May 6, 2012

ARESST News Blog

- CALWMC MEETS 9 MAY, 9:30AM
- ARESSTER BOB'S NOTES OF 2 MAY CRD PRESENTATION ON THERMAL ENERGY RECOVERY
- SEPTIC SPILL FOULS HIGHWAY NEAR THETIS LAKE
- NDP SHOOTS EVERYTHING AT ENBRIDGE
- NORTH AMERICA'S FIRST SEWAGE HEAT RECOVERY SYSTEM INSTALLED (from raw sewage, not treated)
- VNHS FIELD TRIP 8 MAY: INTERTIDAL EXPLORATION AT WHIFFIN SPIT
- TALK 8 MAY, UVIC: SMART ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY WITH FULL-COST PRICING

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CALWMC MEETS 9 MAY, 9:30AM

Core Area Liquid Waste Management Committee 

Wednesday, May 9, 2012 at 9:30 am
Board Room, 6th floor, 
625 Fisgard Street

Agenda  

6. Core Area Wastewater Treatment Program Life Cycle Report (EWW 12-29)
Report: 

7. Motion from April 4, 2012 Finance and Corporate Services Committee - Core Area Liquid Waste Management Project Life Cycle Report
Report: 

8. Core Area Wastewater Treatment Program Budget Update (EWW 12-27)
Report: 

9. Program Management Consulting Services Budget Status – Core Area Wastewater Treatment Program (EWW 12-28)
Report: 

10. Core Area Inflow and Infiltration Management Plan (EEE 12-31)
Report: 



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RELATED BUSINESS IN OTHER COMMITTEES OR BOARD: 

CRD BOARD MEETING 9 MAY: 

5.1 CORE AREA LIQUID WASTE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE – May 9, 2012

The following item is subject to consideration by the Committee on May 9.

1. Program Management Consulting Services Budget Status – Core Area Wastewater
Treatment Program (EWW 12-28)

• That the increase to Stantec’s Program Management and Technical Services budget bY $50,000 be approved.

5.3 ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE – April 25, 2012

1. Resource Recovery and Use Plan – A Business Case Analysis for Recovering Heat from Sewage (EEE12)

• That staff be directed to:
1) ascertain the availability and submit applications for federal and/or provincial grants that could be s ecured to help fund the capital cost of the east coast interceptor attenuation tank heat recovery initiative;
2) work with the University of Victoria and other potential partners to develop memoranda of understanding regarding their participation in this project; and
3) forward a c opy of the business case report to the Core Area Liquid Waste
Management Committee and Ministry of Environment.

2. Resource Recovery and Use Plan – A Business Case Analysis for Recovering Heat from the Bowker Trunk Sewer (EEE 12-23)

• That staff be directed to:
1) ascertain the availability and submit applications for federal and/or provincial grants that could be secured to help fund the capital cost of this Oak Bay area heat recovery initiative;
2) work with the Victoria School District, the Municipality of Oak Bay and other potential partners to develop memoranda of understanding regarding their participation in this project; and
3) forward a c opy of the business case report to the Core Area Liquid Waste
Management Committee and Ministry of Environment.

DOWNLOAD THE TWO REPORTS (1.5MB PDF) FROM HERE: 


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ARESST: Board member Bob Furber made these summary notes below of the Telford presentation (downloadable here - 40MB pptx) and download the 2 reports (1.5MB pdf) from
here: 


ARESSTER BOB'S NOTES OF 2 MAY CRD PRESENTATION ON THERMAL ENERGY RECOVERY FROM WATER AND WASTEWATER

Dan Telford, PEng, Senior Manager, Environmental Engineering made a presentation to the Commission on:

Thermal Energy Recovery from Water and Wastewater

The presentation described the standard heat recovery systems. The difference between the water and wastewater heat recovery systems is the inclusion of screens ahead of the wastewater heat exchangers to reduce fouling. The presentation identified areas where heat may be recovered and put to good use, and extolled the virtues of heat recovery. The Saanich Peninsula Wastewater Treatment plant & Panorama Rec. Centre is their success story:
  • Generates 77K$/a revenue (whether Gross or net revenue was not stated)
  • Carbon credits equivalent to 14K$/a
In view of this success, the CRD should consider setting up a Regional Heat Utility to set up and run a number of District Energy Systems (DES). As a result, a number of "investment grade" business cases have been or are being developed.

Most Commissioners were delighted with the presentation. But a few asked some good questions and made some good observations:

Q: Can you give us an indication of the financial viability of these projects? For instance how many years to pay back the capital investment.

A: It depends on the capital grants. Without capital grants, the projects are not financially viable. The Saanich Peninsula heat recovery system required a 50% grant to make it viable. It will take 30 years to pay off the other 50%. "The Environment ends up being the winner" was a frequent DT refrain.

In addition, resource recovery project finances need to be evaluated as utilities, not as businesses. But Dan was unable to properly explain what he meant by this.

Q: What happens to the users at the tail end of the DES heat loop, who end up getting cold water after the users ahead of them have extracted heat?

A: This has to be factored in. There is only so much energy that can be recovered.

Statements by Vic Derman:
  • Recovering heat from water mains will cool the already cold potable water. This means that water users will have to expend more heat to heat up their water for showers, baths, washing, etc.
  • Recovering heat from wastwater will cool it, which will interfere with the operation of the sewage treatment plant bioreactors.
An interesting remark by Dan Telford: We have found a significant geothermal effect. That is, some heat is picked up from the soil that surrounds the buried pipes.

RF

Bob also offers links to a couple of Resource Recovery presentations made to the Environmental Sustainability Committee last week:

ARESST: According to Coast Environment, whose septage truck spilled on the highway, there are already 10,000 CRD Core Area onsite sewage systems and many more new ones being added every year. What is the environmental impact of all these systems in the CRD core area? However, a CRD sewage treatment plant would not reduce those numbers nor their environmental impact.

SEPTIC SPILL FOULS HIGHWAY NEAR THETIS LAKE


Sewage contained to road, shoulders, government says
 
Katie Derosa
Times Colonist
May 03, 2012
Letter to editor: letters@timescolonist.com

An overturned septic-tank truck spilled 10,000 litres of raw sewage on the Trans-Canada Highway near Thetis Lake on Wednesday, causing a traffic nightmare and raising environmental concerns.

The tanker truck was heading north in the middle lane about 12: 18 p.m. when the driver changed lanes to the left-hand lane, but over-corrected when the truck crossed the yellow line, said West Shore RCMP Cpl. Kathy Rochlitz.

The truck crossed three lanes as it rolled over, but didn't hit any cars, Rochlitz said. The truck came to rest on its side against the concrete barrier, blocking the right-hand lane.

RCMP, View Royal firefighters and paramedics rushed to the scene. B.C. Ambulance took the driver to Victoria General Hospital with minor injuries.

A Ministry of Environment spokesman said the sewage spill was confined to the highway and shoulder, and that the environmental impact was expected to be small. The ministry contracted an environmental company to oversee the cleanup.

A hazardous-materials team and a Capital Regional District crew were also on scene.

Northbound traffic was diverted at Helmcken Road and the Old Island Highway. Traffic was also slowed in the southbound lanes because of onlookers.

About 3 p.m., a crane was brought in to right the truck before it was hauled away. The highway was reopened at 4: 15 p.m.

"There's a significant amount of damage to the vehicle, and this driver is very fortunate to only have minor injuries," Rochlitz said.

The truck driver was working for Island-based sewage company Coast Environment. No one from the company returned calls for comment.



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ARESST: Discussion by Leyne of environmental impact assessment process for the pipeline begs the question of why neither BC government nor NDP opposition seems
concerned that the CRD sewage treatment plant + energy centre projects are proceeding without adequate environmental oversight?

NDP SHOOTS EVERYTHING AT ENBRIDGE

Les Leyne
Times Colonist
May 02, 2012

While the B.C. Liberal government is staying mum on what it thinks about the Northern Gateway pipeline proposal, the NDP Opposition has gone to the other extreme.

NDP Leader Adrian Dix filed an 11-page letter with the joint review panel examining the project that verges on the verbose.

Signed by the entire caucus, it opposes the pipeline for every conceivable reason the 36 signers could think of, and then some.

It brought charges from the Liberals on Tuesday that the NDP has jumped the gun and come out against the pipeline before anyone is sure of exactly what's involved in the proposal.

Environment Minister Terry Lake said the Opposition can save a ton of money on environmental-assessment processes because it makes up its mind before all the information comes out.

That was in response to a grilling about B.C.'s curious decision not to register as a formal government participant in the hearing process. The province has registered as one of 200 interveners, which is a lesser role.

The NDP letter was filed while the panel is only partway through the initial phase of hearings. Its mandate is to look at the environmental effects and consider measures to mitigate any adverse effects. As well, it is to consider input from the public and specifically from aboriginal peoples.

Someone described the current phase as the "how to" process, not the "whether to" decision.

So B.C. is watching two different political responses at the same time. The government is lying low and refusing to commit on whether a heavy oil pipeline across B.C. to a port that will handle 225 tankers a year is a good idea.

And the Opposition is getting ahead of the process by opposing every aspect of the project before the federal panel has heard all the evidence.

While the Liberals are citing respect for the process, it's clear the political considerations are paramount. Based on their economic emphasis, they'd back the pipeline if they could. But it's not a political winner at this point and likely never will be. So the government will sit out the argument as long as it can.

The NDP's reasons for wading into the argument are just as political. Opposing the pipeline looks like a popular move, so they lined up against it. The letter explicitly acknowledges that, citing a poll that found 3-1 opposition against tankers.

The NDP caucus reached for everything in criticizing the pipeline. Apart from the tanker threat and the danger to 800 stream crossings, it said "greenhouse gas emissions generated by ... oilsands development will contribute to the economic, social and environmental cost of climate change."

It also raised the after-effects of the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska, the Queen of the North sinking, various other Enbridge pipeline failures and the need to respect the "unity" of the 130 First Nations opposed to the line. (A smaller number endorse it.)

There's also an intriguing criticism of shipping crude oil unprocessed, which costs high-wage, value-added jobs.

"In B.C., there are only two refineries still operating, while five have closed ... . Refineries are significant employers, and taxpayers ... ."

That sounds like the NDP supporting oil refineries, which could some day expose them to some controversy. Refineries need pipelines, too.

For all the commitment displayed in the letter, Dix is still sitting on the fence when it comes to another pipeline, the Kinder Morgan. It's "wait and see" on that proposal, he said this week.

As it stands, it looks like the NDP has taken the safer position, 54 weeks before an election, on the most controversial pipeline. And it's mimicking the Liberal government on the next one on the list.

The Liberals don't have much of a play to make now on Northern Gateway, so it may not make a move at all.

Just So You Know: Terry Lake said Tuesday that B.C. is aware of the range of concerns and may take a month or so to decide on whether to make arguments in September, as an intervener.

He said the Environment Ministry will do a thorough technical review and then ask the necessary questions to satisfy concerns it may have with the review.



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ARESST: Important thing about the innovative system below is that sewage treatment is not required.

NORTH AMERICA'S FIRST SEWAGE HEAT RECOVERY SYSTEM INSTALLED (from raw sewage, not treated)

VANCOUVER, May 2, 2012 /CNW/ - International Wastewater Heat Exchange Systems (IWHES) proudly announces the successful installation of a Sewage Wastewater Heat Exchange System in the 60 unit Seven35 Condominiums complex, in North Vancouver, Canada.

At 500% efficiency and an annual Greenhouse Gas Emission reduction of 150 tonnes, the system heats the domestic hot water for the development's 60 homes and contributed to earning the condominium complex the first dual 'green' certification in Canada - LEED Platinum and Built Green Gold.

IWHES president - Lynn Mueller commented "We are very pleased with the performance of our 120,000 Btus per hour Sewage Wastewater Heat Recovery System and proud to have been involved with the first multi-family residential project in North America to have installed such an environmentally-friendly solution for heating and cooling."

About Wastewater Heat Exchange System

Utilizing a unique clog proof raw sewage filtration system, the Heat Exchange Technology is able to conduct simple and direct heat exchange from untreated wastewater to provide the most energy-saving, cost-effective and environmentally-friendly solutions for heating, cooling and hot water for any buildings, residential or commercial. - www.sewageheatrecovery.com


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VNHS FIELD TRIP 8 MAY: INTERTIDAL EXPLORATION AT WHIFFIN SPIT

Tuesday May 8
FIELD TRIP (Level 4)

Intertidal Exploration at Whiffin Spit (CLICK HERE TO SEE LOCATION)

Join Phil Lambert to explore the intertidal zone at Whiffin Spit in Sooke. 

This beach usually provides many examples of exposed west coast flora and fauna. From Sooke follow the West Coast Road about 1.7 km west then turn left on Whiffin Spit Road. 

To carpool meet at Helmcken Park and Ride at9:00 am or meet the group at Whiffin Spit parking lot at 10:00. 

Rubber boots recommended and walking sticks if you need them. Bring water and a snack. 

For more information call Phil at 250-477-5922.

Please pass this on to anyone who might be interested.
Thanks
Phil Lambert 

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TALK 8 MAY, UVIC: SMART ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY WITH FULL-COST PRICING

The Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions is pleased to present "Smart Environmental Policy with Full-Cost Pricing" 
by SFU economist and professor of public policy, Dr. Nancy Olewiler.
 
When: 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Tuesday, 8 May 2012
 
Where: Room A110, Social Sciences & Mathematics Bldg., University of Victoria
 

Canada’s natural resources, ecosystems and wildlife are indispensable to the sustainability of our planet and economy. Despite this, both the public and private sectors do not adequately consider the environmental consequences of production and consumption when calculating their bottom line. There is a growing need for full-cost pricing, a system that adjusts market prices to reflect not only the direct costs of goods and services, but also their impact on our country’s natural capital. Dr. Olewiler argues that the onus is on the federal government to create the conditions for full-cost pricing to succeed.

This seminar is based on a recent paper published through the University of Calgary School of Public Policy available at http://policyschool.ucalgary.ca/?q=content/smart-environmental-policy-full-cost-pricing

Nancy Olewiler is the Director of the School of Public Policy at Simon Fraser University. Her areas of research include natural resource and environmental economics and policy. She has published extensively, written two widely used textbooks (The Economics of Natural Resource Use and Environmental Economics), and produced numerous reports for the Canadian federal and provincial governments, including studies on energy and climate policy, natural capital, and federal business tax policy. Nancy is the Chair of the TransLink Board of Directors, and has previously served on the boards of BC Hydro and several of its subsidiaries. She is also a member of advisory committees for Statistics Canada, WWF-Canada, Sustainable Prosperity and the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions.

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