Region of Waterloo - Kitchener Wastewater Treatment Plant Centrate Management Upgrade Project
Type of initiative
FCM Green Municipal Fund - Capital Project
Sector
Water
Project value$16,701,000
Project Type
Capital Project
Sub Sector
Wastewater Management and Treatment
Grant amount$200,000
Program type
GMF
Municipality
Regional Municipality of Waterloo, ON
Loan amount$2,000,000
Status
Fully Disbursed
Population
630,000
Project timeline
2008 - 2013
Project number
10128
Description
The Regional Municipality of Waterloo plans to upgrade the Kitchener Wastewater Treatment Plant to improve the management of biosolids created during the water treatment process, reduce the flow of pollutants to the Grand River and address performance and capacity concerns. The upgrades will allow the treatment of concentrated liquid (centrate) from a new biosolids dewatering process. The dewatering process produces cake form rather than liquid biosolids, resulting in a smaller volume of biosolids for storage and less greenhouse gas emissions from transportation of the biosolids. The biosolids are applied to agricultural lands to improve nutrient and organic quality. The plant upgrade will entail a retrofit of the existing aeration tanks, using unused space between the tanks, to allow ammonia loads from centrate to be nitrified. Construction will be done in stages to reduce the impact to plant operations. The project will lower the amount of ammonia-nitrogen in the final outflow of water from the treatment plant by about 75 per cent and improve water quality in the Grand River. The project will protect the health of communities that rely on the Grand River watershed for drinking water and recreation, and support population growth by ensuring the sustainability of the watershed.
(Project description from original funding application)
Project results
- 3690 tonnes of GHG emissions avoided
- 27306586 cubic metres of water treated per year
Environmental outcomes
- Reduced energy use
- Reduced or avoided GHG emissions
- Reduced water consumption
- Improved waste management
- Reduced hazardous residuals from water treatment
- Use of sustainable practices
- Minimal environmental impact
- Biodiversity and ecosystem protection
- Reduced odour pollution
Social outcomes
- Protection/improvement of public human health
- Increased opportunities for recreational activities
- Heritage conservation
- Improved public space
Economic outcomes
- Reduced maintenance costs
- Increased job creation or retention
- Use of feasibility tools
- Capacity building or human capital development
Lessons learned
- Stakeholder and community engagement
- Communication & coordination
- Data and reporting
- Resources
- External factors
- Technical – Project specific
Applicant
Regional Municipality of Waterloo, ON