of the design at Rossdale WTP. The flood mitigation infrastructure is designed following the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) standards. Several supporting studies and investigations were required to support the design phase. These included geotechnical soil sampling, non-intrusive geophysical investigation, hydrotechnical analysis of the river, stormwater and civil grading design, underground utility review, waste stream mitigations, landscape architecture design, and regulatory approval planning. The design considers ground conditions, groundwater seepage, underground infrastructure, and floodwater erosion potential. It also adapts to local constraints such as minimizing tree removals, reducing total wall height, and maintaining a naturalized aesthetic to match its river valley setting while still meeting the appropriate design standards. Each WTP site presented unique challenges to the design team. Rossdale WTP is situated centrally within the City of Edmonton and bordered by a residential neighborhood, the river, the historic Rossdale Generating Station, and RE/MAX® Field. Each bordering stakeholder required specific attention to minimize the impacts of the project. Rossdale WTP has been an operational facility since the early 1900s, which presented challenges with existing underground infrastructure and space constraints. E.L. Smith WTP is a more straightforward site than Rossdale WTP; however, a specific challenge was the river's proximity to critical infrastructure. A complex structural design was required to situate a floodwall between existing buildings and the river. The project uses a Construction Management at Risk (CMAR) delivery approach, with Graham Infrastructure LP as the construction contractor. This approach allowed for greater collaboration and enhanced the design process by having regular feedback on constructability, schedule, and cost. The CMAR team also adopted the practice of regularly meeting in a dedicated boardroom at Stantec's office to work closely together and develop a sense of mutual ambition to deliver the project successfully.
Speakers
Friday September 20, 2024 10:00am - 10:30am CDT
Meeting Room 3

10:30am CDT

Break
Friday September 20, 2024 10:30am - 11:00am CDT
Time to hydrate and meet some one new!
Friday September 20, 2024 10:30am - 11:00am CDT
East Concourse, Main Floor RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg

11:00am CDT

Bioaugmentation to Remove Sludge from a Wastewater Lagoon Sludge in Northern Climate - A Case Study with OCWA at Bruce Mines, ON
Friday September 20, 2024 11:00am - 11:30am CDT
Lagoons are common for wastewater treatment in smaller-sized municipalities. Over time, lagoons accumulate sludge that must be cleaned out to maintain storage capacity, reduce odours and meet effluent compliance. The cost of cleaning out lagoons can be high and varies widely depending on the size of the lagoon, the amount of sludge and the options available for beneficial reuse or disposal of the sludge. A high cost of cleaning lagoons can often be a barrier for undertaking this important maintenance procedure. Some options for cleaning out sludge include dewatering lagoons and removing sludge with heavy equipment, dredging sludge with barges, and using lagoon crawlers that drive into lagoons and pump out sludge. A relatively new approach is bioaugmentation of lagoons with microbes that accelerate degradation of sludge in situ. Bioaugmentation is not capital intensive and has been used successfully in other jurisdictions. However, it has not been used extensively in Ontario. Bioaugmentation products are typically proprietary, and the suppliers claim successful use of these products to reduce sludge, Fats Oils and Grease (FOG) and when adding in a collection system, raw sewage loadings. The Town of Bruce Mines and the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) partnered to trial bioaugmentation in the Town's sewage lagoons as the lagoons required sludge removal and the Town had limited capital funds for the work. The key questions the trial set out to answer is whether bioaugmentation would work in a cold climate, and how much sludge could be removed by bioaugmentation. The results of this study showed bioaugmentation could be an approach to remove sludge from lagoons in situ at a lower cost than traditional methods. In this case study, the results of bioaugmentation exceeded expectations. After one-year of bioaugmentation show a sludge reduction of 6,849 m3, which is a 56% overall reduction across the two cells. Reduction was not equal in the two cells as there was a 40% reduction in cell #1 and 64% reduction in cell #2.
Speakers
avatar for Jonathan Lee

Jonathan Lee

Booth 55, Acti-Zyme Products Ltd.
Jonathan promotes and manages projects using Acti-Zyme Products, an all-natural biological enhancement technology, and is responsible for business development within North America. Acti-Zyme Products provide improved treatment and increased digestion of organics in wastewater treatments... Read More →
Friday September 20, 2024 11:00am - 11:30am CDT
Meeting Room 2 WCC Main Floor

11:00am CDT

Collaborative Multi-User Integration Platform in a Distributed SCADA Development and Support Environment
Friday September 20, 2024 11:00am - 11:30am CDT
This presentation will focus on a new collaborative development process for one of the largest infrastructure projects in North America - City of Houston Northeast Water Purification Plant Upgrade (https://www.houstonpublicworks.org/northeast-water-purification-plant-expansion-project). The challenge was to create a SCADA integration environment among friendly competitors. The revolutionary concept evolved significantly to respond to the challenges of COVID-19. The development partnership involved several consulting/engineering companies including two of the largest in the US as well as major system integrator. Capabilities included the creation of a real time, online, centralized configuration environment for numerous decentralized offices including work-at home. The breakthrough approach has now been adopted as standard practice by at least one of the primary consultants!
Speakers
avatar for Patrick Cooke

Patrick Cooke

Booth 67, BettsM Controls Inc
BettsM Controls is a Calgary based distributor for the SCADA hardware and software, focussed primarily on users in Western Canada. The company has developed a high level of technical capability in terms of SCADA system design and deployment. BettsM supports many local end users and... Read More →
Friday September 20, 2024 11:00am - 11:30am CDT
Meeting Room 1 WCC Main Floor

11:00am CDT

Spring 2023 Raw Water Intake Issues
Friday September 20, 2024 11:00am - 11:30am CDT
The City of Portage la Prairie, Water Treatment Plant supplies an average of 24 million litres per day to the City of Portage, three regional water systems, and to several local large food processing industries. Raw water is obtained from the Portage Reservoir, which is a small water impoundment on the Assiniboine River. This impoundment was created from the construction of a dam control structure on the Assiniboine River, which connects with the Red River in Winnipeg; and the creation of a flood control spillway structure named the Assiniboine River Diversion which directs water, in times of flood, into a man-made diversion channel running to Lake Manitoba. During the spring melt in 2023 the Assiniboine River provided the City of Portage la Prairie, Water Treatment Plant with a "perfect storm" of issues arising from its raw water intake. These problems reduced the volume of water available for treatment in the facility and resulted in temporary water curtailments for local industry. This session will detail from an operations perspective what the conditions were that led to this previously unseen problem, how the conditions affected the plant and distribution system, and how the facility's resilient staff overcame them. The presentation will conclude with a brief summary of future construction plans for the facility, highlighting the new intake structure.
Speakers
avatar for Jared Smith

Jared Smith

Manager, Water Treatment Division, City of Portage La Prairie
Jared has been employed in water industry for over 20 years.  After obtaining a science degree from the U of M, he has worked at three different Class 4 water plants, and one industrial wastewater facility.  Jared has gained more knowledge and a broader perspective at each facility... Read More →
Friday September 20, 2024 11:00am - 11:30am CDT
Meeting Room 3

11:30am CDT

Expand Capacity of the WWTP without Additional Biological Tankage and Handle Wet Weather Peak Flows
Friday September 20, 2024 11:30am - 12:00pm CDT
Many communities have either SSS or CSS, which collect stormwater and I/I in addition to sanitary and industrial wastewater discharges. This type of collection system frequently results in the flow capacity of the sewers being exceeded during wet weather events. When the flow capacity of these sewer systems is exceeded it results in sewer surcharging and frequent discharges of wastewater overflowing from the SSS or CSS systems into adjacent streams. Solutions to resolve this problem have included separation of combined sewer systems, transporting wet weather flows in excess of the existing combined sewer system capacity to a storage facility for subsequent treatment at a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), transporting the excess wet weather flow to the WWTP after expanding its peak flow capacity, or transporting the excess weather flow to a combined sewer overflow (CSO) treatment facility located either at a WWTP or remotely in the collection system. This presentation will review viable technologies for expanding biological capacity with advanced primary treatment and wet weather treatment. Pile cloth media filtration (PCMF) is now being used in a wide range of primary and wet weather conditions within treatment facilities or in the network (overflow sites). The application of PCMF for advanced primary and wet weather treatment has been applied on a range of influent solids conditions from primary influent, primary clarified effluent and combined secondary clarified effluent with the primary influent or primary clarifier effluent. The ability to handle the range of influent conditions allows the technology to be placed in multiple locations within a treatment facility or at remote overflow sites. Also, PCMF is being used in dual treatment applications providing value to a facility across a range of operating conditions. PCMF achieves very high solids removal without chemical addition. The removal efficiency is typically greater than 80% of TSS, with applications demonstrating removal in excess of 90%. This high removal of TSS is also achieved in a very small footprint which is typically 15 to 20% of primary clarification for comparison purposes. The high removal efficiency allows more capacity to be achieved through biological treatment train if used to replace primary clarifiers. This allows more wet weather flows to be treated through the main treatment train. For wet weather only treatment, the technology is being used in auxiliary side-stream treatment trains or in dual use application of tertiary treatment and wet weather flow treatment. The technology spotlight will focus on the many of the projects that are operating or in design. The areas to be covered will be the following: - The performance from operating installations and testing conducted for facilities under construction and/or design for advanced primary and wet weather treatment - Space requirements based on influent condition - Influent water quality and flow information needed for the design of a wet weather system - Handling of waste solids removed during treatment - Automation requirements for wet weather treatment to minimize operator attention - Instantaneous startup capabilities - General operating costs In summary, the technology spotlight will show how the technology of PCMF can be applied in multiple locations within a treatment facility or remote overflow site to help a utility to achieve the following: - Expansion of an existing biological treatment train capacity - Meet facility permit requirements (water quality) - Eliminate untreated wet weather flows
Speakers
avatar for John Dyson

John Dyson

Product Manager, Aqua-Aerobic Systems, Inc.
John holds a B.S. degree in Chemistry from Longwood College. He has experience working with many treatment technologies in all parts of water and wastewater facilities. In his over the 30+ years, worked on many projects varying in size up to 600 MGD. John experience with the many... Read More →
Friday September 20, 2024 11:30am - 12:00pm CDT
Meeting Room 2 WCC Main Floor

11:30am CDT

John D'Or Prairie Emergency Raw Water Supply Project
Friday September 20, 2024 11:30am - 12:00pm CDT
John D'Or Prairie is the administrative center of Little Red River Cree Nation, located 125 km east of High Level, Alberta. The community Water Treatment Plant was completed in 2019. After a few years of operation, the existing groundwater supply wells were not achieving the anticipated yield, requiring supplementation from seasonally available surface water sources to keep up with peak raw water demands. This situation was escalated to an emergency in May 2023 when the Paskwa Wildfire (HWF-030) displaced approximately 1,700 persons from the neighbouring community of Fox Lake to John D'Or Prairie. To mitigate the risk of a raw water shortage, a permanent raw watermain to the Peace River was implemented, with temporary pumping measures over the winter of 2023-2024 and plans for a future permanent intake structure. The design and construction of the ~15-km watermain was completed in a timeline of less than 6 months. Other key elements of the project included upgrading the existing WTP membrane system to allow for the increased demand and switch from a groundwater raw water source to a surface water source and conversion of the process waste cell to a raw water storage cell. Unique considerations had to be made at the design and administration stages of this project to account for the remote work location and emergency basis of the project.
Speakers
avatar for Matt Litke

Matt Litke

Tetra Tech
Matt is a process engineer with Tetra Tech working on water & wastewater projects across Canada. He graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Civil Engineering degree in 2019 and spent 3 years working at Nexom with biological wastewater treatment systems.
Friday September 20, 2024 11:30am - 12:00pm CDT
Meeting Room 3

11:30am CDT

Navigating Water Infrastructure and Treatment Challenges: Lessons from Berens River First Nation
Friday September 20, 2024 11:30am - 12:00pm CDT
Berens River First Nation (BRFN), located on the eastern shore of Lake Winnipeg, faces significant challenges in providing adequate water and wastewater services to its growing population. Currently, only a portion of the community has access to piped water and wastewater services, while the rest rely on trucked services. Moreover, the old water treatment plant, constructed in 1998, was struggling to meet the demands of the community, leading to concerns over water quality and system capacity. This presentation will outline the project, beginning with the findings of a comprehensive feasibility study conducted in 2020, which assessed the current state of BRFN's water and wastewater infrastructure and projected future needs based on population growth estimates. The study revealed critical deficiencies in the existing water treatment system, including inadequate treatment capacity, deteriorating infrastructure, and challenges in maintaining water quality standards. Key areas of concern identified include the limited capacity of the treatment plant to meet peak demand, resulting in reduced treatment rates and compromised water quality. Additionally, the raw water quality poses challenges, with elevated levels of colour, turbidity, total coliforms, and iron, requiring improved treatment processes. The presentation will then discuss proposed solutions to address these challenges, including upgrades to the water treatment plant, expansion of distribution networks, and improvements in raw water intake and storage facilities. Furthermore, challenges related to meeting regulatory requirements for treated water will be discussed. Throughout the pre-design work, water quality parameters varied substantially which posed a challenge in determining the optimal water treatment system for the community. Several options were considered, including Ion Exchange, Dissolved Air Flotation, Granular Activated Carbon filters, and Two Stage Membrane systems. The selected treatment system changed from Ion Exchange followed by Membrane Filtration to a Two Stage Membrane system during the pre-design phase after more extensive water sampling was completed. Other challenges to the project included maintaining operation of the existing distribution and treatment system, working in a remote community, and working in cold weather. Through this case study, attendees will gain insights into the complexities of managing water infrastructure in remote Indigenous communities and the importance of sustainable solutions to ensure access to safe and reliable water resources for future generations.
Speakers
CW

Chris Watson

Project Engineer, Stantec
Chris Watson is a Project Engineer in the Water Group at Stantec with 7 years of industry experience. Holding degrees in Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Chris has contributed to numerous projects, including water and wastewater treatment plants across Manitoba and Northern Ontario... Read More →
Friday September 20, 2024 11:30am - 12:00pm CDT
Meeting Room 1 WCC Main Floor
 
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