Protecting our Environment by Upgrading Brockton's Wastewater Sytem

The Municipality of Brockton, Ontario will assess the feasibility of upgrading their Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) by replacing the use of chorine or chlorination agents with UV disinfection to treat effluent. The Municipality owns one sewer system serving 2,100 properties, and faces significant challenges in upgrading their aging infrastructure to meet the needs of a growing population and to comply with new provincial and federal regulations. This feasibility study will detail the processes required for retrofitting the existing WWTP, allowing Brockton to accommodate municipal growth and to improve the quality of effluent to protect human and aquatic health. It will also allow Brockton to comply with regulations including the Federal Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations SOR/2012-139, Fisheries Act. The study will provide information to allow Brockton to move forward with the upgrade in a manner that considers the triple bottom line. The project aligns with Brockton’s 25-Year Sustainable Strategic Plan, which recognizes the significance of Brockton’s natural assets, and that its economic prosperity is tied to the land and natural resources. The plan also mandates that Brockton continue to act as a steward of the Saugeen River, into which WWTP effluent is discharged, as well as the Teeswater Rivers and their tributaries. These waterways are popular and important fishing, hiking and canoeing areas for the local community. The scope of study will include: • Developing concepts for converting existing chlorine contact tankage to a structure that would house a UV system. • Determining what new tankage would be required if conversion of the existing tankage were not to be feasible. • Determining how the UV system can be provided with electrical power, monitoring and controls. • Determining constructability issues considering timing and maintenance of treatment during construction. • Developing an opinion of probable capital cost to convert existing tankage. • Developing an opinion of the probable operating cost changes for UV vs chlorine. • Identifying the overall benefit for conversion to UV, including effluent quality changes, changes to transportation costs and related health and safety impacts. The project is expected to result in the following anticipated environmental benefits: • Eliminate the discharge of chlorine into the Saugeen River, preserving the aquatic life present. • Reduce the total annual E. coli discharged into the river, as disinfection will occur all 12 months of the year instead of the current 8 months. • Brockton will no longer require chlorine to be transported by truck 5 to 6 times per year over a distance of 170 km, resulting in a saving of 672 litres of fuel and associated reduction in GHG emissions. In addition, the project will result in worker and public health and safety benefits by eliminating the need for the transport and handling of chlorine, a toxic substance. The project will offer knowledge value to rural municipalities, as Brockton will seek to eliminate a hazardous substance from its waterway while also finding opportunities for cost savings, improved monitoring and improved worker safety. Brockton has committed to documenting their processes throughout this study and the resulting capital project, and to sharing learnings with municipalities to assist them in meeting legislated limits for residual chlorine and upgrading their WWTP. (Project description from original funding application)