Transcript Water and Wastewater in Ontario

Water and Wastewater in
Ontario
Chris Lyon, P.Eng., M.Eng.
Director Engineering Services
Ainley Group, Engineering
Overview
Municipal Water
Systems
Watershed Protection in
Ontario
The OCC PS Project
Municipal Water In Ontario
Where does it come from?
Is it treated?
Is it tested?
How much does it cost?
Is it safe?
Do you drink it?
Water Sources
Groundwater (Springs,
Wells, etc.)
Surface Water (Rivers,
Lakes, etc.)
Ocean Water
(Desalination Plants)
Rain / Snow (Cisterns)
Others?
Is Drinking Water
Treated?
/
Private Wells… nope
Private Lakes/ Rivers…
nada
Company Wells/Surface
Water… nada
Municipal Sources… yes
Provincial Sources…
mostly
Federal Sources…
sometimes
Tested?
… a little
… a little
… it depends
… big time
… mostly
… sometimes
Treatment…
Surface waters are
cleaned, settled and
pollished
Chlorine is added to
municipal water
Ozone and UV Rays are
used to neutralize
bacteria in some cases
Free Chlorine must still
be in municipal systems
Living Organism Pollutants
in Drinking Water – Danger?
Coliform


Rotting Plants / Soil
Fecal Coliform E-Coli
– Animals
Parasidic Protazoa



Cryptosporidium
Giardia Lamblia
AKA - Beaver Fever /
Montezuma’s
Revenge, etc.
Living Organism Pollutants
in Drinking Water – Danger?
Coliform


Rotting Plants / Soil
Fecal Coliform E-Coli
– Animals
Parasidic Protazoa



Cryptosporidium
Giardia Lamblia
AKA - Beaver Fever /
Montezuma’s
Revenge, etc.
In substantial
numbers may cause
mild illness, severe
illness or death
‘Divide and Multiply’
and Make you sick
for a few days or a
few weeks
Chemical Pollutants –
Which are the Riskiest?
Spilled Gasoline?
Herbicides?
Pesticides?
Poisons?
Nitrogen?
Greenhouse Gases?
Chemical Pollutants –
Which are the Riskiest?
Spilled Gasoline?
Herbicides?
Pesticides?
Poisons?
Nitrogen?
Greenhouse
Gases?
Decomposes w O2
Risky but…
Risky but…
Risky but…
Risky.. Dilution
only
Greenhouse
Gases?… that’s another story
Multi-barrier Approach
If it’s good enough for Canadian Roofing
Drinking Water Multi-Barriers
Protect and Test the water source
Test and Treat the Raw water
Clean and Disinfect the Water
Monitor / Alarm the Water 24/7
Monitor / Alarm the Reservoirs 24/7
Create a redundant water piping system
Monitor water in the distribution system
Test all points every 24/7, daily &
weekly
Wastewater Treatment
Working with nature to clean dirty
water…
Cleaning Waste Water...
What’s the worst…
Poop ‘n Paper
Paint
Chemicals
Soaps
Insecticides
Petroleum
Arsenic
Stones/Sticks
Wastewater Before and After
Cleaning Wastewater
Screening – tires, 2x4’s, nylons
Grit Removal – more stones and sand
Separating Solids from Liquids




Settle Solids and send solids to ‘digest’
Add bacteria to the remaining liquid and
create a warm feeding and reproductive
frenzy
Settle out the fat bacteria families and
send them to ‘digest’ (and create
methane)
Treat and filter remaining bacteria
Return clarified waste water to nature
Topics in the News?
What happened in Walkerton, Ontario?
Walkerton – Who Messed Up?
Who was at fault?
Justice O’Connor Called for
change by…
By the Province of Ontario
By all Municipalities and Water Utilities
By the Supervisors / Operators
….and he called for a multi-barrier
approach with increased training,
double checking and governance with
professional and governmental
oversight…
Other Issues…
Is Sewage in the Ottawa River?
Flooded basements in Kanata? Orleans?
Are people bathing in sewage in
Developing Countries? India? Haita –
Cholera?
Is there a lack of Clean water in
Canadian Aboriginal reserves?
Is drinking water safe when it’s from a
school water fountain?