Management of Hauled Wastewater Public Consultation Centre December 9, 2015 – 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. St. Matthew Catholic School 405 Pastern Trail, Waterloo, ON

Management of Hauled Wastewater Public Consultation Centre December 10, 2015 – 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic School 560 Pioneer Drive, Kitchener, ON

Welcome! This is your opportunity to provide comments and ask questions. We are here to: • Explain hauled wastewater services, how the Region is involved and the purpose of the project • Explain how alternative sites for a long-term facility to receive hauled wastewater were evaluated • Outline conclusions reached to date • Answer your questions, hear your comments, and get your feedback • Outline next steps

1

The Region's Perspective

Purpose of this Study • Evaluate sites for a long-term facility to receive hauled wastewater produced in the Region • Recommend a preferred site for a long-term facility to receive and manage this hauled wastewater • Develop a conceptual design for this facility at the preferred site • Provide opportunities for public input and comment

2

What is Hauled Wastewater? • Hauled wastewater is privately generated and collected wastewater that has been collected from septic tanks (commonly called “septage”), wastewater holding tanks or portable toilets that is transported by privately-operated trucks to a disposal location or treatment facility. Hauled Wastewater is Not Biosolids … • Biosolids are the treated solids produced by wastewater treatment processes managed by the Region, and can be used for compost, fertilizer, etc.

3

Hauled Wastewater and Biosolids – Key Differences

4

Hauled Wastewater

Biosolids

Source

Private Homes and Businesses

Regional Wastewater Operations

Regulated by the Province

Yes (Waste Management Act and Clean Water Act)

Yes (Nutrient Management Act and Clean Water Act)

Spread on Land by Region

No

Yes

Treated Before Spreading on Fields

No

Yes

Prohibited from Drinking Water Protection Areas

Yes

Yes

A Typical Wastewater Hauling Truck Trucks hauling wastewater are self-contained and generally are relatively small.

The current fees charged by the Region to wastewater haulers are: $173.77 per load for septage; and $86.17 per load for holding tanks. It is expected that these fees would need to be increased to cover the Region’s costs of accepting the wastewater, however, the new fees have not yet been developed.

5

Why is the Region Involved? • Some rural areas do not have municipal wastewater servicing → these areas have septic or holding tanks which are pumped out by private contractors • The Region voluntarily accepts and treats some of this waste for a fee • The Region does not accept hauled wastewater from other municipalities; this policy is proposed to continue at the new facility

6

Study Background • Hauled wastewater is currently trucked to New Hamburg Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) for treatment (interim) • Region examining alternatives for a new longterm facility to accept and treat hauled wastewater because of concerns with: – Capacity limitations at New Hamburg WWTP – Limitations on the application of untreated hauled wastewater to farm land – Projected amount of septage

7

Evaluation of Possible Receiving Sites Most Preferred (least impact)

Evaluation Criteria

Least Preferred (most impact)

Kitchener WWTP

Waterloo Galt WWTP WWTP

Spring Valley PS

East Side Lands PS

Bridgeport WWRMC PS

Environmental Social / Cultural / Community Cost Technical Ranking of Alternatives

4