WCW24

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In early October of 2021, residents of the Iqaluit made water quality complaints regarding a fuel-like smell coming from their tap water. On October 12th, visible fuel-like contamination was discovered on the surface of one of the below ground treated water tanks at the Water Treatment Plant. The Territory’s Chief Public Health Officer issued a Do Not Consume water quality advisory for the population of 8,500 Iqalummiut in the Territory’s Capital City. Consequently, the order placed tremendous stress on consumers for access to potable water, the ability of the Hospital to sterilize equipment, and further logistical complications due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.