MSR’s Latest Wastewater Treatment Initiatives

MSR’s Latest Wastewater Treatment Initiatives

Highly treated effluent as a beneficial discharge to wetlands | Registration Submitted

MSR Solutions has been busy as of late with the submission of Registration documents to the Ministry of Environment for discharge of highly treated effluent as a beneficial discharge to wetlands.  This method of discharge to the receiving environment falls under the beneficial water use aspects of the Municipal Wastewater Regulations (MWR) for discharges over 22,700 Litres/day.  This first registration is soon to be followed by a larger application which will see beneficial reuse to wetlands, as well as irrigation for food production and landscaping; reuse for toilet flushing; and for additional fire flow.  An added benefit is both the reduction in water demands from domestic water needs and surface water licenses, as well as using the water twice prior to returning it highly treated to provide environmental flows to the environment.  This requires a high quality secondary disinfected effluent, referred to as Class A effluent under the MWR, and will be partly achieved through the use of membrane technology, to which we have been designing into our treatment systems for over 20 years.

Small Water System Review | Qathet Regional District

MSR Solutions was recently awarded a project by the qathet Regional District to review a small water system in need of improvements and understanding of anticipated costs over the next 5-10 years.  The results of the report were well received and have been beneficial in understanding the unique needs of a small water system in a remote area.  As a result of the report, the qRD submitted a request for grant funding, which also required a water conservation plan.  MSR was retained to provide this on very short notice and with the support of staff to put in additional effort, we were able to deliver a strategy in support of water conservation which addressed the needs for this water system and provided the qRD with a road map for other small utilities. 

 

Replacement of aging water infrastructure | Duncan Strata

MSR Solutions has been retained by a strata in Duncan to support the replacement of their aging water infrastructure.  The first step is working in coordination with Coast Geotechnical and Skyline Structural Engineering to determine soil conditions and structural requirements for a new bolted steel tank reservoir.  The site has a steep slope near the site of the reservoir we need to maintain soil stability and slope setbacks as well as find creative and cost-effective solutions.

Anmore Village Wastewater Treatment Registration and Upgrades

Anmore Village Wastewater Treatment Registration and Upgrades

Anmore Countryside Village is located in the Lower Mainland, between the Indian Arm of the Burrard Inlet and the City of Coquitlam with the civic address of 3295 Sunnyside Road, Anmore, BC V3H 4Z4.

Within the past few years, MSR Solutions Inc. (MSRS) provided upgrade recommendations pertinent to Anmore Countryside Village wastewater and disposal systems. The recommendations were included: installation of equalization storage, UV disinfection units (for SPT2), and disposal field improvements. MSRS also assisted in the construction supervision and required inspections during the upgrade projects.

Further to the previous projects, MSRS has been retained by Countryside Village to register the existing wastewater and disposal systems with the BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (ENV) under the Municipal Wastewater Regulation (MWR).

Anmore Countryside Village consists of 92 lots with different type of dwellings. The available information in the BC Assessment portal (https://www.bcassessment.ca/) was used to identify the type and number of dwellings. In some cases, due to the absence of information in the portal, other resources such as available drawings and aerial photos were used to identify the type of dwellings.

The exiting wastewater treatment system at Anmore Countryside Village comprise two separate treatment and one disposal units SPT1 and SPT2. SPT1 and SPT2 were “Registered” and “Filed” with the BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (ENV) and Fraser Health Authority (FHA), respectively.

Client: Anmore Village Wastewater Treatment Registration and Upgrades
Location: Anmore, BC
Project Manager: Mike Seymour

Arbutus Mountain Estates – Wastewater Treatment

Arbutus Mountain Estates – Wastewater Treatment

Arbutus Mountain Estates Sewer System services the residential development Estates of Shawnigan Station located south of Shawnigan Lake on Shawnigan Lake Road in Area B. There are 123 customers located in the service area. The Wastewater treatment system is owned and operated by the CVRD under existing Permit PE- 14798. The permit is authorized from a 120-unit modular home park, with maximum discharge of 137 m3/d, discharging Class A effluent to ground, with seasonal phosphorous removal requirements.

The plant upgrades included the addition of a new SLB 848 preliminary screening system to enhance solids and biological removal for treatment improvements. The addition of a new 15,500 gal (40m3) Polyethylene EQ tank located outside to provide a buffer for incoming flows, and allow equalization of peak hour flows. Aeration provided with duplex air compressors from within the building, with a loss of air alarm provided back to the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC). Time dosed duplex pumps will operate on a Time On – Time Off sequence which is adjustable at the main Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) to allow flows to equalize over the 24-hour period.

Client: Performing Equity Shawnigan Limited Partnership C/O Dale Bellavance
Location: Shawnigan Station
Project Manager: Mike Seymour

Lake Errock Wastewater Treatment Plant

Lake Errock Wastewater Treatment Plant

The owner of the gravel pit adjacent to Lake Errock has developed plans to construct residential lots in the area now occupied by the gravel pit. In addition, the Sq’éwlets First Nation (SFN) has had a troublesome history with their sewage treatment plant and has indicated support for connection to a community system. A sewage treatment plant with disposal, potentially owned and operated by the Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) would be a reasonable solution for the gravel pit subdivision, SFN and the community around Lake Errock.

MSR Solutions Inc. has been retained by Aplin & Martin Consultants Ltd. to lead the submission for a Registration under the Municipal Wastewater Regulation (MWR) with the Ministry of Environment (MoE). The Registration will be for the wastewater treatment facilities and the Rapid Infiltration Basins (RIB), on the Fraser Valley Aggregates Ltd. property at or near the Gravel Pit developmental area of the Lake Errock.

The applicant for the registration is anticipated to be the developer, Fraser Valley Aggregates Ltd. (FVAL) on behalf of their development and potentially the Sq’ewlets First Nation, with the system turned over to the Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) later. The system will provide sanitary sewer servicing for the proposed subdivision, Harrison Rise, on the FVAL property and potentially for the neighbouring communities of Sq’éwlets First Nation (SFN). The community surrounding Lake Errock will be considered for future phases or expansion as funding is likely unavailable at this time.

Client: Lake Errock Wastewater Treatment Plant
Location: Lake Errock, BC
Project Manager: Mike Seymour

GIGARHS Water Management Plan

1663 Georgia View Road is a proposed affordable housing development on Galiano Island, BC by the Gulf Islands Galisle Affordable Rental Housing Society (GIGARHS). The preliminary concept for the development consists of 12 residential units ranging from 1 to 3 bedrooms. GIGARHS has retained MSR Solutions Inc. (MSR) to investigate water demand requirements as well as the feasibility of utilizing rainwater to supplement the water system. There is currently no plan to utilize graywater.

A well treatment system with filtration, UV disinfection, and residual chlorination will meet Island Health requirements and ensure well water is safe to consume.

Potable water storage is provided for the development. It will meet the maximum month condition for reasonably assumed flows and can be supported in an application for a construction permit to Island Health. 76 m3 of storage was required to meet fire demand, which can be sourced from rainwater collected from the roofs. Providing a connection from the fire storage to the potable system will add an additional temporary emergency source of water should the well not be able to provide enough for some reason. Proper valving should be in place to ensure usage in emergencies only.

A rainwater collection system will provide a means of additional water source to help assist in irrigation demands. Because there is no requirement to treat rainwater before irrigation it is a very cost-effective means for providing the water needed to irrigate.

Client: Gulf Islands Galisle Affordable Rental Housing Society
Location: Galiano Island, BC
Project Manager: Mike Seymour

SCRD Woodcreek Wastewater Treatment Plant

SCRD Woodcreek Wastewater Treatment Plant

The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) has retained MSR Solutions Inc. to design a system to replace the existing recirculating sand filter (RSF) due to apparent ineffectiveness of current performance. The system is located at the Woodcreek Park Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) in the Woodcreek Park residential neighborhood of Electoral Area E, Sunshine Coast Regional District. The system serves 74 homes under Permit # PE-04183 issued under the Municipal Wastewater Regulation (MWR) by the Ministry of Environment (MoE). Under the permit, maximum daily discharge shall not exceed 75 m3/day, TSS shall not exceed 45 mg/L, and BOD5 shall not exceed 45 mg/L.

Investigations of available data and a site inspection note the recirculating filter is effectively plugged and in need of remediation or replacement. Other works were noted as either in need of improvement (headworks) or replacement (recirculation tank mixers/aerators), and site constraints leave little area available for replacement of a similar structure without removal of the filter.

MSR examined alternative systems included replacement of the filter with the same, and secondary treatment options previously reviewed by the SCRD. In addition to the treatment options prior to disposal, we have recommended improvements to the inlet piping to minimize solids plugging and to improve flow distribution.

Client: SCRD
Location: Woodcreek Park WWTP
Project Manager: Mike Seymour