Proposed Fermentation Operations Bylaw Stakeholder Meeting #2 Creekside Community May 14, 2015 Recreation Centre Jeff Gogol Environmental Regulatory Planner 11308296
Meeting Objectives • Provide fermentation operators with a summary of what we have heard to date • Provide fermentation operators with an update on the proposed bylaw • Provide fermentation operators with an opportunity to ask questions and provide comment on the updated requirements
Meeting Agenda Registration 9:00 – 9:10 am 9:10 – 9:20 am Welcome & agenda review 9:20 – 9:40 am Presentation: What we’ve heard from stakeholders Revised proposed bylaw requirements 9:40 – 10:10 am Q&A Table discussions 10:10 – 10:45 am Report back 10:45 – 10:55 am 10:55 – 11:00 am Wrap-up & next steps
Proposed Bylaw for Fermentation Operations Bylaw purpose: Reduce and prevent spent grains, fruit and yeast from fermentation operations from going down the drain
Proposed Bylaw for Fermentation Operations Applies to: • any business using yeast to produce alcoholic beverages, and • discharging up to 300m 3 (300,000 l) of wastewater into the sewer within 30 days Includes: • brew pubs, cottage breweries, micro-breweries, vint-on-premises, wineries, distilleries and u-brews.
Ensuring waste from fermentation operations is managed responsibly • Spent grains, fruit and yeast are entering and stressing the sewer system • Fermentation operations to remove solids from wastewater • Monitor the pH of cleaning and sterilization water • Metro Vancouver supporting these operations to find practical and cost-effective solutions for managing this waste
Supporting fermentation operations to comply with the bylaw • MV designing a bylaw that is easy to understand and reflects the unique conditions of these operations • Set of standards these operations need to meet • Multiple ways of achieving the standards, depending on the businesses’ unique situation
Supporting fermentation operations to comply with the bylaw
Supporting fermentation operations to comply with the bylaw • Bylaw Implementation Guide • Metro Vancouver website: www.metrovancouver.org • Metro Vancouver or City of Vancouver Regulatory Officer
Supporting fermentation operations to comply with the bylaw • Working closely with stakeholder groups throughout bylaw development • Ensuring requirements are fair, practical and achievable while safeguarding the treatment system
Engaging with stakeholders throughout bylaw development • Met face-to-face with and toured a range of different types and sizes of fermentation operations around the region • Gave us insight into the different business perspectives and situations
Engaging with stakeholders throughout bylaw development December 2014 – January 2015: • Stakeholder workshop with 30 brewers, distillers, vintners from across the region to present the proposed requirements and listen to their feedback • Online survey: 13 respondents
Outcomes of bylaw development consultations Revised the initial requirements • Simplified • Streamlined • Added time for operators to monitor and adjust practices
Proposed Requirements Requirement 1 : Remove solids Requirement 2 : Install a monitoring point Requirement 3 : Monitor and treat wastewater pH Requirement 4 : Keep records Requirement 5 : Pay Regulatory Fees Requirement 6 : Pay Treatment Fees Requirement 7 : Authorized discharge of off-spec product
Regulatory Authority • Metro Vancouver regulates all fermentation operations across the region • City of Vancouver regulates on Metro Vancouver’s behalf within the city
Requirement 1: Remove solids When coarse solids like spent grains and fruit, and fine solids suspended in water, like yeast, enter the sewer it stresses the system and costs money to maintain and repair. This requirement will ensure both coarse and suspended solids are removed from wastewater.
Requirement 1: Remove solids Initial Requirement The proposed bylaw would use the existing 600 mg/L limit for Total Suspended Solids (TSS) set out in the current Metro Vancouver Sewer Use Bylaw. Updated Requirement a) The discharge of coarse spent grains or fruit pulp to the sewer will be prohibited on the date the bylaw is enacted b) The maximum concentration of Total Suspended Solids (TSS) shall not exceed 1,200 mg/L c) All operations must comply with this limit no later than 12 months after bylaw is enacted
Requirement 1: Remove solids Rationale for Changes • Initial requirement did not specifically address the need to remove coarse solids • Increasing maximum TSS limit since operations employing best practices for this sector usually have TSS concentrations between 600 to 800 mg/L • 1,200 mg/L limit is achievable using best practices and/or adequate wastewater treatment
Requirement 2: Install a monitoring point To ensure operators and regulatory staff have accurate knowledge of wastewater quality, they must be able to access wastewater for sampling purposes. Wastewater monitoring point must be located downstream of all treatment.
Requirement 2: Install a monitoring point Initial Requirement A proper monitoring point required to confirm compliance with the proposed requirements of this bylaw and Sewer Use Bylaw. Updated Requirement • Install a suitable monitoring point accessible during operating hours • Six months after bylaw adoption bylaw • Downstream of all process waste
Example of suitable monitoring point
Requirement 2: Install a monitoring point Rationale for Changes Allow operators additional time to install a monitoring point if one is not already in place.
Requirement 3: Monitor and treat wastewater pH Cleaning and sterilizing activities for fermentation operations can impact the pH levels of wastewater which can damage pipes and can cause chemical imbalances that may be dangerous for workers in the sewer. This requirement will ensure wastewater is tested regularly and adjusted to meet appropriate pH levels.
Requirement 3: Monitor and treat wastewater pH Initial Requirement • Wastewater from cleaning and sterilizing activities be tested for pH and adjusted to meet the Sewer Use Bylaw range for pH (between 5.5 and 10.5)
Requirement 3: Monitor and treat wastewater pH Updated Requirement • Each operation required to monitor and record the pH from the monitoring point a minimum of once per day during cleaning and sterilizing • pH level should be measured immediately onsite using a pH meter • pH monitoring to begin once monitoring point installed, to determine whether wastewater complies with Sewer Use Bylaw range of 5.5 and 10.5
Requirement 3: Monitor and treat wastewater pH Updated requirement continued: • Nine months after bylaw enactment, all operations submit pH Characterization Report showing daily pH results • If Characterization Report shows wastewater with pH outside the 5.5 and 10.5 range, must submit a Compliance Plan to Metro Vancouver by 12 months after bylaw enactment • Compliance Plan details procedures operator will undertake to fall within the pH range • Wastewater pH levels must be in compliance 18 months after the adoption of the bylaw
Requirement 3: Monitor and treat wastewater pH Rationale for Changes Proposed changes are to allow operators the time to monitor the pH of their wastewater and determine the treatment methods that best suit their operations.
Requirement 4: Keep records Records are required so regulatory staff can confirm operators are complying with the bylaw when they inspect the facility. Records can also assist operators understand wastewater quality over time.
Requirement 4: Keep records Initial Requirement The following processes would require record keeping to comply with the proposed bylaw: • Method of removing solids • Hectolitres (hl) of product being produced • Treatment of kettle wastewater and kettle washwater • Method of treatment to remove yeast residue • Method of pH measurement • Dates and results of pH testing Metro Vancouver is proposing that the records be kept at the facility and available for inspection for a minimum two-year period.
Requirement 4: Keep records Updated Requirement Operators to keep the following records: • Hectolitres (hl) of product being produced per calendar month • Dates, times and results of pH testing Operators begin recording monthly hl of product as soon as bylaw enacted. Record keeping of daily pH testing must begin no later than 6 months after bylaw enactment. Records to be kept at the facility and available for inspection for a minimum two-year period.
Requirement 4: Keep records Rationale for Changes Metro Vancouver has streamlined the reporting requirements.
Requirement 5: Pay Regulatory Fees Initial Requirement • To recover the costs to regulate fermentation operations under this bylaw, an annual administration fee of $200 is being proposed. • Regulatory fees will be invoiced within the first 6 months after the enactment of bylaw and annually thereafter. Updated Requirement • No revisions
Requirement 5: Pay Regulatory Fees Rationale This fee is designed to recover the costs of inspection, sampling and analysis costs and is consistent with the direction Metro Vancouver is going with other sector-specific bylaws.
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