2016 Annual Report

Marathon Wastewater Treatment Plant

Prepared for: The Corporation of the Town of Marathon

Prepared by: Northern Waterworks Incorporated

Date: March 22, 2017

Table of Contents

1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

2 System Descr ipt ion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

3 Water Qual i ty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 - 7

3.1 Monitoring Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 - 6

3.2 Monitoring Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5, 7

4 F low Monitoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

5 Sol ids Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

6 Maintenance and Modi f icat ions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 - 11

6.1 Planned Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

6.2 Eff luent Monitoring Equipment Cal ibrat ion and Maintenance . . . . 10 - 11

6.3 Summary of Schedule ‘A ’ , Sect ion 1 Modif icat ions . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

6.4 Summary of Schedule ‘A ’ , Sect ion 3 Modif icat ions . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

7 Operat ing Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 – 13

7.1 Eff luent L imit Exceedances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

7.2 Equipment , Infrastructure and Process Fai lures . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

7.3 Complaints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

7.4 By-passes , Overf lows , Spi l ls and Abnormal Discharge Events . . . . . . 13

8 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

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1 Introduction

The Marathon Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) is regulated by the terms and conditions specified

within Environmental Compliance Approval No. 2203-9QEQVB (the ECA). This Annual Report has been

prepared in accordance with Condition 10(6) of the ECA, and it shall summarize the facility’s

performance over the previous calendar year (January 1 to December 31, 2016).

This Report is intended (1) to provide a performance record for future references, (2) to ensure that the

Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) is made aware of problems as they arise, and

(3) to provide a compliance record for the terms and conditions outlined in the ECA. This report must

contain, but shall not be limited to, the following information:

(a) A summary and interpretation of all monitoring data and a comparison to the effluent limits

outlined in Condition 7 of the ECA, including an overview of the success and adequacy of the

Works (sections 3.2 & 8);

(b) A description of any operating problems encountered and corrective actions taken (section 7);

(c) A summary of all maintenance carried out on any major structure, equipment, apparatus,

mechanism or thing forming part of the Works (sections 6.1 and 7.2);

(d) A summary of any effluent quality assurance or control measures undertaken in the reporting

period (section 3.1);

(e) A summary of the calibration and maintenance carried out on all effluent monitoring equipment

(section 6.2);

(f) A description of efforts made and results achieved in meeting the Effluent Objectives of Condition

6 of the ECA (sections 3.2 and 4);

(g) A tabulation of the volume of sludge generated in the reporting period, an outline of anticipated

volumes to be generated in the next reporting period and a summary of the locations to where

the sludge was disposed (section 5);

(h) A summary of any complaints received during the reporting period and any steps taken to

address the complaints (section 7.3);

(i) A summary of all by-pass, spill or abnormal discharge events (section 7.4);

(j) A copy of all Notice of Modifications submitted to the Water Supervisor as a result of Schedule ‘A’,

Section 1, with a status report on the implementation of each modification (section 6.3); and,

(k) A report summarizing all modifications completed as a result of Schedule ‘A’, Section 3 (section

6.4).

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2 System Descr ipt ion

Designed for the treatment and disposal of sewage, the Marathon WWTP has a hydraulic capacity of

4,400 m3/day (average daily flow) and consists of influent works, aeration tanks, final clarifiers, a sludge

management system, a control building housing air supply equipment, a workshop, and a laboratory,

and an outfall discharging final effluent to Lake Superior. The Marathon WWTP is owned by the

Corporation of the Town of Marathon and was operated by Northern Waterworks Incorporated (NWI)

for the duration of the reporting period.

As an extended aeration facility, the Marathon WWTP utilizes a biological treatment method that relies

upon microorganisms to process influent wastewater. The overall goal of the treatment process is to

reduce or remove contaminants from influent wastewater (raw sewage) to a level that will not adversely

impact or impair receiving waters.

As per the description provided within the ECA, the Marathon WWTP consists of the following:

a) Inlet works comprised of a grit removal facility and comminutor with bar screens, and a flow

splitter chamber;

b) Two (2) aeration tanks, with each aeration tank consisting of two (2) cells equipped with fine air

bubble diffusers with compressed air supplied by four (4) available blowers. One (1) blower is a 50

HP Neuros Turbo blower capable of providing 600 cfm to 1,200 cfm compressed air at a

discharge pressure of 7.8 PSI. The remaining three (3) blowers are conventional blowers;

c) Two (2) final clarifiers, one (1) for each treatment unit;

d) A chemical feed system for the filter belt press system comprised of 20 L chemical storage pails

and feed pumps;

e) A sludge management system comprised of a filter belt press for sludge dewatering housed

within a building, and a biosolids storage tank; and,

f) A flow metering system consisting of two (2) ultrasonic flow meters, one (1) device for each

effluent contact chamber.

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3 Water Qual i ty

3.1 Monitoring Programs

Samples are collected by licenced operators and submitted to an accredited laboratory for analysis on a

monthly basis for influent (raw sewage) samples and on a biweekly basis for effluent (treated) samples.

Minimum requirements concerning the sampling and testing of raw sewage and final effluent

parameters are contained within Condition 9 (Monitoring and Recording) of the ECA. Additionally, the

sampling program has been designed to comply with the federal Wastewater Systems Effluent

Regulations (WSER). Table 1 summarizes the sampling program employed at the Marathon WWTP.

Licenced operators also conduct in-house testing to determine the operational performance of the

various stages of the treatment process and for quality assurance purposes as it concerns final effluent

parameters. Table 2 summarizes those parameters that were routinely tested for operational control or

quality assurance purposes during the reporting period. This table is intended to provide a summary of

effluent quality assurance measures undertaken in the reporting period as required by Condition

10(6)(d) of the ECA. Typical control measures that may be implemented in response to test results

include altering the rate of return activated sludge flow, affecting the volume of solids removed from the

treatment process (i.e. waste activated sludge), modifying the operation of air supply equipment, and

conducting plant cleaning and maintenance.

3.2 Monitoring Results

In accordance with Condition 10(6)(a) of the ECA, this report must provide a summary and interpretation

of all monitoring data and a comparison to the effluent limits outlined in Condition 7 of the ECA. Table 3

summarizes effluent monitoring results and compares them to the relevant compliance limits and

objectives for all regulated parameters.

Table 3: Effluent monitoring results summary and comparison with performance criteria - 2016

Effluent

Parameter1 Units

Objective2

(MDC or

Range)

Limit2

(MDC)

No. of

Samples

Annual

Results Range

No. of Exceedances

Objective Limit

CBOD5 mg/L 10 15 26 <2.0 – 2.8 0 0

TSS mg/L 10 15 26 <2.0 – 11.4 1 0

Total P mg/L 1.0 1.0 26 1.48 – 4.40 26 26

pH --- 6.5 – 9.0 ---

26 7.01 – 7.55 0 0

1. CBOD5 = carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand; TSS = total suspended solids; Total P = total phosphorus.

2. MDC = Maximum Daily Concentration; where the daily concentration means the concentration of a contaminant in the

effluent discharged over any single day, as measured by a composite or grab sample, whichever is required.

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Table 1: Sampling program summary Table 2: Testing program summary1

Parameter Sample Type1 Parameter

Influent Monitoring (Monthly) Influent Monitoring

BOD5 Composite Dissolved Oxygen

Total Suspended Solids Composite pH

Total Phosphorus Composite Temperature

Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen Composite Effluent Monitoring

Effluent Monitoring (Biweekly) Dissolved Oxygen

BOD5 Composite pH

CBOD5 Composite Temperature

Total Suspended Solids Composite Total Suspended Solids (TSS)

Total Phosphorus Composite Process Monitoring2

Total Ammonia Nitrogen Composite Aeration 30 Minute Sludge Settling

pH (Field and Lab)2 Grab Aeration Dissolved Oxygen

Field Temperature2 Grab Aeration pH

Un-ionized Ammonia Calculation Aeration Total Suspended Solids

E. coli Grab Return Activated Sludge TSS

Sludge Monitoring (Annual) Clarifier Sludge Depth

Solids, Phosphorus, Metals Grab 1. The testing program refers to all in-house tests

conducted for purposes related to operational

control and quality assurance. All samples

collected for the in-house testing program are

grab samples.

2. All process monitoring tests are conducted on

each of the four aeration tanks and two

secondary clarifiers associated with the two

combined treatment units.

1. Composite samples are collected as per the Ministry of the

Environment’s publication ‘Protocol for the Sampling and

Analysis of Industrial/Municipal Waste Water.’ Specifically,

equal time/equal volume composite samples are collected

in accordance with the ‘Manual 4’ collection procedure,

such that three grab samples are taken at time intervals of

at least 2 hours over at least an 8-hour sampling period.

2. The temperature and pH of effluent is determined in the

field at the time of sampling for Total Ammonia Nitrogen,

such that the concentration of un-ionized ammonia is

calculated by the laboratory using the total ammonia

concentration, pH and temperature.

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Limits are summarized in Condition 7 (Effluent Limits) of the ECA. For the purposes of determining

compliance, the daily concentration of a parameter shall not exceed the corresponding maximum daily

concentration limit. The daily concentration means the concentration of a contaminant in the effluent

discharged over any single day, as measured by a composite or grab sample, whichever is required.

Effluent total phosphorus exceeded the limit of 1.0 mg/L for the entire reporting period (26 samples).

Refer to section 7.1 of this report for more information on effluent total phosphorus exceedances.

There were no effluent limit exceedances for the remaining effluent parameters in 2016.

In addition to comparing monitoring results to the effluent limits and in accordance with Condition

10(6)(f) of the ECA, this report must include a description of efforts made and results achieved in

meeting the effluent objectives. Objectives are summarized in Condition 6 (Effluent Objectives) of the

ECA, and the Works must be designed, constructed, and operated so as to achieve these objectives. In

addition to those objectives provided Table 3, the Owner must also use best efforts to ensure that the

effluent from the Works is essentially free of floating and settleable solids and does not contain oil or

any other substances in amounts sufficient to create a visible film or sheen or foam or discolouration on

the receiving waters.

Effluent objectives are generally achieved by monitoring water quality and exerting operational control

over the concentration of solids in the treatment process. Aeration settling tests and observations,

clarifier sludge blanket depths, suspended solids concentrations, and pH and dissolved oxygen test

results are all used to refine return activated sludge rates and to determine when and how much

activated sludge must be directed to waste.

An effluent sample collected on October 27, 2016, exceeded the total suspended solids effluent

objective of 10 mg/L. The exceedance was the result of a mechanical failure of the scraper arm assembly

associated with one of the clarifiers on October 19, 2016. Refer to section 7.2 of this report for more

information.

All effluent samples collected in 2016 exceeded the total phosphorus effluent objective of 1.0 mg/L.

Refer to section 7.1 of this report for more information.

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4 Flow Monitoring

Condition 6(2)(b) of the ECA states that the

Owner shall use best efforts to operate the

Works within its rated capacity. Specifically, the

Owner shall ensure that the average daily flow

of effluent from the treatment plant does not

exceed 4,400 m3/day over the course of a

calendar year.

Table 4 and Figure 1 summarize and compare

average and maximum daily flows to the limit

provided within the Environmental Compliance

Approval. Throughout the reporting period,

367,975 m3 of effluent was deposited by the

Works. On an average day 1,011 m3 of effluent

was discharged to the natural environment,

representing approximately 23% of the rated

capacity of the Marathon Wastewater Treatment

Plant. The maximum amount of effluent

deposited on a given day in 2016 was 1,891 m3,

representing approximately 43% of the rated

capacity.

Table 4: Effluent flow monitoring results - 2016

Month Total Volume

(m3)

Daily Flows (m3/day)

Average Maximum

Jan 33,903 1,094 1,504

Feb 32,532 1,122 1,246

Mar 36,368 1,173 1,891

Apr 32,630 1,088 1,188

May 31,342 1,011 1,200

Jun 29,458 982 1,368

Jul 27,297 881 1,034

Aug 29,600 955 1,439

Sep 28,342 945 1,295

Oct 30,322 978 1,120

Nov 26,464 882 1,064

Dec 31,717 1,023 1,285

Total 369,975 --- ---

Avg 30,831 1,011 ---

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Flo

w (

m3/d

ay)

Figure 1: 2016 average and maximum daily effluent flows.

Average Daily Flow Maximum Daily Flow Rated Capacity

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5 Sol ids Management

The volume of solids in the treatment process is controlled by directing activated sludge (i.e. waste

activated sludge) to the respective aerobic digesters. Sludge is subsequently transferred to a dewatering

system for further processing, such that solids are concentrated using a polymer and much of the water

present is removed and returned to the influent works. Dewatered sludge is then hauled by trailer to

designated drying beds at a landfill site, where the dried sludge is used for cover. During the reporting

period, dewatered sludge was hauled exclusively to the new landfill site located across from Peninsula

Road at its junction with Highway 17. Solids management methods and disposal areas to be utilized over

the next reporting period are not expected to change.

In accordance with Condition 10(6)(g) of the

ECA, this report must provide a tabulation of the

volume of sludge generated in the reporting

period, in addition to providing an outline of

anticipated volumes to be generated over the

next reporting period. A tabulation of the

amount of sludge generated in the reporting

period is provided in Table 5. In 2016,

approximately 656 m3 of dewatered solids were

removed from the Marathon WWTP. This

equates to 82 trailer hauls and was the result of

processing approximately 6,154 m3 of waste

activated sludge. The volume of dewatered

sludge generated and removed from the facility

in 2017 is anticipated to be between 500 m3

and 750 m3.

Table 5: Solids management summary - 2016

Month

Waste Activated

Sludge Volume

Processed

(m3)

Dewatered Sludge

Volume Generated

and Removed

(m3)

Jan 680 56

Feb 680 64

Mar 714 56

Apr 714 96

May 731 56

Jun 510 80

Jul 408 48

Aug 408 24

Sep 442 72

Oct 340 48

Nov 272 40

Dec 255 16

Total 6,154 656

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6 Maintenance and Modi f icat ions

6.1 Planned Maintenance

In accordance with Condition 10(6)(c) of the ECA, this report must include a summary of all maintenance

carried out on any major structure, equipment, apparatus, mechanism or thing forming part of the

Works. The Marathon WWTP employs a planned maintenance program that ensures that the sewage

works and related equipment that are installed or used to achieve compliance are properly operated

and maintained. Licenced Operators perform routine maintenance on all equipment including pumps,

air supply equipment, monitoring equipment, alarm systems, safety equipment, and other treatment

components. Both routine and non-routine (emergency) maintenance activities are conducted in

accordance with manufacturers’ instructions.

Additional significant planned maintenance activities that occurred during the reporting period include

the following:

Rite Price Appliance & Electrical Repair completed electrical work related to the forthcoming alum

chemical feed system on August 8 and November 1.

Calibration verification for the two effluent flow measuring devices was conducted by a

representative from Lakeside Process Controls on August 8. Both flow measuring devices passed

calibration verification.

In conjunction with Phil’s Septic Pumping Service Inc., the effluent contact chambers and scum

holding tanks were cleaned on September 21.

Backflow prevention devices were tested and inspected by a certified professional from Robert’s

Plumbing and Sheet Metal Ltd. on October 4.

A representative from ABB was on site to perform a power systems study, including an arc flash

study, a protective device coordination study, and a short circuit analysis/device evaluation study

on October 14 and December 14.

6.2 Eff luent Monitoring Equipment Cal ibrat ion and Maintenance

Condition 9(6) of the ECA requires the Owner to install and maintain continuous flow measuring devices

to measure the effluent from the Works with an accuracy to within plus or minus 15 percent of the

actual flowrate for the entire design range of the flow measuring devices. Additional effluent monitoring

equipment includes a portable meter used for determining pH and dissolved oxygen concentrations

and a handheld colorimeter for any discretionary colorimetric testing.

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In accordance with Condition 10(6)(e) of the ECA, this report must provide a summary of the calibration

and maintenance carried out on all effluent monitoring equipment. A summary of planned calibration

and maintenance activities conducted on effluent monitoring equipment is provided in Table 6.

6.3 Summary of Schedule ‘A ’ , Sect ion 1 Modif icat ions

In accordance with Condition 10(6)(j) of the ECA, this report must include copies of all Notice of

Modifications submitted to the Water Supervisor as a result of Schedule ‘A’, Section 1, complete with a

status report on the implementation of each modification. These modifications must adhere to the

criteria for limited operational flexibility and may affect sewage pumping stations, sewage treatment

processes, the sewage treatment plant outfall, sanitary sewers, or may otherwise be related to pilot

systems.

No Schedule ‘A’, Section 1 modifications were completed for the facility during the reporting period.

6.4 Summary of Schedule ‘A ’ , Sect ion 3 Modif icat ions

In accordance with Condition 10(6)(k) of the ECA, this report must summarize all modifications

completed as a result of Schedule ‘A’, Section 3. These modifications refer to normal or emergency

operational modifications, such as repairs, reconstructions, or other improvements that are part of

maintenance activities, including cleaning or renovations to existing approved sewage works equipment,

provided that the modification is made with equivalent equipment. Such modifications are not required

to follow the notification protocols under the Limited Operational Flexibility condition, provided that the

number of pieces and description of the equipment as described in the ECA does not change.

No Schedule ‘A’, Section 3 modifications were completed for the Marathon WWTP during the reporting

period. Modifications that were the result of equipment, infrastructure or process failures are

summarized in section 7.2.

Table 6: Effluent monitoring equipment calibration and maintenance activities

Equipment Calibration & Maintenance Activities

Two (2) Flow Measuring Devices

(CTU No. 1 and CTU No. 2)

Daily inspection; annual calibration verification;

calibration as required.

Hach DR/900 Multi-Parameter Handheld

Colorimeter (Colorimetric Testing)

Quarterly inspection and quality assurance; calibration

as required.

Hach HQ40d Portable Multi-Parameter

Meter (Dissolved Oxygen, pH, Temperature)

Daily (weekdays) inspection and cleaning; calibration

as required.

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7 Operat ing Problems

In accordance with Condition 10(6)(b) of the ECA, this report must provide a description of any operating

problems encountered and corrective actions taken during the reporting period. For the purposes of

this report, operating problems may be indicated by limit exceedances, equipment, infrastructure and

process failures, complaints, by-passes, overflows, spills, and abnormal discharge events.

7.1 Eff luent L imit Exceedances

All effluent samples collected in 2016 exceeded the total phosphorus effluent limit of 1.0 mg/L, and

there remains no significant operational control for phosphorus removal at the Marathon WWTP. The

system is currently pursuing an amendment to the ECA to install phosphorus removal equipment

consisting of a bulk tank and transfer pump, day tank, chemical metering pumps, associated piping and

appurtenances, and an injection point for delivering aluminum sulphate to influent wastewater

upstream from the treatment units.

All required equipment was purchased in 2015, and the ECA amendment application was received by

Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change on August 7, 2015. A draft ECA was received

on February 9, 2017. It is expected that the ECA will be amended and phosphorus removal equipment

will be commissioned prior to the end of 2017.

7.2 Equipment , Infrastructure and Process Fai lures

Operating problems associated with equipment, infrastructure and process failures that occurred

during the reporting period include the following:

On April 11, a power failure resulted the failure of contactors associated with the comminutor and

the clarifier scraper assembly on treatment unit no. 2. The contactors were bypassed until they

were replaced by an electrician on April 20.

On July 19, the filter press belt drive motor failed. The motor was replaced with a spare unit from

inventory on the same day.

On August 4, return activated sludge pump no. 1 failed due to a bearing failure. The pump was

replaced with a spare unit from inventory on the same day.

On October 19, the clarifier sludge scraper arm assembly failed due to damage to the worm gear.

It was determined that the gear required either rehabilitation or replacement, and operational

modifications were made to keep the treatment unit operational while the assembly was offline.

On November 22, Tramin Industrial arrived on site to remove the worm gear assembly and casing

for rehabilitation.

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7.3 Complaints

In accordance with Condition 10(6)(h) of the ECA, this report must provide a summary of any complaints

received during the reporting period and any steps taken to address the complaints.

No complaints related to the operation and maintenance of the Marathon WWTP were received during

the reporting period.

7.4 By-passes , Overf lows , Spi l ls and Abnormal Discharge Events

In accordance with Condition 10(6)(i) of the ECA, this report must provide a summary of all by-passes,

spills or abnormal discharge events.

A by-pass refers to the diversion of sewage around one or more unit processes within the treatment

facility, whereby diverted sewage flows are returned to the treatment facility upstream of the final

effluent sampling location and are discharged to the environment through the plant outfall. By-passes

are prohibited except in certain situations, and may be planned (i.e. for maintenance or research

purposes) or unplanned (i.e. emergency situations or high flow conditions).

A plant overflow means a discharge to the environment from the sewage treatment facility at a location

other than the plant outfall or into the plant outfall downstream of the final effluent sampling location.

Overflows are prohibited except in certain situations, and special reporting, sampling, and recording

requirements apply in the event of an overflow. Overflows may be generally the result of heavy rainfall or

snow melt events, such that the system becomes hydraulically overloaded.

Spills are releases of pollutants into the natural environment from or out of a structure, vehicle or other

container that is abnormal in quality or quantity in light of all the circumstances of the discharge. Spills

are generally the result of mechanical, electrical, automation or process failures. Abnormal discharge

events include any other abnormal events not otherwise classified as a bypass, overflow, or spill.

There were no by-passes, overflows, spills or abnormal discharge events for the Marathon WWTP during

the reporting period.

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8 Conclusion

In accordance with Condition 10(6)(a) of the ECA, this report must include an overview of the success

and adequacy of the sewage treatment program. Water quality and flow monitoring results suggest a

successful and adequate sewage treatment program, with the exception of effluent total phosphorus

concentrations. Under normal operations, the Marathon WWTP was capable of consistently meeting all

other objectives and compliance limits for the final effluent parameters carbonaceous biochemical

oxygen demand, suspended solids, and pH. Additionally, all flows from the sewage works were below the

rated capacity for the Marathon WWTP.

The Marathon WWTP failed to achieve the effluent limit for total phosphorus for the duration of the

reporting period. A goal of the sewage treatment program in 2017 is to make operational the

phosphorus removal system, which consists of the application of aluminum sulphate to influent

wastewater. All relevant equipment has either been acquired or installed, and the only remaining step is

to receive final approval from the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change. Final approval will

likely occur in 2017.