Session Q&A
What is the role of the Wallaceburg Advisory Team for a Cleaner Habitat (WATCH)?
The focus of the WATCH survey was to look at “community right to know”, in terms of the technology that industry is using to prevent discharge of contaminants to the St. Clair River. Downstream communities want to know what types of technologies are being used to prevent spills, which will ultimately impact them downstream. This information is not usually publicly shared, because it could expose proprietary information about their business. WATCH has a long reputation of working constructively with local industry, and in-turn industries have been cooperative in providing information when asked. For more information, visit biowatch.ca.
Kris Lee, Wallaceburg Advisory Team for a Cleaner Habitat
What is the Bluewater Association for Safety and Environmental Sustainability (BASES)?
BASES is a brand that bridges three existing associations: Sarnia Lambton Environmental Association (SLEA), Sarnia Lambton Community Awareness and Emergency Response (CAER), and Sarnia Lambton Industrial Educational Co-op (IEC). BASES represents collaboration and teamwork that has existed in this region between industry, government, workers, and the community since the 1950’s. Despite existing as separate entities, the work of the three organizations overlap. One benefit of all three associations operating under one brand is they now share a common website lambtonbases.ca. BASES can now provide a one-stop shop for information relating to our member companies and health, safety, and the environment across the region. BASES is currently working on a tool that will allow industries to release notifications directly from member sites to the public to enhance community awareness.
Vince Gagner, BASES General Manager
Where are the five Areas of Concern that have been delisted or are in recovery?
In Canada, delisted AOCs include Wheatly Harbour, Collingwood Harbour, and Severn sound, and Jackfish Bay and Spanish Harbour are Areas of Concern in recovery.
Natasha Pozega, St. Clair River RAP Coordinator
How many spills have caused water intake closures in the last seven years?
There have not been any intake closures at the Wallaceburg Water Treatment Plant due to spills in the last seven years. The last intake closure was in 2013.
Darren Galbraith, Director of Operations, Water and Wastewater, Chatham-Kent P.U.C.
What type of monitoring is conducted by the water intake facilities?
O.Reg 170/03 mandates testing of raw water for Schedule 23 (9 elements) and Schedule 24 (44 organic compounds). Nitrates and nitrites, as well as total coliforms are measured weekly. In the summer months, tests are also performed to detect micrcocystin (a toxin produced by blue green algae). Turbidity, chlorine, and pH are also monitored continuously.
Darren Galbraith, Director of Operations, Water and Wastewater, Chatham-Kent P.U.C.
What have been some of the biggest challenges facing the redesignation of the Restrictions on Drinking Water Consumption or Taste or Odour Problems BUI?
Access to a clean and reliable drinking water source is undeniably important, and the drinking water supply to the communities of Wallaceburg and Walpole Island First Nation have been greatly impacted by frequent spills to the St. Clair River. Since the early 2000’s, the frequency of spills to the river has greatly reduced, and intake closures to drinking water plants as a result of spills have become a rare occurrence. However, accidents do happen, so the risk of spills cannot be eliminated. Upgrades to water treatment and wastewater infrastructure, regulated and voluntary industrial technology upgrades, improved downstream monitoring and notification systems, and open communication with these communities will hopefully help rebuild the lost trust between residents of the impacted communities and the St. Clair River as a drinking water supply.
Natasha Pozega, St. Clair River RAP Coordinator
Has the CRIC agreed with the position that this BUI should be considered as redesignated?
A draft status recommendation report is being drafted for the Canadian RAP Implementation Committee to review and determine if the delisting criterion has been met or not. The decision by the CRIC will determine if this BUI starts the re-designation process, which will include engagement with the BPAC and the public. If they do not support the re-designation, they will identify what further actions may be required.
Natasha Pozega, St. Clair River RAP Coordinator
Are both industry and municipal wastewater facilities required to report overflows and emissions to the rivers caused by a storm event?
Municipalities and industries with onsite wastewater facilities are mandated under their Certificate of Approvals to notify the MECP Spills Action Centre of all bypasses. In addition, water samples are collected at the beginning and end of the bypass. The results of these analyses are combined with the measured volume bypassed and reported to the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks.
Darren Galbraith, Director of Operations, Water and Wastewater, Chatham-Kent P.U.C.
What are some examples of spill prevention initiatives undertaken by industry?
All of our member companies continuously review their systems to predict where failure could occur and ways to manage this risk before it happens. In some cases, engineering controls are used to eliminate the risk all together. Processes are also monitored with alarms set for exceedances that activate automatic controls – including system shut downs for worst case scenarios. Predictive maintenance programs are in place to ensure integrity of processes are maintained. Another very important part of preventing spills is how companies hire, train, and develop operators into experts on those systems that they operate and maintain. These are some examples of what make up a multi-barrier protection system. The final barrier is spill response that includes reporting and notification to downstream users in the unlikely event of a spill to the river.
Vince Gagner, BASES General Manager
Perhaps beyond the scope of the BUI, but what is the status of lead water mains, service lines, plumbing is in the AOC?
This is beyond the scope of the AOC program.
With almost no water intake closures occurring over the past 15 years (based on tonight’s graph) has the problem of spills to the river been solved?
A multi-barrier approach has been implemented to greatly reduce the risk of spills and the fact that there has not been an intake closure at the Wallaceburg Water Treatment Plant since 2013 shows that a multi-barrier approach is effective. Uncontrollable factors will always pose a risk, so the risk of spills cannot be completely eliminated.
Natasha Pozega, St. Clair River RAP Coordinator
Do ships pose a significant risk?
According to a 2013 report that analyzed the Canadian Coast Guard’s Marine Pollution Incident Reporting System database, there were 39 vessel related discharges between 2001 and 2011 within the St. Clair River. This is low (11% of vessel spills) compared to the rest of the Great Lakes. Of those discharges, the majority were attributed to mechanical failure followed by mystery/unknown sources. While a water intake closure did occur due to a spill from a line being dislodged while a ship was being loaded, this is a rare occurrence. There are several regulations in place around the shipping industry to reduce the risk of spills from ships, but as noted, accidents can happen. It should also be noted that eliminating these types of accidents is outside of the scope of efforts that can be undertaken by the RAP program.
Natasha Pozega, St. Clair River RAP Coordinator
What has happened to the plan for changes to Wallaceburg’s water supply? Did the 2014 plan for Lake Erie waterfall apart? I understand there is a new development this year. Are Wallaceburg and Walpole people still worried?
A new Water Treatment Plant has been proposed for Wallaceburg. The Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission would be the best source for additional information on the project and the decision-making process.
Natasha Pozega, RAP Coordinator
There are several Systemic Improvements listed for spills, are these included in provincial and federal regulations?
Provincial and federal regulations set limits for emissions and notification requirements, but rarely prescribe exactly how companies achieve environmental performance. Each company is different and they will know their products and processes best – including how to make continuous improvements of all kinds. The best place for any of us to seek information about specific systemic improvements implemented at a specific site is to contact the company directly. The Wallaceburg Advisory Team for a Cleaner Habitat (WATCH) conducted a voluntary survey of industry in 2018 which received responses from several large industries operating along the St. Clair River. The results of that survey are publicly available here (biowatch.ca).
Vince Gagner, BASES General Manager
When running creek reverses its flow what action is taken for added chlorine being added to the drinking water?
During heavy rainfall events, the water surrounding the Wallaceburg Water Treatment Plant intake is influenced when Running Creek reverses flow into the Chenal Ecarte. The normal direction of flow of Running Creek is from the Chenal Ecarte to the North Branch of the Sydenham River. Extended rain events or snow and ice melt cause the North Branch of the Sydenham River level to rise to a higher level than the Chenal Ecarte reversing the flow of Running Creek back into the Chenal Ecarte which feeds the Wallaceburg Water Filtration Plant Lowlift Building. This typically happens in early spring or late fall when there are no to little amounts of crops in the ground to keep soil from entering the watercourse through the town of Wallaceburg. The resulting increase in turbidity, nitrates, and concentrations of bacteria in the intake water means an increased amount of chlorine and coagulant is needed to meet water quality standards. The directional flow change of Running Creek will continue until the North Branch of the Sydenham River becomes lower than the Chanel Ecarte. The plant is currently investigating microfiltration as an alternative option.
Darren Galbraith, Director of Operations, Water and Wastewater, Chatham-Kent P.U.C.
