Kitchener Wastewater Treatment Plant
Ultraviolet Disinfection Facility, Effluent Pumping Station, And Plant Upgades
368 Mill Park Drive, Kitchener
Website
Pre-Construction Information Package: PDF
Public Information Centre
Wednesday May 26, 2010 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Pioneer Park Public School, 55 Upper Canada Drive, Kitchener
1. What is the purpose of this Public Information Centre (PIC)?
In October 2010, the Region of Waterloo will be constructing upgrades at the Kitchener Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), located at 368 Mill Park Drive, Kitchener. This Phase of Upgrades, Phase 2, includes the construction of a new effluent pumping station, new ultraviolet (UV) disinfection facility, and general process upgrades to improve the effluent quality and optimize energy efficiency. The upgrades are scheduled to be completed in the Summer of 2012. This pre-construction PIC is an opportunity for local residents and project stakeholders to:
- be informed about the upcoming capital works project at the Kitchener WWTP;
- review the project background; and,
- discuss potential impacts of specific construction activities, construction schedules and limits of work.
2. Why is the Kitchener WWTP being upgraded?
The existing Kitchener WWTP is composed of two treatment trains or “plants”; Plant 1 was constructed in the early 1960s and Plant 2 was constructed in the mid-1970s. The current upgrades are part of an overall plan to improve the quality of treated wastewater effluent being released to the Grand River without increasing the existing capacity. The Kitchener WWTP Upgrades will be carried out in three Phases:
Phase 1 is currently under construction and includes the implementation of the new Manitou Drive Biosolids Dewatering Facility as recommended in the Biosolids Master Plan and the implementation of a dechlorination step in the existing disinfection process at the Kitchener WWTP.
Phase 2 is currently in the detailed design stage and includes refurbishing the Plant 2 secondary treatment processes to provide up to 60 million litres/day (MLD) of treatment capacity using fine bubble aeration, construction of a UV Disinfection Facility (UVDF) and construction of a new Effluent Pumping Station (EPS). These upgrades will provide UV disinfection (replacing chlorination), improve the quality of the treated wastewater, improve WWTP hydraulics, improve energy efficiency, and implement modern process control systems at the Kitchener WWTP.
Phase 3 is currently in the consultant selection stage for preliminary design and generally consists of decommissioning of the biosolids lagoons, refurbishing of the preliminary and primary unit processes, adding standby power, constructing a new Plant 3 process train with a capacity of 70 – 80 MLD, constructing a tertiary filtration process, and decommissioning of the Plant 1 process train. An Assimilative Capacity Assessment of the Grand River, downstream of the Kitchener WWTP is currently underway to determine effluent quality criteria for the Phase 3 upgrades.
3. Who is overseeing the Kitchener WWTP Upgrades?
The Kitchener WWTP upgrades are overseen by a “Project Team” and a “Steering Committee” consisting of Region of Waterloo staff and Regional Councillors Jean Haalboom and Jim Wideman. Consultation with the City of Kitchener, Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA), and the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) has been ongoing throughout the project. The engineering consulting firm CH2M HILL has been retained by the Region to complete the detailed design and construction administration for the Kitchener WWTP UV and Plant 2 upgrades.
4. What works are included in the current plant upgrades at the Kitchener WWTP?
The following structures currently exist on the Kitchener WWTP site:
- Preliminary & primary treatment
- Plant 1
- Plant 2
- Chlorine disinfection system
- Biosolids Facility and Biosolids Storage Lagoons
The works included in the current upgrades are the following:
- A UVDF to replace chlorine-based disinfection
- An EPS to improve plant hydraulics and minimize periodic localized flooding
- Additional biological treatment capacity to treat the process water generated at the new Manitou Drive Biosolids Dewatering Facility
- A Blower Building and retrofit of the existing aeration tanks to improve reliability and energy efficiency
- Installation of a new process control software network (SCADA)
Upgrades to the remaining part of the treatment process (preliminary and primary treatment) and decommissioning of the storage lagoons are part of Phase 3 of the Kitchener WWTP upgrades, which is currently in the consultant selection stage.
5. Have the Kitchener WWTP Phase 2 upgrades been approved under the Class Environmental Assessment Process?
The construction of the Kitchener WWTP Phase 2 upgrades is a pre-approved project under Schedule A of the Municipal Environmental Assessment process. To date, the Region has held one PIC about the Phase 1 Upgrades (new Manitou Drive Biosolids Dewatering Facility) and is holding this PIC about the Phase 2 Upgrades to provide information about the proposed upgrades, construction schedule and potential construction related impacts.
6. What are the benefits of the Kitchener WWTP upgrades?
The current Phase 2 upgrades will improve Grand River water quality downstream of the Kitchener WWTP, and improve process and mechanical reliability. The Phase 2 upgrades will also improve energy efficiency by:
- Installing new high efficiency air blowers
- Replacing the existing aging mechanical aerators with new efficient fine bubble diffusers
- Recycling of plant effluent water to use as process water for the new Manitou Drive Biosolids Dewatering Facility
- Using the plant effluent water to provide building heat in the UVDF
- Using the waste heat from the air blowers to provide building heat in the new Blower Building during cold weather periods
- Incorporating large windows and skylights for natural lighting and installing white roofs on the new UVDF and Blower Building to reflect sunlight
- Using specialized mixes of concrete that incorporate waste materials without compromising strength or durability properties
- Installing new variable frequency drives (VFDs) on all major electrical equipment to reduce electrical consumption
Future phases of the program will add to the energy efficiency with the construction of the new Plant 3 process train, as well as decreasing odour with the refurbishment of the preliminary and primary unit processes and the decommissioning of the storage lagoons.
7. What on-site changes may be visible from the Grand River Trail?
All construction activity will be within the Kitchener WWTP property boundaries. The change in view of the WWTP from the Grand River Trail will be minimal. New vegetative screening is included in the landscape design, which will minimize visible changes from the Grand River trail.
8. When will Phase 2 construction begin and how long will it last?
The general contract for Phase 2 of the project is planned to be tendered in the Summer of 2010. A recommendation for contract award is planned to be presented to Regional Council in September 2010 and, subject to Council approval, construction is planned to begin in October 2010. Construction is scheduled to be completed in summer of 2012.
Most of the construction of the Phase 3 upgrades is planned to occur from 2014 to 2019.
9. What is the plan for the existing Biosolids Storage Lagoons?
A portion of the biosolids storage lagoons will be drained and decommissioned to construct the Phase 2 Upgrades. The remaining biosolids storage lagoons will be drained and decommissioned in 2012/2013 after the new Manitou Drive Biosolids Dewatering Facility is completed and fully operational. The Region plans to locate the future Plant 3 process train on the area currently occupied by the storage lagoons and once all three construction phases are completed, there will be no storage lagoons at the plant.
14. How much will the Kitchener WWTP Upgrades project cost and how is it funded?
The estimated construction cost of the Phase 2 Kitchener WWTP upgrades is approximately $38,200,000. Funding will be provided primarily by Regional Development Charges and wastewater user rates. A small percentage is also being funded ($2 million loan and $200,000 grant) through the Green Municipal Fund administered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
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Moderator
From Kitchener-Waterloo | Member Since Dec 2009 | 5,679 Posts#206-04-2011 08:24 AMNotice Of Project Commencement
Class Environmental Assessment: Kitchener Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades
June 3, 2011 | Region of Waterloo | PDF
Wastewater generated in the City of Kitchener is treated at the Kitchener Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), located at 368 Mill Park Drive. The plant is comprised of two separate secondary treatment plants served by a common headworks facility and primary clarifier facility. Plant 1 was constructed in the early 1960s and Plant 2 was constructed in the mid-1970s. The effluent from both facilities is disinfected prior to being discharged in the Grand River. In order to upgrade treatment and ensure better effluent quality in the future, the Region has initiated a Class Environmental Assessment (EA) Study for upgrading the treatment process, as well as for the provision of standby power to provide security to ensure essential operations will continue in the event of a power failure at the plant.
The Region of Waterloo completed a Wastewater Treatment Master Plan in 2007 that included Phases 1 and 2 of the Class Environmental Assessment process for the upgrades to the Kitchener WWTP and approved a number of upgrades, to be implemented using a phased
approach, as follows:
Phase 1:
- Construction of a Dewatering Facility at the Manitou Drive Biosolids Transfer Station (completion in the fall of 2011);
Phase 2:
- Construction of a Standby Disinfection Facility (completed in 2010);
- Construction of UV Disinfection and Effluent Pumping Station Facilities (under construction);
- Upgrades to Plant 2 to provide approximately 50 to 60 milliliters per day (MLD) nitrification capacity (under construction);
Phase 3 (part of this Class EA study):
- Decommissioning of the existing biosolids storage lagoons to provide the area necessary for the construction of a new treatment plant (Plant 3);
- Upgrades to headworks and processing of biosolids (thickening, pumping);
- Construction of Plant 3 with capacity of approximately 80 to 90 MLD to provide, as a minimum, nitrification and tertiary treatment for enhanced phosphorus removal;
- Upgrade or replacement of the existing outfall to convey treated effluent to the Grand River;
- Provision of standby power facilities to ensure reliability in the event of a power failure;
- Implementation of cogeneration engines to provide energy recovery and produce electricity from digester gas.
This project is being undertaken in accordance with the procedures defined in the Municipal Engineers Association Class Environmental Assessment (MEA, October 2000, amended in 2007), which applies to municipal wastewater, water and roads projects. This Class EA is being planned as a Schedule B project.
A key component of the Schedule B Class EA study involves consultation with interested stakeholders (public and regulatory agencies). As part of the consultation program, the Region will be holding Public Information Centres to advise and consult with the public, and a projectspecific contact list is being created. Those listed will receive information regarding the project by mail, including all notifications of Public Information Centres and formal notices. To be placed on the project contact list, to provide comments, or to request further information, please contact either:
José Bicudo
Senior Project Engineer, Water Services
Regional Municipality of Waterloo
150 Frederick Street, 7th Floor
Kitchener ON N2G 4J3
Phone: (519) 575-4757 x3416
Email: jbicudo@regionofwaterloo.ca
John Armistead, P.Eng.
Project Manager
AECOM
250 York Street, Suite 410
London ON N6A 6K2
Phone: (519) 963-5860
Email: john.armistead@aecom.com -
Moderator
From Kitchener-Waterloo | Member Since Dec 2009 | 5,679 Posts#310-18-2011 04:16 PM
FCM’s Green Municipal Fund supports the Kitchener Wastewater Treatment Plant Centrate Management Update in Waterloo Region
October 14, 2011 | Region of Waterloo | Link
Berry Vrbanovic, president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and councillor for the City of Kitchener, Ont., and Harold Albrecht, member of Parliament for Kitchener-Conestoga, today announced a total of $2,200,000 in Green Municipal Fund (GMF) support for the Region of Waterloo. The regional municipality has received $200,000 in grant funding and $2,000,000 in low-interest loan funding from FCM to upgrade the Kitchener Wastewater Treatment Plant to improve the management of biosolids created during the wastewater treatment process, reduce the concentration of nutrients to the Grand River, and address performance and capacity concerns.
“FCM’s Green Municipal Fund offers a range of resources and services that specifically address the sustainable community development needs of municipal governments,” said Mr. Vrbanovic. “The financing and knowledge provided by the Fund supports the development of communities that are more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.”
“The Government of Canada is assisting municipalities across the country in achieving their goal of a cleaner and healthier environment for Canadians through the Green Municipal Fund,” said Mr. Albrecht. “Today’s announcement is another example of how our government — in partnership with FCM — is helping the Region of Waterloo build a greener future for our citizens.”
The Kitchener Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade will improve the process by which air is added to the water, and ammonia and organic nitrogen are processed into nitrate. Construction is being done in stages to reduce the impact to plant operations. Other upgrades involve the design and building of new facilities to process the biosolids created during the treatment process. The new facility will convert the biosolids into cake form rather than liquid form.
The upgrade will also reduce the amount of ammonia-nitrogen in the treatment plant effluent by about 75 per cent. Higher quality effluent will improve water quality in the Grand River; in turn protecting the health of communities that rely on the Grand River watershed, and supporting population growth by ensuring the watershed’s sustainability. The creation of cake-form biosolids will produce a lesser volume needing storage, and will reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with transportation. The biosolid process will also decrease the risk of runoff from fields following the application of liquid biosolids.
“Protecting the quality of the Grand River as a source of drinking water is a priority for the Region of Waterloo”, said Ken Seiling, Regional Chair. “Our residents have expressed strong support for this goal in their input to our Regional strategic plan and wastewater treatment master plan. Upgrading the Kitchener Wastewater Treatment Plant will help us achieve this goal.”
The Government of Canada endowed the Federation of Canadian Municipalities with $550 million to establish the Green Municipal Fund™. The Fund supports partnerships and leveraging of both public and private sector funding to reach higher standards of air, water and soil quality, and climate protection.
FCM has been the national voice of municipal governments since 1901. It fosters the development of sustainable communities to improve quality of life by promoting strong, effective, and accountable municipal government.
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05-25-2010 03:52 PM
