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
MSR came in to create an onsite wastewater treatment and disposal system for a new project. The Root facilities are at 189 Beddis Road on Salt Spring Island.
A commercial kitchen and living residence will provide an estimated Daily Design Flow of 2560 L/d. The proposed treatment system consisted of extended primary treatment and secondary treatment with a package aerobic treatment system. This was followed by a tertiary treatment within a sub-surface engineered wetland. Moisture tolerant plants will cover the wetland disposal system which contains peat.
189 Beddis Road is a 0.6 ha (1.5 acre) property located on Salt Spring Island. The property contains two primary buildings. One for food storage with a commercial kitchen for processing local produce. the other is a two-bedroom caretaker apartment.
“The Root is a local food facility that will include a licensed teaching and processing kitchen, and temperature-controlled storage for local food, and the Seed Bank.
This means more local food will be available all year round. The certified Food Safe kitchen will be available to farmers and food processors as well as individuals and community organizations. Training programs such as chef certification, youth programs on agriculture, as well as food preparation and preservation education for the whole community will be provided at The Root.”
For more information on water treatment systems, visit our wastewater treatmentpage.
Fircrest RV Resortretained the services of MSR Solutions to provide recommendation for a water system leading to the design and construction of the facilities and to obtain a Temporary Use Permit or TUP.
Fircrest Lakeside RV Resort lies approximately7.5 Km northwest of Lac La Hache, BC on Highway 97 North in the Cariboo Regional District. The Resort now consists of a mix of RV sites and cabins for a total of 104 units.
MSR Solutions reviewed the well capacity testing Report by Golder Associates (2009), along with other research reports to support the basis for a design solution. They determined the anticipated average and maximum water demands for sizing of the water system. MSR Solutions reviewed the water quality results and considered treatment options based on past project experience with similar water quality issues.
Meeting Water Quality Guidelines
Fircrest RV Resortproposed to use the original campground as a single water user development for up to 60 seasonal recreational vehicle sites on the old water system. This system consists of 50 mm polyethylene pipe and an operating pressure of about 280 kPa (40 psi). This is different from the current land zoning so FirCrest required a (TUP). As a condition of the TUP, the new water system had to ensure the existing well can meet current Canadian Drinking Water Quality Guidelines.
MSR Solutions addressed treatment and distribution options at FirCrest in the past. They also received some approvals for a fee simple development with the CRD as owners of the water system. However, due to various constraints within the CRD, MSR Solutions had to delay upgrade plans.
Fircrest Upgrades
MSR Solutions Inc. supplied Fircrest RV Resort suggestions for upgrades to the systems to meet the Canadian drinking water quality objectives and the current microbiological objectives for groundwater in BC. The design of the treatment facilities service an equivalent of 60 RV sites under a TUP.
Water comes from the existing well using the existing well pump. The raw water is then pumped into the treatment building and into the filter area. This area has a nanofiltration package skid mounted system for hardness and TDS reduction.
This is followed by two one-micron poly pleat cartridges in parallel. Two sets of two Viqua SV10 UV modules provide disinfection and cyst removal.
Water entering the storage tank get a chlorine injection provided with level floats. Based on CT calculation, the chlorine solution of 1 mg/L combined with the water must flow into the 3,000 US gal Norwesco vertical storage tank to provide the required contact time to obtain 4-log disinfection of the water.
After the water has achieved 4-log disinfection, an inline booster pump, in conjunction with a pneumatic tank, pressurizes the treated water to the resort. This provides a peak demand of 20 USgpm at 40 psi. The treated water exits the water treatment building connected to the water distribution system. The proposed system achieves or exceeds the current microbiological parameters.
Water Treatment Plant Now Complete
Fircrest RV reached substantial completion of its water treatment system under Construction Permit No. CP2020-100506. MSR Solutions has requested an Operating Permit.
The water treatment plant is complete and operational. The plant is suitable for winter mode (lower demand) operation. The smaller, indoor storage tank is installed and operational. The large tank has an installation date of April, for use during summer mode (larger demand).
Construction completed by October 22, 2020 and met all permit requirements including adequate horizontal and vertical separations. Water quality results show treated water meets the required guidelines. MSR Solutions will address the connection to the distribution system in the spring of 2021.
Phase 2 of the Croftonbook project is now underway. MSR Solutions Inc. is currently providing a review of the proposed grey water treatment and reuse system for Phase 2 of the Croftonbrook facilities on Salt Spring Island. They are also looking at capturing rainwater as an alternative water supply.
Grey Water and Water Conservation
Potable water comes from an onsite well. In order to conserve water, it has been proposed to use recycled grey water and captured rainwater to supply toilets in the new living units.
About Croftonbrook
Island Women Against Violence (IWAV) owns and operates Croftonbrook. It provides 20 units of subsidized rental housing for seniors and people with disabilities. In response to the serious housing shortage in the community, IWAV proposed a 2-phase development to add 54 new rental units.
This is mixed model housing, so rentals will be available to individuals, couples and small families with low to moderate incomes. Some of the units will be provided for people who are experiencing homelessness.
Croftonbrook provides independent supportive living for seniors and people with disabilities. The Phase 2 development involves the construction of a new two-story building. It will have twenty-two, one bedroom living units, with laundry facilities on each floor.
The Croftonbrook developmenthas received capital funding through the CRD Regional Housing First Program. This is a partnership with CRD, BC Housing and Island Health. The Salt Spring Island Foundation has also provided a grant to support the water system design.
For more information on projects and services, please visit our Services Page.
The wastewater system/water treatment servicing the guest accommodation area was filed under the Sewerage System Regulation (SSR) in in 2011. The treatment system was assessed by MSR Solutions Inc., in May 2018. Most of the deficiencies identified have since been repaired. The assessment identified the existing disposal field had failed due to organic overloading.
Attempts to rehabilitate the field were unsuccessful, so a new force main was installed, and new infiltration basins were built close to the horse barn for effluent disposal. An amendment to the filing was submitted by MSR to document the replacement disposal area. The most recent assessment in October 2019 identified a few operation and maintenance recommendations to improve effluent quality and the longevity of the new infiltration basins. The investigation also identified a potential shortcoming of the original collection system that may partially explain the historically poor effluent quality. If effluent quality targets are not attainable during the 2020 season, despite appropriate routine monitoring and operation as outlined in the operating manual, installation of additional primary treatment (septic tanks) will substantially improve treatment system performance.
New Equipment Installed
New wastewater treatment and disposal systems were installed in 2019 to service the staff accommodation area. The new works have been filed by MSR under the SSR, and consist of primary sedimentation, aerobic treatment, secondary sedimentation with effluent filtration, and dispersal via rapid infiltration basins.
Clayoquot Wilderness Resort (CWR), located at the head of Bedwell Sound near Tofino, British Columbia, is serviced by one water system and two wastewater systems. Works have been implemented over the past 12 months to improve the performance and safety of these three utilities and bring them into compliance with the applicable provincial legislation.
Improvements for Safe Drinking Water
The water source for the resort is a single shallow well, which draws from an aquifer directly connected to the nearby Bedwell River. The Water Sustainability Act (WSA) and Drinking Water Protection Act (DWPA) set out standards for the construction and operation of wells and drinking water systems respectively.
Wellhead improvements, including installation of a well cap and surface grading, have been implemented to meet the standards of the WSA. The water source has been determined to be Groundwater Under Direct Influence (GWUDI) of surface water, which requires a treatment system that meets the Vancouver Island Health Authority’s (VIHA) “43210” policy. At CWR, this level of treatment is being attained by using 1-micron absolute filtration, UV disinfection, and chlorination.
Other Improvements
Other improvements to the water system include the installation of 36 m3 of treated water storage, well pump replacement, and reparation of several major leaks in the distribution system. An inspection was conducted in October. There are a few minor tasks to be completed on site prior to making application to VIHA to issue the drinking water system Operating Permit.
The work is still ongoing. See our services pageor search our site for more information on what MSR Solutions can do for your project.
The Regional District of Nanaimoheld their annual Water Purveyor Working Group (WPWG) workshop on Thursday January 30, 2020. MSR’s Todd Adamsson and Karl WIlliaume were on hand to give a presentation on leak detection/water theft and grant opportunities.
The WPWG aims to assist small water purveyors by providing networking and educational opportunities. As MSR Solutions specializes in small water systems, having Todd and Karl there was a good fit.
MSR Solutions currently supplies their clients with the following: source water assessment and protection, treatment and distribution design, construction coordination and oversight, and ongoing operations consultation. We also offer complimentary services for developments, including onsite sewage treatment, storm water management and civil design.
Todd Adamsson and Karl Williaume
MSR’s Todd Adamsson has a pragmatic approach to water system design by installing, operating and troubleshooting a wide variety of systems drawing from the full gamut of sources including rainwater, seawater, groundwater and surface water. In addition to new builds and upgrades, his MSR clients rely on his chemical engineering expertise to find practical solutions to maintain high water quality as source characteristics change, demand increases, and equipment ages.
Fellow presenter, was Karl Williaume, a professional engineer with a decade of experience designing water and wastewater infrastructure in western Canada. He takes pride in bringing a hands-on, innovative approach to the design process, providing value to clients with practical, optimized solutions. He enjoys a healthy mix of field work and office work, and regularly seeks input from contractors and operators to keep his designs grounded in the practical realities of system operation.
The MSR Solutions, solution
MSR Solutions and their staff are available to assist with your questions and concerns. We’d be happy to assist you with your small water purveyor solutions. MSR is also represented on the WEF Small Communities Committee, as well as the BCWWA, where Mike Seymour, owner of MSR, is President. See our Services page for more in depth information on what MSR can do for you.
