De-Mystifying WSER Gordon Will, P. Eng.
Outline Objective of the presentation What is WSER? Where you should be as per WSER De-Mystify some definitions Take homes Questions
Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations *Google – WSER Regulation
Disclaimer: This presentation is intended to provide guidance only by reviewing some of the provisions of the Wastewater System Effluent Regulations. This presentation is not a substitute for reading the WSER and does not in any way supersede or modify the Fisheries Act or the WSER. In the event of any inconsistency between this presentation etc. etc. etc…
Objective of Presentation Where to start and what to do to address WSER requirements
What is WSER? Wastewater System Effluent Regulations – a ”thou shalt” for Municipal and Federal Wastewater Systems. Enacted June 29, 2012 under the Fisheries Act – been law for over 3 years. Administered by Environment Canada (EC)– through SWIM (Single Window Information Management) Objective: Have all WWT systems above 100 m 3 /d (26,400 gal or pop over 310) meet new standards.
Where is Water Security in all this? WSER – Federal Regulation Based on CCME – MWWE work Ratified by all provinces (except Que) Harmonization (equivalency agreement) – development in progress. Using DUIS appoach
WSER System Type Categories Intermittent discharges Lagoons with 1 or 2 discharges per year Continuous discharge with > 5 days retention Aerated lagoons with continuous discharge Continuous discharge Mechanical plants with discharge – no storage
Monitoring and Reporting Categories Based on Flows Population ~ 300 – 7,000 > 100 - < 2500 m 3 /d > 2500 - <17,500 m 3 /d > 17,500 - < 50,000 m 3 /d > 50,000 m 3 /d
Limits (Effluent Quality Standards) Effective January 1, 2015 Parameter Value Notes ≤ 25 mg/L Carbonaceous Biochemical Average reported depends on Oxygen Demand (cBOD) (average) effluent quantity Average reported depends on ≤ 25 mg/L Suspended Solids (SS) effluent quantity (exceptions (average) allowed during Jul - Oct) ≤ 0.02 mg/L January 1, 2021 for systems Total Residual Chlorine (TRC) < 5,000 m 3 /d (average) < 1.25 mg/L (expressed as nitrogen at Un-ionized Ammonia (uNH 3 ) 15 ºC ± 1 ºC) (maximum)
TSS Exception For continuous systems with HRT ≥ 5d and intermittent systems, SS results > 25 mg/L in July, August, September and October are not to be taken into account ( Subsection 6(5) )
None or very little progress on WSER! OR What to do now?
Action Plan Step 1 – Complete ID Report
Step 1 – Complete Identification Report Go to EC website ( https://ec.ss.ec.gc.ca/) Generate GCKey (if you don’t have one) Create user profile within SWIM Create organization Create facility Assign WSER signing authority and regulatee Follow link to ERRIS (Effluent Regulatory Reporting Information System) Navigate to ID Report and complete
Action Plan Step 2 – Start Monitoring
Step 2 – Start Monitoring Find your requirements for monitoring post Jan 1, 2015: Continuous or intermittent. Volume specific Web site: Environment Canada http://www.ec.gc.ca/eu-ww/default.asp
Acute Lethality Testing Important note: Acute Lethality Testing Started. > 2,500 m 3 /d about 7,000 population
Action Plan Step 3 – Start Reporting
Step 3 – Reporting Data Continuous System
Step 3 – Reporting Data Intermittent System
Terms that are important
Acute Lethality - Definitions Acute means happening within a short period of time, usually taken as ≤96 h for fish. Lethal means causing death by direct action. Death of fish is defined here as the cessation of all visible signs of movement or other activity. Acutely Lethal in relation to effluent means that the effluent at 100% concentration kills, during a 96-hour period, more than 50% of the rainbow trout subjected to it.
What is Acute Lethality Testing? Fish Bioassay - Drop 10 rainbow trout fingerlings into 100% effluent and after 96 hours, count how many alive Results are based on LC 50 – 50% die Rainbow trout acute lethality test with or without pH stabilization - ( Section 15 ) EPS 1/RM/13 (without pH stabilization) EPS 1/RM/50 (with pH stabilization)
Acute Lethality Meeting max uNH 3 limit Repeating a failed acute of 1.25 mg/L does not lethality test with the pH always result in passed stabilized test can acute lethality test. result in a passed test. The pH stabilized acute lethality test has conditions: Max total ammonia based on a calculation
Total Ammonia and Un-ionized Ammonia? Total Ammonia (NH 3 -N) Must be tested by accredited lab Total of un-ionized ammonia and ammonium Un-ionized Ammonia (uNH 3 ) WSER limit of < 1.25 mg/L Determined by calculation pH needs to be tested at 15 o C pH dependent – higher pH the higher the uNH 3
When to Sample?
When to Sample? WSER allows deposit of deleterious substances if meeting limits based on previous results and not acutely lethal?????? Monitoring requirements say “not specified” for those < 2500 m 3 ?????? Taking Samples – “take at the final discharge point” Once in 30 day period or if longer, every 2 wks
Sample Before or During? WSER states monitoring required at the final discharge point (during) If before, how to confirm quality Dip from surface? Not representative and likely best quality Open valve briefly and sample? Not representative and likely worst quality
Accredited Laboratory Section 16 defines accredited laboratory as: Meets ISO/IEC 17025:2005 ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation) Environment Quality Act ** “Alternate Program” allowed in provincial approvals may not be valid for WSER *needs to be clarified with Environment Canada
Take Homes
Take Home #1 Mechanical Wastewater Treatment that includes Secondary Treatment : should meet cBOD/TSS limits but may not meet uNH 3 -N without ammonia removal process
Take Home #2 Lagoon Treatment Facilities : Exception months on TSS (Jul to Oct). Main issue is uNH 3 – follow temporary authorization process if exceeded Careful with spring discharge – delay 1 – 2 months, if possible, after ice cover gone Fall discharge generally always good
Take Home #3 Complete the Identification Report Become familiar with reporting requirements Report as required by law
Take Home #4 Be aware of the acute lethality testing that is required for some. Be familiar with what your accredited laboratory is doing. pH adjusted
Questions ?
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