Water and Wastewater in Ontario

Chris Lyon, P.Eng., M.Eng. Director Engineering ServicesAinley Group, Engineering

Overview

Municipal Water SystemsWatershed Protection in OntarioThe OCC PS Project

Municipal Water In Ontario

Where does it come from?Is it treated?Is it tested?How much does it cost?Is it safe?Do you drink it?

Water Sources

Groundwater (Springs, Wells, etc.)Surface Water (Rivers, Lakes, etc.)Ocean Water (Desalination Plants)Rain / Snow (Cisterns)Others?

Is Drinking Water Treated? / Tested?

Private Wells… nopePrivate Lakes/ Rivers… nadaCompany Wells/Surface Water… nadaMunicipal Sources… yesProvincial Sources… mostlyFederal Sources… sometimes

… a little… a little

… it depends

… big time… mostly

… sometimes

Treatment…

Surface waters are cleaned, settled and pollishedChlorine is added to municipal waterOzone and UV Rays are used to neutralize bacteria in some casesFree Chlorine must still be in municipal systems

Living Organism Pollutantsin Drinking Water – Danger?

Coliform Rotting Plants / Soil Fecal Coliform E-Coli

– Animals

Parasidic Protazoa Cryptosporidium Giardia Lamblia AKA - Beaver Fever /

Montezuma’s Revenge, etc.

Living Organism Pollutantsin Drinking Water – Danger?

Coliform Rotting Plants / Soil Fecal Coliform E-Coli

– Animals

Parasidic Protazoa Cryptosporidium Giardia Lamblia AKA - Beaver Fever /

Montezuma’s Revenge, etc.

In substantial numbers may cause mild illness, severe illness or death‘Divide and Multiply’ and Make you sick for a few days or a few weeks

Chemical Pollutants – Which are the Riskiest?

Spilled Gasoline?Herbicides?Pesticides?Poisons?Nitrogen?Greenhouse Gases?

Chemical Pollutants – Which are the Riskiest?

Spilled Gasoline?Herbicides?Pesticides?Poisons?Nitrogen?Greenhouse Gases?

Decomposes w O2Risky but…Risky but…Risky but…Risky.. Dilution onlyGreenhouse Gases?… that’s another story

Multi-barrier ApproachIf it’s good enough for Canadian Roofing

Drinking Water Multi-Barriers

Protect and Test the water sourceTest and Treat the Raw waterClean and Disinfect the WaterMonitor / Alarm the Water 24/7 Monitor / Alarm the Reservoirs 24/7Create a redundant water piping systemMonitor water in the distribution systemTest all points every 24/7, daily & weekly

Wastewater Treatment

Working with nature to clean dirty water…

Cleaning Waste Water... What’s the worst…

Poop ‘n PaperPaintChemicalsSoapsInsecticidesPetroleumArsenicStones/Sticks

                                                                                        

  

Wastewater Before and After

Cleaning WastewaterScreening – tires, 2x4’s, nylonsGrit Removal – more stones and sandSeparating Solids from Liquids Settle Solids and send solids to ‘digest’ Add bacteria to the remaining liquid and

create a warm feeding and reproductive frenzy

Settle out the fat bacteria families and send them to ‘digest’ (and create methane)

Treat and filter remaining bacteria

Return clarified waste water to nature

Topics in the News?

What happened in Walkerton, Ontario?

Walkerton – Who Messed Up?

Who was at fault?

Justice O’Connor Called for change by…

By the Province of OntarioBy all Municipalities and Water UtilitiesBy the Supervisors / Operators….and he called for a multi-barrier approach with increased training, double checking and governance with professional and governmental oversight…

Other Issues…Is Sewage in the Ottawa River?Flooded basements in Kanata? Orleans?Are people bathing in sewage in Developing Countries? India? Haita – Cholera? Is there a lack of Clean water in Canadian Aboriginal reserves?Is drinking water safe when it’s from a school water fountain?