WCOWMA:Strengthening the Industry and Ensuring Safe and Effective
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Premier Issue Informer The official publication of the Western Canadian Onsite Wastewater Management Association WCOWMA: Strengthening the Industry and Ensuring Safe and Effective Septic Management for all of Western Canada Canada Post Mail Publications Agreement Number: 40609661 Number: Mail Publications Agreement Canada Post A Message from the WCOWMA President (Acting) and Executive Director It’s enough to make you wonder what everyone’s talking about Lately people have been muttering words like “economic slowdown” and “market downturn.” But the Western Canada Onsite Wastewater Management Association (WCOWMA) has been whistling a different tune for quite some time. Since its inception, WCOWMA has been making positive impacts across Western Canada. The association continues to make strides in influencing regulations at the municipal, provincial and national levels; organizing welcomed in-class and in-field training sessions, rolling out a growing slate of member benefits and initiatives, and consistently organizing what many stakeholders consider to be the premier annual onsite wastewater convention in the country. WCOWMA’s membership support continues to grow, too. In fact, one needs to look no further than this magazine. It takes considerable advertising revenue to put magazines like this one into production. We are very pleased to see how quickly our members came to the table. In very little time, all required advertising space sold out. We trust that the faith they place in their association, this publication and its reach will be rewarded through unparalleled exposure in Western Canada’s only onsite industry magazine of this calibre. The early success of WCOWMA is a reflection of the success of its members. We are proud to be a player in their development through the delivery of our training program. Training is, and always will be, the foundation upon which all of our member initiatives are launched. Recent intermunicipal agreements on labour Photo courtesy of Images by Mishelle mobility mean that our training program can be more easily The early success of WCOWMA is a reflection of accessed by all onsite the success of its members. We are proud to be a professionals wherever they may be. As such, player in their development through the delivery of we will be delivering our program in full force our training program. Training is, and always will across Western Canada, strengthening the be, the foundation upon which all of our member business of its members, initiatives are launched. and contributing to the construction of sustainable onsite wastewater systems that serve rural property owners. And that’s really what it’s all about. We hope you enjoy this premier issue—our latest step forward. We’re proud to have you with us every step of the way. Dale McLure, President (Acting) Keith Gylander, Executive Director WCOWMA Administration Dale McLure, President (Acting) Keith Gylander, Executive Director Lesley Desjardins, Operations Manager The official publication of the Western Canadian Onsite Wastewater Management Association 5 Contents Premier Issue MESSAGE 5 A Message from the WCOWMA President (Acting) and Executive Director FEATURES 14 When, Where, Why and How to Decentralize Your Wastewater System: Part 1 of 2 While most communities only consider centralized “big pipe” solutions, concerns over environmental sustainability make decentralized wastewater technologies an appealing alternative. This article discusses the reasoning for the use of alternative “cluster system” approaches. 18 At-Grade Research in Calgary In order to meet the requirements set out in the Alberta Standard of Practice, a team is investigating the capability of at-grade onsite systems to treat wastewater. Testing was done at a site constructed at the Fish Creek Wastewater Treatment plant beginning in July 2008 and ending in October 2009. Read the results, here. 22 Reclaimed Water use Slowed as Codes Updated While collecting grey water from sinks, showers and laundry is common practice in Europe, getting the practice approved in North America has been a difficult endeavour. This article will showcase Alberta’s plans to address health concerns about grey water and establish standards that will bring the use of reclaimed water to the forefront. 28 Using Tire Shreds in Onsite Sewage Facilities (Septic Systems) Did you know tire shreds can serve the same purpose as gravel at onsite sewage facilities…at a much lower price? This article looks at how the state of Texas is using tire shreds in several septic systems, and saving money in the 14 process. The official publication of the Western Canadian Onsite Wastewater Management Association 7 Informer Premier Edition Printed for: WCOWMA 18303-60th Avenue Edmonton, AB T6M 1T7 18 Tel: (818) 487-5397 Fax: (780) 486-7414 [email protected] Published By: Matrix Group Inc. Publications Agreement Number: 40609661 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: 52 Donald Street Winnipeg, MB Canada R3C 1L6 Toll Free: 866-999-1299 Toll Free Fax: 866-244-2544 www.matrixgroupinc.net President & CEO: Jack Andress Senior Publisher: Maurice LaBorde [email protected] Publishers: Peter Schulz Jessica Potter Trish Bird Editor-in-Chief: 28 Shannon Savory [email protected] INDUSTRY EVENTS AND B.C.’s 1st Annual Trade Show Finance/Accounting & and Convention Administration: REGISTRATION FORMS Shoshana Weinburg, Pat Andress, 49 Pumps and Controls Workshop Nathan Redekop 29 The Alberta Onsite Wastewater Registration Form [email protected] Management Association - Director or Marketing & Distribution: CONVENTION & TRADE SHOW Shoshana Weinburg ‘10 NEWS AND VIEWS Sales Manager: 33 What’s Going on in Western Neil Gottfred 29 Convention & Trade Matrix Group Inc. Account Show Details Canada? Executives: 30 Convention Details 33 British Columbia Albert Brydges, Davin Commandeur, 31 Convention Registration 36 Alberta Lewis Daigle, Rick Kuzie, Miles Meagher, 38 Saskatchewan Ken Percival, Lesley Dion, Frank Form Christmann, Brian Davey, Wilma Rose, 32 Trade Show Sponsorship 41 Manitoba Jim Hamilton, Chris Frezna, Declan Registration Form 45 OOWA News O’Donovan, Jeff Cash 47 Convention Registration for Layout & Design: Cody Chomiak WCOWMA Onsite Wastewater ABOUT WCowma Advertising Design: Management Association of 43 WCOWMA Member Benefits James Robinson B.C.’s 1st Annual Trade Show Summary ©2010 Matrix Group Inc. All rights reserved. and Convention 44 Member Application/Renewal Contents may not be reproduced by any 48 Exhibitor Registration for means, in whole or in part, without the prior WCOWMA Onsite Wastewater 46 written consent of the publisher. Opinions Management Association of BUYER’S GUIDE expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Matrix Group Inc. The official publication of the Western Canadian Onsite Wastewater Management Association 9 When, Where, Why and How to Decentralize Your Wastewater System: Part 1 of 2 By Curtis J. Sparks and Ryan Devlin, Stantec treatment needs, it results in a municipal- shifted towards decentralized wastewater ity having less treatment systems to man- options. age, lower labour cost and a perceived A major concern when considering a reduced cost of operation. centralized wastewater treatment system Larger systems often have redundant lies in the impact on the receiving environ- component parts that ensure reliability ment. In almost every case, centralized and performance. It is also common to wastewater systems rely on surface water have higher levels of treatment (tertiary) discharge. The receiving stream must be at larger wastewater plants. Bulk deliv- of sufficient quality and quantity to “dilute here are many factors that ery of chemicals and replacement parts the treated wastewater” so that the re- influence the decisions of en- lowers the unit costs of these products. ceiving streams are protected. Regulatory gineers, planners, developers Operations are concentrated in one fa- and municipal officials as they cility where supervision, training, qual- select wastewater servicing options. Most ity control, backup, laboratory services communities never consider anything but and other important functions can be Tcentralized “big pipe” solutions. The con- housed and integrated into the facility. cern over the environmental sustainability Of particular importance in Canada is the of these regional sewer systems makes large amount of treated effluent from cen- decentralized wastewater technologies tralized wastewater systems that can be and designs an appealing alternative made available for re-use in major indus- when the need to enhance the perform- trial operations. ance of aging centralized infrastructure Finally, centralized systems rely on arises. These systems perform and per- higher density development to keep col- form well; assuring future water supplies lection costs down and to allow for indus- and healthy ecosystems. trial wastewater discharges to be properly Economic, environmental, social and managed. Large centralized wastewater political considerations are changing the systems should be used to treat certain opinion and ultimately the direction of industrial process wastewater. the decision-makers toward decentralized Some of the perceived benefits to em- wastewater treatment systems and this is ploy large centralized systems are proving the catalyst for an increasing number of to be false. These include the notion that these systems being installed. This article large centralized wastewater systems discusses the conditions and reasoning