Town of Amherstburg Pollution Control Plant Upgrade and Expansion
Type of initiative
FCM Green Municipal Fund - Capital Project
Sector
Water
Project value$34,139,569
Project Type
Capital Project
Sub Sector
Wastewater Management and Treatment
Grant amount$400,000
Program type
GMF
Municipality
Town of Amherstburg, ON
Loan amount$4,000,000
Status
Fully Disbursed
Population
23,524
Project timeline
2011 - 2013
Project number
10373
Description
The Amherstburg Pollution Control Plant (PCP), one of the only remaining primary treatment plants on the Great Lakes, is the largest of the town’s six sewage treatment facilities. It treats the majority of the sewage generated by the Town’s urban area, but it is approaching its approved capacity. Moreover, the need to upgrade the Amherstburg PCP from primary to secondary treatment has been recognized by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, the International Joint Commission on the Great Lakes and the Detroit River Canadian Cleanup Committee, among other parties.
The project will involve the consolidation of three sewage service areas into one, allowing the Town to close down two sewage treatment plants, one which is approaching approved treatment capacity limits and another which would be in need of upgrades to meet current effluent quality requirements.
Upgrades to the Amherstburg Pollution Control Plant will include improvements to the headworks, grit removal system, screening, primary clarification and aeration systems. The Town will install secondary treatment technologies, including bioreactor tanks with fine bubble diffusion and secondary clarifiers. The Town will also make improvements to the dewatering system and install an ultraviolet disinfection system and an odour control system. The innovative technologies introduced will allow the plant to perform more efficiently, reducing power requirements, chemical feed, and operations and maintenance costs.
As a result of these upgrades, the plant’s effluent water quality will improve significantly, with a 23 per cent reduction in total suspended solids, a 59 per cent reduction in five-day carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand and a 100 per cent reduction in total residual chlorine. Furthermore, the plant will discharge effluent that meets stringent limits for ammonia nitrogen, total phosphorus, Escherichia coli (E. coli) and pH. Finally, the plant’s expanded capacity will reduce the number of plant bypass and sewer overflow events, thereby improving water quality in the Detroit River and benefiting the residents and visitors who use local beaches. These improvements will also assist in meeting Canada and Ontario’s commitment to improved water quality in the Detroit River.
(Project description from original funding application)
Project results
- 2357607 cubic metres of water treated per year
Environmental outcomes
- Reduced energy use
- Reduced or avoided GHG emissions
- Reduced water consumption
- Improved stormwater management
- Improved stormwater quality
- Reduced hazardous residuals from water treatment
- Minimal environmental impact
- Biodiversity and ecosystem protection
- Reduced odour pollution
Social outcomes
- Protection/improvement of public human health
- Increased opportunities for recreational activities
- Community revitalization
Economic outcomes
- Reduced maintenance costs
- Increased service life
- Increased job creation or retention
- Increased municipal attraction
- Local business development or local economy stimulus
- Local spending/consumption
- Use of feasibility tools
- Capacity building or human capital development
Lessons learned
- Communication & coordination
- Data and reporting
- Resources
Applicant
Town of Amherstburg, ON