wastewater treatment

AnnuAl
RepoRt
2011
Table of Contents
Title Page No.
List of Data Tables ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 2
Staff Organization ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 3
Introduction ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4
Water Pollution Control Plant Process Description……………………………………….. 4
Striving for Continual Improvement……………………………………………………………… 6
Continual Improvement in Effluent Quality………………………………………………….. 6
Wastewater Treatment Process Summary…………………………………………………… 7
Biosolids – Digester and Dewatering Summary…………………………………………….. 9
WPCP Infrastructure Maintenance Projects…………………………………………………. 10
WPCP Construction Projects………………………………………………………………………… 11
Wastewater Collection Projects………….……………………………………………………….. 11
WPCP Research Projects and Studies……………………………………………………......... 12
WPCP Laboratory…………………………………………………………………………………………. 13
Calibration & Maintenance of Monitoring Equipment…………………………………. 14
Sewer Use Control Program…………………………………………………………………………. 14
Complaints / Inquires …………………………………………………………………………………… 15
Bypass Events………………………………………………………………………………………………. 15
2011 Direct Operating Expenditures…………………………………………………………….. 16
Historical Operating Costs……………………………………………………………………………. 17
Plant Process Schematic……………………………………………………………………………….. 18
Sludge Process Schematic…………………………………………………………………………….. 19
Water Pollution Control Plant Site Plan………………………………………………………… 20

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List of Data Tables

Title Page No.

Flows Received…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 21
Plant Effluent Loadings Monthly Averages………………………………….................... 22
Plant Performance Data Monthly Averages………………………………….................. 23
Temperature & pH Monthly Averages………………………………………………………….. 24
Phosphorus Treatment…………………………………………………………………………………. 25
Phosphorus Treatment – Chemical Consumption…………………………………………. 26
Secondary Treatment – Ammonia Reduction Monthly Averages………………….. 27
Bacteriological Data – Final Effluent………………………………………........................ 28
Raw & Thickened Waste Secondary Sludge to Primary Digesters………….......... 29
Digester Operations Monthly Averages………………………………………………………… 30
Digester Gas ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 31
Secondary Treatment – DAF Performance Monthly Averages………………………. 32
Centrifuge Performance……………………………………………………………………………….. 33
Grit & Screenings Removed………………………………………………………………………….. 34
Sludge Dewatering Results…………………………………………………………………………... 35
Waste Haul Septic Water Summary ……………………………………………………………… 36
Waste Haul Process Water Summary……………………………………………………………. 37
Heavy Metals Effluent Data………………………………………………………………………….. 38
Heavy Metals Raw Sludge Data…………………………………………………………………….. 39
Heavy Metals Cake Data………………………………………………………………………………. 40
Heavy Metals Digested Sludge Data……………………………………………………………… 41
ALS versus WPCP Analysis Results ……………………………………………………………….. 42

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Staff Organization
Environment Division
Manager – Kerri Marshall, P. Eng.
Chief Chemist – Jim Vukmanich,
M.Sc., C.Chem.
Water Pollution Control Plant
Superintendent – Dave Dutchak
Supervisor, Maintenance – Ted
Blatchford
Accounting & Administration
Clerk – Ella Rinker
Chief Operator, Electrical – Doug
Berini
Chief Operator, Maintenance –
Sal Piccolo
Staff Photo - Spring Up to Clean Up Event at WPCP
Community Environmental
Action Plan Coordinator – Kelsey
Johansen, Sarah Kerton
Planning & Research Analyst –
Mike Brown, Todd Kirkwood,
Adam Tempelman
Chief Operator, Operations –
Mark Wilson
Environmental Inspector – Brian
Lix, Adam Tempelman
Janitor Handyman – Dan Shott
Laboratory Technicians – Patrick
McGuire, Sharon Young
Millwright Apprentice – Rod
Cooper, Patty Wilson
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Process Engineer - Carl Goodwin,
M.Sc. P.Eng., Michelle
Warywoda, P. Eng.
Training & Quality Assurance
Coordinator – Terry Restoule
Millwrights – Arnold Bylund,
John Hrycyk, Brian Lix, Mike
Noga, Warren Perry
Operators – Jordan Cook, Rick
Sutton, Patty Wilson
Plant Electricians – Kory Bodnar,
Dan Fulton, Rick Staszkiel, Gord
Tribe
Introduction
The City of Thunder Bay owns and operates a Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) located at
901 Atlantic Avenue. This plant provides primary and secondary treatment, phosphorus and
ammonia removal and anaerobic sludge digestion for the entire serviced area of Thunder Bay.
Disinfection of the effluent occurs on a seasonal basis, from April 15th to October 15th. The
treatment facility has a rated capacity of 84.5 million litres per day with a future expansion
allowing for 109 million litres per day.
This report is prepared on an annual basis to satisfy the requirements of the Ontario Ministry of
the Environment’s Certificate of Approval #1224-7DYK7H for the design and operation of the
Atlantic Avenue Water Pollution Control Plant. It also serves to explain the operation of a vital
part of the City of Thunder Bay’s infrastructure.
Plant Tours are available upon request. In 2011, over 750 individuals toured the facilities.

Water Pollution Control Plant Process Description

Raw sewage, from across the City, is collected in large trunk sewers and flows, mainly by
gravity, to the Main Pump Station at the Atlantic Avenue Water Pollution Control Plant.

In the Main Pump Station, the raw sewage is pumped to a

Parshall flume, where the flow is measured. The sewage
then passes through four mechanical bar screens. The
bar screens remove large objects such as rags, paper, and
wood debris, which is collected and hauled to the City’s
Solid Waste and Recycling Facility for disposal.
Main Pump Station
From the bar screens, the sewage enters an aerated grit tank, where aluminum sulphate is
added as the primary coagulant for phosphorus treatment. Heavier materials such as sand,
gravel, and grain settle out in the tanks and are removed as grit. The grit is dewatered and sent
to the City’s Solid Waste and Recycling Facility for final disposal. At the end of the grit tanks,
polymer is added, as a flocculating agent to assist in further phosphorus and solids removal.

From the grit tank, sewage flows through an

aerated distribution channel to four primary
clarifiers. The clarifiers are large open tanks
where the primary sludge solids are allowed to
settle to the bottom. Settled organic solids, which
include phosphorus, are continuously scraped
from the bottom of the tanks and pumped to four
anaerobic digesters. Scum, mainly grease,
collected at the end of the clarifiers is separated
Primary Clarifiers
by a rotary screen filter.

4
The liquid scum is separated and thickened in the Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) plant before
being fed to the digesters. The scum screenings are conveyed to a compactor, where they are
bagged and collected into a container then transferred to the City’s Solid Waste and Recycling
Facility for final disposal.

The liquid portion leaving the primary clarifiers is called the

primary effluent. This effluent goes to the Biofor® Biological
Aerated Filter plant (BAF) to receive secondary treatment.
The BAF plant provides the removal of biochemical oxygen
demand (CBOD), total suspended solids, phosphorus and
ammonia. There are eight carbonaceous filters to remove
the majority of the particulate and CBOD from the
wastewater and six nitrification filters to remove ammonia.
Biological Aerated Filter (BAF)
The waste generated (waste secondary sludge) in the filters is removed daily by a backwash and
thickened by the DAF plant. Both aluminum sulphate and polymer are added to the waste
secondary sludge to aid in phosphorus removal and the thickening process. Both the thickened
waste secondary sludge and the primary sludge from the clarifiers are mixed in a sludge blend
tank prior to being stabilized in the anaerobic digesters.

The anaerobic digesters retain the primary and secondary

sludge for approximately 28 days. The content of the
digesters are mixed and heated to a temperature of 35°C to
support the breakdown of the sludge by the anaerobic
bacteria. Digester gas, which contains methane, is produced
during the anaerobic digestion process and is partially re-
circulated in the digesters to provide mixing.
Overlooking Anaerobic Digesters

The excess digester gas is piped to a 600kW

cogeneration engine to produce electricity and heat
for the plant. If the engine is not utilizing the
digester gas, it can be burned in any of the four plant
boilers for fuel, supplying heat for the digestion
process and plant buildings. If the boilers do not
require the fuel, the thermal oxidation flare burns
the surplus digester gas.
600kW Cogeneration Unit
The digested sludge is transferred to the Sludge Dewatering Building where it is coagulated by
polymer addition and then mechanically dewatered using high speed centrifuges. The
dewatered sludge ‘cake’ or biosolids are hauled to the City’s Solid Waste and Recycling Facility
for final disposal. The centrate (liquid separated from the dewatering process) is recycled to
the plant Main Pump Station for re-treatment.

5
 The final plant effluent is discharged to the
Kaministiquia River. During the period of April 15 to
October 15 of each year, the final effluent is
disinfected using ultraviolet light technology to
reduce the discharge of bacteria during the
recreational water use season. For plant treatment
process schematics, see pages 17 and 18.

Final Effluent – Disinfected by Ultraviolet Light

Striving for Continual Improvement

The City of Thunder Bay’s Environmental policy (No. 04-02-02) demonstrates leadership in
environmental stewardship and fosters and promotes community sustainability.
The City is committed to continual improvements in environmental protection and the
prevention of pollution through its operations as an employer and consumer of products, and
by helping our community balance environmental and economic goals.
The City achieves this through:
• advocacy and regulation of environmental protection and sustainable management of
the environment;
• provision of services and facilities that act to protect and enhance the environment;
• managed development and land-use planning services;
• provision and management of utilities – sewer, water, roads;
• managed services and infrastructure for hazardous and non-hazardous waste;
• management of land as a landowner.

Continual Improvement in Effluent Quality

In 2011, the final effluent quality from the WPCP improved in Total Suspended Solids, Total
Phosphorus compared to the year previous. The largest improvement in effluent quality was
made the year after the secondary treatment plant was put into service in 2005. See Table 1,
for the Yearly Average Effluent Quality Results.

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 Total Total Total Ammonia
CBOD 5
Year Suspended Solids Phosphorus Nitrogen
(mg/L)
(mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L)
2005 41.41 23.42 0.77
2006 16.62 12.33 0.65 2.96
2007 12.12 9.4 0.50 2.08
2008 11.38 11.7 0.44 1.58
2009 6.14 11.7 0.50 1.64
2010 4.26 7.9 0.45 1.61
2011 5.54 6.6 0.43 1.98
Table 1: Yearly Average Effluent Quality Results

Wastewater Treatment Process Summary

The WPCP must operate below the effluent limits outlined in the Ontario Ministry of the
Environment’s Certificate of Approval (C of A) for the plant. The C of A lists effluent limits for
the following parameters: Total Suspended Solids (TSS), CBOD 5 , Total Phosphorus, pH and
E.Coli. In addition to the effluent limits, there are effluent objectives which are lower
concentrations than the limits. The WPCP strives to produce effluent quality to meet these
objectives. Total Ammonia Nitrogen is currently listed as an effluent objective not a limit.
There are two different objectives for ammonia, one for the freezing period (November 1 –
March 31) and one for the non-freezing period (April 1 to October 31). E. Coli has a seasonal
limit and objective from April 15th to October 15th.

Total Suspended Solid and CBOD 5 effluent concentrations remained below the objectives for
entire year. See Figure 1 for the monthly TSS and CBOD 5 results.

Effluent Limit Concentration

Concentration (mg/L)

30
25 C of A Limit
20
C of A Objective
15
Effluent TSS
10
5 Effluent CBOD
0

Figure 1: C of A Monthly Concentration Limits – Total Suspended Solids & CBOD 5

The Total Phosphorus concentration in 2011 started above the objective in January and
February. In March, due to a lower concentration of phosphorus entering the plant and with a

7
higher primary coagulant dosage the phosphorus concentration objective was met. The
phosphorus effluent results rose again just above the objective in September and November
due to higher than expected influent phosphorus concentrations. See Figure 2 for the monthly
effluent phosphorus concentrations for 2011.

Discharge Effluent Quality - Phosphorus

1.2
Concentration (mg/L)

1
Effluent Phosphorus
0.8
0.6 C of A Limit
0.4
C of A Objective
0.2
0

Figure 2: C of A Total Phosphorus Concentration Limit

The effluent pH for the plant stayed within the range outlined in the C of A as shown in Figure
3.

Discharge Effluent Quality - pH

12
Concentration (mg/L)

11
10
9 Effluent pH
8 C of A High Limit
7 C of A Low Limit
6
5
4

Figure 3: pH Effluent Results

In Figure 4, the monthly effluent results for Total Ammonia Nitrogen remained below the C of A
objective for the entire year, except the month of February due to lower than normal plant
influent temperatures and a high concentration of ammonia entering the plant. The colder

8
temperature inhibits the nitrification process which caused a higher Total Ammonia Nitrogen
results.

Discharge Effluent Quality

Total Ammonia Nitrogen
Ammonia Conc. (mg/L)
7
6
5
Effluent
4
Non Freezing Objective
3 Freezing Objective
2
1
0

Figure 4: C of A Ammonia Concentration Objectives

Biosolids – Digester and Dewatering Summary

The primary and secondary sludge generated and digester gas produced from the process was
reasonably constant throughout 2011. See Figure 5 for monthly sludge volumes and gas
production results.

Sludge to Digester and Gas Produced

9000 160000
Digester Gas Produced (m3)

8000 140000
Sludge Volume (m3)

7000
120000
6000
100000
5000
80000
4000
60000
3000
40000
2000

1000 20000

0 0

Primary Sludge Secondary Sludge Digester Gas

Figure 5: Sludge Volumes and Digester Gas Production

9
The monthly dewatered sludge amounts for 2011 are presented in Figure 6. The biosolids
(dewatered sludge) was hauled to the City of Thunder Bay Solid Waste and Recycling Facility by
a contracted waste hauler and buried with incoming garbage on a daily basis. Dewatered
sludge disposal in 2012 will continue to be done by direct burial at the City’s Solid Waste and
Recycling Facility. For 2012, if the treated flow rates remain the same, the WPCP expects to
generate around 8,500 to 9,000 tonnes of biosolids.

Monthly Biosolids Shipped to Landfill

1000
900
Tonnes (T)

800
700
600
500
400

Figure 6: Dewatered Sludge (Biosolids) shipped to Landfill

WPCP Infrastructure Maintenance Projects

As part of the Environment Division’s Asset Management Plan for the site, many maintenance
projects were carried out through 2011 to protect and improve the equipment and
infrastructure. See listing below for the various projects that were completed.

• Building and Grounds Maintenance: The perimeter fencing was inspected and repaired
for site security. A couple key areas were re-landscaped to improve drainage on the
site. Also, curbing was added to the front entrance of the Admin Building. To continue
minimizing walkway slip hazards, anti-slip coating was added in various exterior
locations.
• Main Pump Station: started replacement of 1977 Motor Control Centers (MCCs) with
new cutler hammer MCCs.
• Standby Power: removed electrical loads from standby diesel Generator #3 to standby
Generator #4 in preparation of decommissioning Generator #3. Started Kirk Key project
to build in redundancy between Generator #1 & #2.
• Primary Clarifiers: throughout the warmer months, all four primary clarifiers were taken
out of service, one at a time for annual maintenance.

10
 • Biological Aerated Filtration Plant: Filter
#11 was taken out of service for inspection
and maintenance. All of the Oxazurs™ (air
diffusers) were cleaned and replaced if
needed.

Dissolved Air Flotation Plant (DAF)

• Dissolved Air Floatation (DAF)

Plant: All four tanks were taken
out of service for cleaning and
inspection.
BAF Cell #11 empty & ready for maintenance

• Anaerobic Digesters: Digester No. 4 was emptied and cleaned in 2011 as part of the
regular maintenance cycle for the digesters. In addition, sludge feed line, digester gas
flex line, pipe hangers and two valves were replaced.
• Sludge Dewatering Facility: Centrifuge #3 was optimized.

WPCP Construction Projects

• The old Chlorine Storage building was transformed into a new storeroom. The HVAC
system was upgraded and a new overhead door was installed.

• The BAF control room was sound proofed from air conditioning unit for the MCC room,
acoustic ductwork was also installed.

• In the Main Pump station on the second floor, the large equipment door was replaced
to facilitate the MCC improvement project.

Wastewater Collection Projects

In 2011, the City of Thunder Bay replaced 1.8 km of sanitary sewer pipe and completed 1.3 km
of sanitary/storm sewer separation projects. A new wastewater collection lift station was
commissioned at Prince Arthur’s Landing to handle sewage from new and future buildings at
the Waterfront.

11
WPCP Research Projects and Studies
The WPCP has continued to support research work and engineering degree projects to increase
the plant’s environmental stewardship.
In 2011, a Lakehead University Graduate
continued to study the following: (1) the
relationship between solubilisation of sludge
organic matter, dewaterability and particle size
(2) determine the potential of using freezing as
a combined method for pre-treatment and
sludge conditioning, (3) examine the effect of
different freezing methods – freeze-thaw (FT),
power ultrasonic freezing, combined
ultrasound-freezing – on solubilisation of
organic matter and dewaterability of sludge, 4)
determine the effect of freezing temperature
Ammonia Testing
and FT cycles on the treatment efficiency of the FT method, and (5) determine the effect of
amplitude and sonication time on the treatment efficiency of combined ultrasonic-freezing. The
following parameters will be used to evaluate treatment efficiency: solubilisation of organic
matter, dewaterability, biodegradability, particle size and gas production. Treatment
efficiencies of the various freezing methods will be compared with those of thermal, microwave
and ultrasound pre-treatment methods. Laboratory results to date have been carried out using
thickened waste secondary sludge from Thunder Bay’s Water Pollution Control Plant.
Also, an undergraduate engineering degree project was carried out by students in the Civil
Engineering program at Lakehead University. The students studied freeze-thaw mechanics for
sludge volume reduction, dewatering and nutrient recovery. They also conducted Struvite
precipitation experiments.
Over the past two years the WPCP Laboratory has supported Sandra Dusolt, an IB Sir Winston
Churchill High School student researching the potential of biofilters. Sandra’s experimental
purpose was to test whether a biolfilter for growing food in a confined space can breakdown
pollutants and remove harmful bacteria from both grey water and sewage so that water was
safe enough for other uses. Her second objective was to show that biofilters can clean water,
grow food, produce energy and clean the air. Sandra’s project was so successful; she has been
awarded the following:
Regional Science Fair:
• Best in fair
• Best in senior division
• Peace and sustainability award
• OPG renewable energy award

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Canada Wide Science Fair:
• Gold medal in the senior division
• Won the resource challenge division
• Selected to be part of team Canada for MILSET 2011in Bratislava Slovakia
• Selected as the only Canadian guest competitor for EUCYS 2011 in Helsinki Finland

The plant continued to participate in a pilot project for reporting bypasses and overflows with
the Ministry of Environment. The project involved ten municipalities across Ontario which
evaluated new terms and conditions in a consolidated C of A and were required to report plant
results using the Ontario Ministry of Environment Wastewater System (MEWS). The aim was to
improve consistency of monitoring and reporting bypasses and overflows.

WPCP Laboratory
The laboratory supports the process control
testing for the Water Pollution Control Plant
(WPCP) on a daily basis. Under the direction
of the Chief Chemist two full time laboratory
technicians carry out operational analytical
requirements as outlined in the C of A of the
plant.

WPCP Laboratory Staff

The testing includes, but is not limited

to, the following parameters;
carbonaceous biochemical oxygen
demand (CBOD 5 ), total suspended
solids (TSS), total and soluble
phosphorus (TP and SP), pH, total
solids (TS), volatile solids (VS), volatile
acids, ammonia, chemical oxygen
demand (COD), capillary suction time
(CST), alkalinity and ultraviolet
transmittance (UVT). An external
accredited laboratory also conducts
monthly (bimonthly for metals) tests
for metals, COD, ammonia, and total
Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN). The
laboratory also provided the analytical
support for the Sewer Use Control
Program.
WPCP Laboratory Staff

13
In addition to external laboratory compliance testing and other internal operational tests,
WPCP laboratory staff completed and reported a total of 1960 tests on raw and final effluents.
Table 2 is a summary of the tests completed by WPCP staff.

Number of Test Performed each Month

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

CBOD 5 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 27 291

TSS 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 720

NH 3 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 20 19 229

TP 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 720
Table 2: Routine Test Numbers for 2011 WPCP Laboratory

All the results from the monitoring program were used to calculate final effluent and
dewatered sludge discharges reportable to Environment Canada through the NPRI program. In
addition results were used to produce monthly reports to the Ontario Ministry of the
Environment under the Municipal Utilities Monitoring Program (MUMP).

The laboratory has an internal Quality Assurance program in place for many parameters such as
ammonia, total suspended solids, phosphorus, and CBOD 5 tests.

Calibration & Maintenance of Monitoring Equipment

Calibration and maintenance of the effluent monitoring equipment and plant samplers were
carried out by the Environmental Inspector and Laboratory Technicians. The influent flow
measuring device was verified for accuracy by Plant Electricians on a routine basis. The effluent
flow measuring device was verified for accuracy by an external consultant in October 2011.

Sewer Use Control Program

The Hauled Sewage Monitoring Program
recorded a total of 196 loads of processed water
and septic and holding tank wastes which
accounted for 2.875 million Litres of hauled
sewage received at the plant for 2011.

14
 The Hauled Sewage Monitoring Program consists
of an annual permit issued to waste haulers
discharging to the WPCP, and a tracking form for
each load which must be provided to the City prior
to discharge. The tracking form allows the City to
monitor the volume, type, and origin of wastes
received via the independent haulers. The Extra
Strength Surcharge Program, provided through the
City’s Sewer Use By-law allows participating
industries to discharge effluent containing total
phosphorus, CBOD 5 , and suspended solids in
excess of the limits in the Sewer Use By-law. The
industries are then assessed a fee, based on the
actual treatment cost of the loading above the by-
law limit. The Surcharge Program and the Hauled
Waste Disposal Program generated revenue of
approximately $172,000 in 2011.

Environmental Inspector

Complaints / Inquiries
No complaints or inquiries regarding the Water Pollution Control Plant were received in 2011.

Bypass Events
There were no primary bypass events at the Water Pollution Control Plant in 2011.
Due to equipment maintenance and power failures the plant did have planned and unplanned
secondary bypass events in 2011. A volume of 41 million litres received primary treatment, but
bypassed the secondary treatment plant before entering the Kaministiquia River.

15
Water Pollution Control Plant
2011 DIRECT OPERATING EXPENDITURES

CATEGORY TOTAL COST

Administration $ 825,480.35

Plant Operations $ 4,466,274.42

Pumping Stations $ 23,669.23

Laboratory & Sewer Use Control $ 237,884.13

Storm Water Pumping Stations $ 19,969.59

Total $ 5,573,277.72

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Water Pollution Control Plant
HISTORICAL OPERATING COSTS

YEAR TOTAL ANNUAL TOTAL COST PER

FLOW OPERATING MILLION LITRES
(MILLION LITRES) COST TREATED
1991 33,987 $2,456,245 $72.27
1992 29,353 $2,355,362 $80.24
1993 26,299 $2,783,784 $105.85
1994 25,146 $2,885,186 $114.74
1995 23,939 $2,822,762 $117.92
1996 31,047 $2,857,233 $92.03
1997 27,705 $2,576,867 $93.01
1998 25,400 $2,509,206 $98.79
1999 27,832 $2,695,013 $96.83
2000 25,063 $2,830,492 $112.94
2001 26,639 $2,881,507 $108.17
2002 22,417 $3,106,077 $138.56
2003 22,232 $3,132,542 $140.90
2004 24,551 $3,554,357 $144.78
2005 25,942 $4,334,343 $167.08
2006 22,973 $5,213,890 $200.98
2007 22,957 $5,491,946 $239.06
2008 25,951 $5,507,833 $212.24
2009 25,329 $5,935,330 $234.33
2010 22,607 $5,935,032 $262.53
2011 21,741 $5,573,278 $256.35

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 PLANT PROCESS SCHEMATIC

Primary Treatment Secondary Treatment

Bar Polymer
Screens Alum
Parshall BAF Fine
#4
#1 to # Screens
Flume
BAF “C” BAF “N”
Raw Aerated Grit Tanks Primary Clarifiers
#1 &
# &##2 #1 to #4
#
Sewage

Main Pump Station

Pumps # 1 to #5
Screenings
to Landfill
Backwash Backwash
Grit
Waste Tank Supply
to Tank
Landfill

Raw
Sludge
DAF

Ultraviolet
Thickened Waste Disinfection
Secondary Sludge

BAF – Biological Aerated Filter

C – Carbonaceous To Sludge Final Effluent
N – Nitrification Blend Tank To
DAF – Dissolved Air Flotation Kaministiquia
River

18
SLUDGE PROCESS SCHEMATIC

Polymer

Biosolids
Dewatering To Landfill
Digested Centrate
To Main Pump
Sludge
Station
Emergency
Overflow
Digester Gas
To Digester
Mixing,
Cogeneration
Engine,
Boilers or Flare

Digester Digester Digester Digester

No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 No. 4

Blended Sludge

Raw
Sludge Sludge Blend
Tank
Thickened Waste
Secondary Sludge

19
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL PLANT
SITE PLAN

City of Thunder Bay - Water Pollution Control Plant

20
City of Thunder Bay
Infrastructure and Operations Water Pollution Control Plant
Sewage Treatment Section 2011

Flows Received

Monthly Monthly Max. Daily Min. Daily

Avg. Daily
Treated Total Flow for Flow for
MONTH Flow
Volume Precipitation Month Month
(MLD)
(ML) (mm) (MLD) (MLD)

January 1623.9 21.00 144.75 5.25 54.63

February 1323.0 14.00 78.08 12.30 49.29

March 1607.3 32.50 119.52 5.42 54.15

April 2454.7 64.50 208.81 10.36 85.34

May 2571.4 51.50 172.86 6.05 86.52

June 2111.8 89.50 221.93 5.87 73.58

July 2243.0 101.00 236.95 5.66 75.73

August 1773.4 44.50 168.28 5.91 60.08

September 1571.6 36.00 146.20 5.37 54.80

October 1502.1 42.00 98.20 7.16 55.84

November 1498.6 9.50 614.43 5.34 52.19

December 1460.0 16.50 119.03 5.23 49.30

Total 21740.9 522.50

Average 1811.7 43.54 194.09 6.66 62.62

Note: MLD - Million Liters per Day - 21 -

City of Thunder Bay
Infrastructure and Operations Water Pollution Control Plant
Sewage Treatment Section 2011

Plant Effluent Loadings Monthly Averages

Plant Effluent Total

Plant Effluent CBOD Plant Effluent TSS
MONTH Phosphorus Loading
Loading kg/day Loading kg/day
kg/day

January 334.6 413.2 27.6

February 377.2 515.6 29.9

March 358.8 400.2 22.1

April 480.3 542.9 23.4

May 401.6 567.3 24.6

June 305.2 423.3 20.8

July 316.4 391.8 18.8

August 241.1 385.5 24.9

September 301.0 289.7 27.3

October 219.5 261.8 21.0

November 288.7 238.2 26.4

December 309.5 279.8 23.5

Average 327.8 392.4 24.2

C of A
Loading 2112.5 2112.5 84.5
Limit

- 22 -
City of Thunder Bay
Infrastructure and Operations Water Pollution Control Plant
Sewage Treatment Section 2011

Plant Performance Data Monthly Averages

Removal Removal
Influent Influent Effluent Effluent
Efficiency Efficiency
MONTH CBOD TSS CBOD TSS
CBOD TSS
(mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L)
(%) (%)

January 155.10 182.9 6.22 7.9 95.8 95.5

February 173.33 192.7 7.89 11.0 95.4 94.2

March 151.66 174.8 7.03 7.8 95.5 95.3

April 107.18 130.4 5.68 6.8 94.5 94.7

May 84.98 160.3 4.64 6.9 94.5 94.7

June 107.47 167.3 4.22 6.0 95.8 96.0

July 121.06 155.6 3.78 5.5 96.6 95.8

August 146.29 188.8 4.54 6.8 97.0 96.2

September 163.08 190.2 5.70 5.5 96.4 97.1

October 138.87 172.1 4.20 4.3 97.0 97.6

November 169.45 136.3 5.94 4.8 96.5 95.5

December 178.71 165.4 6.65 5.9 95.9 95.9

Average 141.43 168.1 5.54 6.6 95.9 95.7

- 23 -
City of Thunder Bay
Infrastructure and Operations Water Pollution Control Plant
Sewage Treatment Section 2011

Temperature & pH Monthly Averages

Plant Plant
Plant Influent Plant Influent
MONTH Effluent Effluent
(Deg C) (pH)
(Deg C) (pH)
January 11.76 7.34 12.76 6.96

February 11.43 7.30 12.02 6.83

March 11.29 7.21 12.99 6.81

April 10.83 7.51 12.15 7.35

May 11.82 7.49 13.31 7.45

June 13.85 7.53 16.35 7.49

July 16.93 7.50 18.76 7.65

August 17.33 7.49 19.38 7.56

September 16.71 7.45 18.98 7.39

October 15.65 7.56 17.53 7.41

November 13.49 7.83 15.91 7.32

December 12.15 7.52 13.22 7.28

Average 13.60 7.48 15.28 7.29

- 24 -
City of Thunder Bay
Infrastructure and Operations Water Pollution Control Plant
Sewage Treatment Section 2011

Phosphorus Treatment

Effluent Effluent
Influent Total
MONTH Total Phosphorus Soluble Phosphorus
Phosphorus (mg/L)
(mg/L) (mg/L)

January 5.17 0.53 0.30

February 4.97 0.63 0.34

March 4.54 0.43 0.22

April 2.79 0.29 0.15

May 3.43 0.30 0.15

June 3.48 0.30 0.14

July 3.44 0.27 0.12

August 5.04 0.44 0.21

September 5.41 0.52 0.28

October 4.80 0.38 0.19

November 5.35 0.53 0.33

December 4.80 0.49 0.26

Average 4.43 0.43 0.22

- 25 -
City of Thunder Bay
Infrastructure and Operations Water Pollution Control Plant
Sewage Treatment Section 2011

Phosphorus Treatment - Chemical Consumption

Primary Primary Coagulant Coagulant Aid

MONTH Coagulant Coagulant Aid Dosage
Used (kg) Dosage (mg/L) Used (kg) (mg/L)

January 64175 38.5 221 0.13

February 58998 43.4 195 0.14

March 76257 45.7 302 0.18

April 104941 43.0 351 0.15

May 86120 32.5 345 0.13

June 59404 27.4 258 0.12

July 52414 24.4 246 0.12

August 43566 23.8 193 0.11

September 62788 38.7 222 0.14

October 54941 32.4 231 0.13

November 43377 28.1 197 0.13

December 71379 48.8 188 0.13

Total 778360 2950

Average 64863 35.6 246 0.13

- 26 -
City of Thunder Bay
Infrastructure and Operations Water Pollution Control Plant
Sewage Treatment Section 2011

Secondary Treatment Ammonia Reduction Monthly Averages

BAF Influent BAF 'C' Effluent BAF 'N' Effluent Plant Effluent
MONTH
(mg/L NH3-N) (mg/L NH3-N) (mg/L NH3-N) (mg/L NH3-N)

January 18.78 17.77 3.12 3.84

February 26.66 25.06 5.06 6.12

March 23.30 21.39 4.38 4.36

April 11.37 10.95 2.13 0.75

May 12.39 10.31 1.59 0.68

June 14.74 13.86 1.92 1.51

July 11.36 9.45 0.51 0.15

August 16.26 12.45 0.72 0.36

September 20.88 15.93 1.24 1.15

October 20.21 15.75 1.73 0.92

November 25.07 17.68 2.09 1.92

December 1.96

Average 18.27 15.51 2.23 1.98

- 27 -
City of Thunder Bay
Infrastructure and Operations Water Pollution Control Plant
Sewage Treatment Section 2011

Bacteriological Data Final Effluent

E. Coli (organisms/100ml)
MONTH
(Monthly Geometric Mean)

January

February

March

April 40

May 81

June 68

July 24

August 47

September 41

October 150

November

December

Average 64

Note: The final effluent is disinfected seasonally from April 15 to October 15 by the ultraviolet disinfection process.

- 28 -
City of Thunder Bay
Infrastructure and Operations Water Pollution Control Plant
Sewage Treatment Section 2011

Raw & Thickened Waste Secondary Sludge to Primary Digesters

Primary Primary TWSS TWSS
Primary
Total Volatile TWSS Total Volatile
MONTH Sludge
Solids Solids (m³) Solids Solids
(m³)
(%) (%) (%) (%)

January 6928 4.0 78.8 3417 4.8 77.9

February 6106 1.8 78.7 2711 4.1 79.2

March 8093 3.3 74.6 3435 4.8 77.7

April 6919 4.3 67.7 3480 4.5 75.7

May 6921 4.1 71.1 3040 5.2 73.1

June 6261 4.2 71.9 2793 4.6 73.7

July 6426 3.8 71.5 3123 6.5 67.7

August 6942 3.0 76.2 2694 4.7 76.7

September 6521 3.7 73.3 3056 4.3 77.2

October 6775 2.2 77.2 3759 3.9 77.0

November 6332 2.3 80.2 3981 3.5 77.2

December 5803 2.7 79.0 3430 3.7 77.3

Average 6669 3.3 75.0 3243 4.5 75.9

Total 80026 38918

Note: Primary Sludge & Thickened Waste Secondary Sludge (TWSS) are monthly total volumes. Both
sludges are mixed in a blend tank prior to being fed to the digesters.

- 29 -
City of Thunder Bay
Infrastructure and Operations Water Pollution Control Plant
Sewage Treatment Section 2011

Digester Operations Monthly Averages

Total Volatile Volatile

Alkalinity Temp
MONTH Solids Solids Acids pH
(mg/L) (C)
(%) (%) (mg/L)

January 1.89 60.39 90.37 3521.9 35.10 7.48

February 1.75 60.93 95.86 3337.5 34.95 7.24

March 1.76 60.32 91.52 3213.7 35.05 7.52

April 2.15 55.94 102.74 3037.5 35.06 7.43

May 2.30 55.08 109.47 3089.6 35.07 7.42

June 2.15 56.49 116.62 2953.4 35.05 7.39

July 2.31 56.13 108.75 3461.7 35.18 7.49

August 2.04 58.72 137.08 3471.4 35.07 7.47

September 1.96 58.53 108.76 3416.3 35.04 7.46

October 1.67 59.82 105.95 2952.9 34.94 7.45

November 1.46 61.38 101.63 2892.0 35.04 7.45

December 1.53 61.93 93.06 3006.1 35.04 7.48

Average 1.91 58.80 105.15 3196.2 35.05 7.44

- 30 -
City of Thunder Bay
Infrastructure and Operations Water Pollution Control Plant
Sewage Treatment Section 2011

Digester Gas

MONTH Gas Produced Gas Consumed Gas Wasted

Totals (m³) (m³) (m³)

January 151198 146929 4270

February 130508 127551 2956

March 149981 145634 5609

April 149603 149177 426

May 150827 150110 716

June 132952 131929 1023

July 137155 136588 567

August 132727 130831 1895

September 133149 129608 3540

October 143120 135287 9172

November 133625 108460 21590

December 156016 147678 8338

Total 1700860 1639783 60103

- 31 -
City of Thunder Bay
Infrastructure and Operations Water Pollution Control Plant
Sewage Treatment Section 2011

Secondary Treatment DAF Performance Monthly Averages

TWSS Volume to
DAF Removal TWSS Total TWSS Total Volatile
MONTH Efficiency (%)
Digesters
Solids (%) Solids (%)
(m³)

January 77.1 3417 4.8 77.90

February 69.2 2711 4.1 79.19

March 81.7 3435 4.8 77.70

April 77.5 3480 4.5 75.74

May 82.4 3040 5.2 73.15

June 72.9 2793 4.6 73.72

July 78.6 3123 6.5 67.72

August 75.4 2694 4.7 76.73

September 85.7 3056 4.3 77.24

October 84.3 3759 3.9 77.02

November 82.8 3981 3.5 77.24

December 72.7 3430 3.7 77.31

Average 78.4 3243 4.5 75.89

Note: Thickened Waste Secondary Sludge (TWSS) is a monthly total volume.

- 32 -
City of Thunder Bay
Infrastructure and Operations Water Pollution Control Plant
Sewage Treatment Section 2011

Centrifuge Performance

Feed Sludge Feed Sludge Polymer Cake Total

Centrate Recovery
Month Total Solids Volatile Dosage
TSS (mg/L)
Solids
TSS (%)
(%) Solids (%) (kg/T) (%)

Jan 2.2 63.2 13.6 536 25.9 97.6

Feb 2.0 62.9 15.4 446 26.1 97.7

Mar 2.0 61.2 13.3 495 26.2 97.5

Apr 2.4 58.5 12.7 631 27.0 97.4

May 2.9 57.1 11.8 620 26.9 97.8

Jun 2.5 55.8 13.0 507 28.0 98.0

Jul 2.7 56.6 14.0 577 28.3 97.8

Aug 2.3 58.8 17.1 518 27.9 97.7

Sep 2.8 58.3 14.1 482 27.0 98.0

Oct 2.1 61.4 16.7 405 26.5 98.0

Nov 1.8 60.7 17.3 272 26.1 98.4

Dec 1.7 62.2 17.3 240 25.8 98.6

Average 2.3 59.7 14.7 477 26.8 97.9

- 33 -
City of Thunder Bay
Infrastructure and Operations Water Pollution Control Plant
Sewage Treatment Section 2011

Grit and Screening Removed

GRIT REMOVED SCREENING REMOVED

MONTH
(m3) (m3)

January 48.46 12.11

February 35.68 8.92

March 53.42 13.36

April 60.43 15.11

May 47.38 11.85

June 39.48 9.87

July 41.00 10.25

August 27.60 6.90

September 26.59 6.65

October 32.53 8.13

November 39.58 9.89

December 31.98 3.88

Total 484.13 116.92

- 34 -
City of Thunder Bay
Infrastructure and Operations Water Pollution Control Plant
Sewage Treatment Section 2011

Sludge Dewatering Results

Polymer Dewatered
Sludge to Total Sludge
Dosage Sludge to
MONTH Dewatering Dewatered
(kg/Tonne landfill
(m3/day) (m3)
Solids) (Tonnes)

January 244 7549 13.58 664.0

February 255 7138 15.39 569.0

March 276 8558 13.31 735.8

April 259 7772 12.70 756.9

May 247 7650 11.75 792.7

June 301 9025 12.97 857.5

July 248 7701 14.01 749.7

August 256 7921 17.09 699.8

September 254 7620 14.09 852.6

October 243 7041 16.71 654.8

November 290 8709 17.31 609.1

December 287 8912 17.30 641.5

Average 263 14.68

Total 95596 8583.3

- 35 -
City of Thunder Bay
Infrastructure and Operations Water Pollution Control Plant
Sewage Treatment Section 2011

Waste Haul Septic Water Summary

Number of
MONTH pH Litres Cubic Meters
Loads

January 0

February 2 6.78 27728 28

March 5 6.60 118878 119

April 5 6.67 55092 55

May 2 6.71 26000 26

June 8 7.40 99000 99

July 2 6.93 34000 34

August 0

September 0

October 0

November 0

December 0

Total 24 360698 361

Average 6.85

- 36 -
City of Thunder Bay
Infrastructure and Operations Water Pollution Control Plant
Sewage Treatment Section 2011

Waste Haul Process Water Summary

Number of
MONTH pH Litres Cubic Meters
Loads

January 16 6.72 214850 215

February 12 6.60 165250 165

March 19 6.53 291250 291

April 14 6.59 187200 187

May 20 6.48 322300 322

June 17 6.47 244800 245

July 14 6.62 221500 222

August 12 7.05 181000 181

September 11 7.10 172000 172

October 10 6.87 145000 145

November 14 6.97 206800 207

December 13 7.07 162750 163

Total 172 2514700 2515

Average 6.76

- 37 -
City of Thunder Bay Water Pollution Control Plant
Infrastructure and Operations 2011
Sewage Treatment Section

Heavy Metals Effluent Data

Al AS Cd Cr Co Cu Fe Pb Mn Mo Ni Zn
MONTH
(mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L)

January 0.53 <0.001 <0.000 <0.002 <0.001 0.012 0.450 <0.0 0.104 0.003 <0.002 <0.02

February

March 0.42 <0.001 <0.000 <0.002 <0.001 0.014 0.510 <0.0 0.147 0.006 <0.002 0.03

April

May 0.27 0.001 <0.000 <0.002 <0.001 0.010 0.580 <0.0 0.144 0.004 <0.002 <0.02

June

July 0.27 0.001 <0.000 <0.002 <0.001 0.010 0.690 <0.0 0.119 0.003 <0.002 <0.02

August

September 0.21 <0.001 <0.000 <0.002 <0.001 0.014 0.590 <0.0 0.080 0.003 <0.002 <0.02

October

November 0.25 0.001 <0.000 <0.002 <0.001 0.011 0.390 <0.0 0.075 0.007 <0.002 <0.02

December
December

- 38 -
City of Thunder Bay Water Pollution Control Plant
Infrastructure and Operations 2011
Sewage Treatment Section

Heavy Metals Raw Sludge Data

MONTH Al As Cd Cr Co Cu Fe Pb Mn Mo Ni Zn
(mg/kg) (mg/kg) (mg/kg) (mg/kg) (mg/kg) (mg/kg) (mg/kg) (mg/kg) (mg/kg) (mg/kg) (mg/kg) (mg/kg)

January 14200 2.3 0.5 27.7 1.6 191.0 13200 17.9 170.0 2.4 10.2 248.0

February

March 24600 3.0 0.6 43.4 2.8 202.0 17400 34.4 222.0 2.7 19.3 277.0

April

May 12500 2.8 0.6 40.4 2.1 150.0 20300 24.5 184.0 2.4 19.8 223.0

June

July 10500 4.7 0.7 41.7 4.4 190.0 25800 43.8 271.0 3.1 23.6 305.0

August

September 11100 2.4 0.5 24.3 1.8 147.0 12700 18.1 180.0 2.6 12.5 213.0

October

November 13600 2.5 0.5 26.4 6.3 209.0 13600 16.3 232.0 3.3 33.8 239.0

December
December

- 39 -
City of Thunder Bay Water Pollution Control Plant
Infrastructure and Operations 2011
Sewage Treatment Section

Heavy Metals Cake Data

MONTH Al As Cd Cr Co Cu Fe Pb Mn Ni Zn
(mg/kg) (mg/kg) (mg/kg) (mg/kg) (mg/kg) (mg/kg) (mg/kg) (mg/kg) (mg/kg) (mg/kg) (mg/kg)

January 29000 6.0 0.9 44.0 2.5 369 31000 26.7 496 15.2 408

February

March 37000 6.2 1.0 66.4 4.8 377 28800 37.0 452 27.1 487

April

May 30700 5.2 0.9 53.2 2.9 306 37700 27.4 365 21.4 353

June

July 20000 7.1 1.1 32.8 3.7 302 42000 40.4 367 18.3 417

August

September 24400 6.8 0.9 27.4 3.1 365 34800 27.3 880 15.0 388

October

November 27600 6.4 0.9 35.6 3.0 415 28900 30.0 944 13.9 427

December
December

- 40 -
City of Thunder Bay
Water Pollution Control Plant
Infrastructure and Operations
2011
Sewage Treatment Section

Heavy Metals Digested Sludge Data

Al As Cd Cr Cu Fe Pb Mn Mo Ni Zn
MONTH
(mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L)

January 960 0.2 <0.0 1.3 10.7 888 0.7 13.4 0.1 0.5 13.1

February

March 1030 0.2 0.0 1.4 10.6 875 0.9 12.6 0.2 0.6 13.7

April

May 1230 0.2 0.0 1.6 11.3 1550 1.0 15.0 0.2 0.7 15.2

June

July 449 0.2 0.0 0.6 16.4 953 1.2 9.1 0.1 0.4 9.1

August

September 797 0.3 0.0 0.9 11.8 1170 0.9 32.0 0.2 0.6 13.9

October

November 506 0.1 0.0 0.5 6.1 554 0.5 15.9 0.1 0.2 7.1

December
December

- 41 -
City of Thunder Bay Water Pollution Control Plant
Infrastructure and Operations 2011
Sewage Treatment Section

ALS vs WPCP Analysis Results

Influent Effluent
ALS WPCP ALS WPCP ALS WPCP ALS WPCP ALS WPCP ALS WPCP
CBOD CBOD TSS TSS TP TP CBOD CBOD TSS TSS TP TP
(mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L)
20-Jan 189 154 173 140 4.54 5.03 7.2 6.1 6.5 4.0 0.46 0.44
24-Feb 139 149 124 140 4.37 4.60 8.4 8.3 10.3 10.0 0.53 0.53
23-Mar 134 124 161 152 4.30 4.24 6.1 7.3 6.0 7.0 0.37 0.43
17-Apr 74.5 122 96 2.65 2.38 4.5 11.2 5.0 0.24 0.37
18-May 103 118 149 132 2.88 2.84 6.0 4.9 9.6 8.0 0.29 0.32
22-Jun 104 57 157 196 2.46 3.35 3.9 3.5 9.7 8.0 0.27 0.37
20-Jul 98.5 155 219 220 3.72 3.86 2.6 5.6 6.8 9.0 0.29 0.35
24-Aug 102 186 182 200 4.07 4.57 3.4 6.7 11.8 7.5 0.38 0.50
21-Sep 103 128 125 96 4.25 4.32 3.1 5.5 7.7 3.0 0.31 0.42
19-Oct 109 116 154 148 3.93 4.52 2.6 3.4 6.0 5.0 0.32 0.39
23-Nov 155 161 125 136 4.93 5.73 3.3 6.2 6.3 5.0 0.47 0.56
14-Dec 128 188 171 200 4.14 4.70 2.9 6.5 2.0 4.0 0.38 0.45

Note: ALS Laboratories is the external laboratory used by the Water Pollution Control Plant.

- 42 -
 We won’t have a society if we
destroy the environment.
- Margaret Mead

Every day is Earth Day.

– Author Unknown

Don’t blow it – good planets

are hard to find.
– Quoted in Time

We forget that the water cycle

and the life cycle are one.
– Jacques Cousteau

The sewer is the conscience

of the city.
- Victor Hugo, Les Miserables

When one tugs at a single thing

in nature, he finds it attached
to the rest of the world.
– John Muir

When we heal the earth,

we heal ourselves.
– David Orr

If there is magic on the planet,

it is contained in Water.
- Loren Eiseley

Water – conserve and protect it

– create a ripple effect.
– City of Thunder Bay

TB295