Lemieux Island Water Purification Plant Intake Improvements Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Study

Report to Rapport au:

Environment Committee Comité de l’environnement 17 May 2016 / 17 mai 2016

and Council et au Conseil 25 May 2016 / 25 mai 2016

Submitted on May 10, 2016 Soumis le 10 mai 2016

Submitted by Soumis par: Susan Jones, Acting Deputy City Manager / Directrice municipal adjointe par intérim, City Operations / Opérations municipales

Contact Person Personne ressource: Dixon Weir, General Manager / Directeur général, Environmental Services / Services environnementaux 613-580-2424, x22002 Dixon.Weir@ottawa.ca

Ward: KITCHISSIPPI (15) File Number: ACS2016-COS-ESD-0010

SUBJECT: Lemieux Island Water Purification Plant Intake Improvements Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Study

OBJET: Étude d’évaluation environnementale municipale de portée générale portant sur l’amélioration des prises d’eau de l’usine de purification de l’eau de l’île Lemieux 2

REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS

That the Environment Committee recommend Council to:

1. Approve the selection of the Deep Water Intake Beyond Ice Cover, as detailed in Document 1 and as described in this report, as the preferred alternative for the Lemieux Island Intake Improvements Project.

2. Direct staff to proceed with the filing of the Notice of Completion for a 30- day public review period in accordance with the Ontario Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Schedule "B" process.

RECOMMANDATIONS DU RAPPORT

Que le Comité de l’environnement recommande au Conseil d’approuver :

1. Approuver la solution privilégiée de la prise d’eau en eaux profondes au- delà de la couverture de glace, décrite dans le document 1, pour le projet d’amélioration des prises d’eau de l’usine de l’île Lemieux;

2. Demander au personnel de publier l’avis d’achèvement de l’étude et du début de la période d’examen public de 30 jours, conformément à la procédure de l’Annexe « B » de l’Évaluation environnementale municipale de portée générale de l’Ontario.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Lemieux Island Water Purification Plant (WPP), one of the City’s two WWPs, has experienced restricted production capacities due to a unique winter condition brought on by the accumulation of frazil ice in the facility’s Ottawa River intake piping. The reliable delivery of drinking water during cold weather conditions depends upon both WPP’s having un-restricted capacity at their reduced winter operating conditions.

Beginning with the winter of 2013, these occasional short term events have changed to longer duration events creating a significant reduction in Lemieux Island WPP drinking water production capacity and requiring more drastic measures to meet the City’s water demands. In recent years, over $2M has been spent in response to frazil ice incidents at Lemieux Island to ensure continued water production to meet the City’s demand. This cost include staff overtime, contracted services and supplies, temporary intake extensions, emergency repair and replacement of treatment process components and installation of a contingency by-pass pumping system. 3

Capital costs for the recommended alternative, Deep Water Intake Beyond Ice Cover, are estimated to range from $17.2M to $18.5M based on Class D estimates, depending on whether open trenching or tunneling are chosen in the functional design. While Drinking Water Intake Beyond Ice Cover is the most expensive option, it is expected to minimize the risk of frazil ice impacting water production and reduce annual costs to manage, which have been up to $700,000 in recent years.

This project has included extensive consultation with various stakeholders and agencies, including a number of aboriginal groups. No concerns about the project have been received.

RÉSUMÉ

Les capacités de production de l'usine de purification d'eau de l'île Lemieux, une des deux usines municipales de purification d'eau, ont été réduites à cause de conditions hivernales exceptionnelles qui ont entraîné une accumulation de frasil dans le système de canalisation de la prise d'eau de la rivière des Outaouais. La fiabilité de l'approvisionnement en eau potable par température froide repose sur une capacité de production non restreinte dans les deux usines de purification de l'eau durant leur période d'entretien hivernal à régime réduit.

À compter de l'hiver 2013, ces incidents météorologiques occasionnels de courte durée ont commencé à se prolonger de sorte que la capacité de production d'eau potable de l'usine de l'île Lemieux a été considérablement réduite et qu'il a fallu prendre des mesures plus radicales pour satisfaire à la demande en eau potable de la Ville. Au cours des dernières années, nous avons investi plus de 2 millions de dollars pour remédier aux incidents liés au frasil à l'usine de l'île Lemieux et pour assurer l'approvisionnement soutenu en eau potable de manière à répondre à la demande de la Ville. Dans ce montant, sont calculés les heures supplémentaires du personnel, les services en sous-traitance et les fournitures, l'installation d'une tuyauterie d'arrivée temporaire, les réparations d'urgence, le remplacement des composantes du procédé 4 de traitement de l'eau et l'installation d'un système de pompage de contournement de réserve.

Dans le but faire face à cette situation dorénavant plus sérieuse et récurrente, nous avons entrepris une évaluation environnementale municipale de portée générale en mai 2014 afin d'évaluer des solutions de rechange permanentes qui permettraient d'améliorer le système de prise d'eau et d'atténuer les répercussions du frasil à l'usine de purification de l'eau de l'île Lemieux. Des cinq solutions de rechange étudiées, la prise d’eau en eaux profondes au-delà de la couverture de glace a été privilégiée parce que jugée la plus fiable pour atténuer les problèmes liés au frasil. Elle a également obtenu la meilleure note sur le plan du rendement technique.

Les coûts d'immobilisation de l'option recommandée, basés sur une estimation de classe D, à savoir une prise d’eau en eaux profondes au-delà de la couverture de glace, sont de l'ordre de 17,2 à 18,5 millions de dollars, selon que la conception fonctionnelle optera pour le creusage d'une tranchée à ciel ouvert ou d'un tunnel. Même si l'option d'une prise d’eau en eaux profondes au-delà de la couverture de glace est la plus dispendieuse, elle devrait diminuer le risque que le frasil nuise à la production de l'eau et réduire les coûts afférents à la gestion des problèmes occasionnés par le frasil, des coûts ayant atteint les 700 000 dollars au cours des dernières années.

Ce projet a fait l'objet de consultations exhaustives auprès de divers intervenants et organismes, y compris de plusieurs groupes autochtones. Aucune préoccupation relative à ce projet n'a été soulevée.

BACKGROUND

The City of Ottawa (the City) operates two Drinking Water Purification Plants (WPP) to supply drinking water to the City; the Lemieux Island WPP (built in 1931) and the Britannia WPP (built in 1961). The source water for both plants is the Ottawa River. As illustrated in Figure 1, the two plants are connected to the Central Drinking Water Distribution System that supplies water to the residents of Ottawa.

Winter Drinking Water Demand and Water Production Capacities

While the permitted production capacities for the plants are 400 litres per day (ML/d) at Lemieux and 360 ML/d at Britannia, in winter, the maximum water production capacity is closer to 200ML/d at each plant because of process limitations that are as a result of operating under cold water conditions. Should equipment failures or treatment processes 5 upsets occur at this time, the production capacity of either facility would be further reduced.

While drinking water demand is much reduced in the winter period, neither Britannia nor Lemieux Island WPPs are capable of meeting the average daily demand in the winter without the assistance of the other plant. For details of winter demand and winter production capacities, please see Table 1 below.

While there is storage capacity in the distribution system (i.e. water tanks, reservoirs), it is limited to less than a full day demand. As such, an extended outage of one plant could result in water shortages and impact the ability to deliver this core service to the City.

Figure 1: Schematic of the City’s WPP and connection to the Central Water Distribution System

OTTAWA RIVER Lemieux Intake:  <11m long  ~1.5m deep Britannia Intake:  4 intake  427m long pipes  ~9m deep  12 intake pipes

Britannia Winter Max Lemieux Winter Britannia Lemieux Flow: ~220ML/d Max Flow: WPP Island WPP ~200ML/d

Fleet St. Pump Stn

To West and South To Downtown, East and South

Table 1: Winter Drinking Water Demand and Production Capacities

Winter Average Winter Maximum Winter Production Capacity Demand Day Britannia WPP Lemieux Island WPP (2012-2015) (2012-2015)

~260-265 ML/d 318.7 ML/d (Mar. 2014) 200 to 220 ML/d 180 to 200 ML/d

Additionally, a major transmission watermain break could impact the City’s ability to distribute drinking water flow through the distribution system, exacerbating a water shortage situation caused by limited water production capacity at one of the City’s two water purification plants.

Based upon this risk review, full Drinking Water Service delivery during cold weather conditions depends upon both WPP’s having full capacity at their reduced winter operating conditions.

In the past few years, the Lemieux Island Water Purification Plant has experienced production capacities limitations due to a unique winter condition brought on by the accumulation of frazil ice in the facility’s Ottawa River intake piping. This report outlines the requirements to address the limitations of the current WPP intake that impact the ability to meet service delivery during winter conditions.

It is recognized that there is an additional, longer-term requirement to address the plant winter capacity limitations. These limitations are primarily caused by a reduction in settling efficiency within the sedimentation basins at each plant whereby the colder water temperature negatively impacts the ability of particulate matter to settle-out within the process train. The Department has included within the 10-year capital forecast, provision for implementation of revisions to treatment processes and/or enhanced settling technology at both plants through a $46 Million spending estimate in 2019.

Frazil Ice History at Lemieux Island WPP

Frazil ice forms in open, turbulent, super cooled water, in both active and passive forms and can occur without predictability in the Ottawa River. Active frazil ice will adhere to submerged structures such as water plant intakes. Active frazil ice can accumulate sufficiently to partially or completely block intake piping and screens. Passive frazil ice has a tendency to flow. If allowed to accumulate, it can pack into and block up intake screens and shallow intake structures. If sufficiently dewatered for extended periods, the ice can form into a solid mass. 7

Prior to 2013, frazil ice has impacted the Lemieux Island WPP’s production capacity for short periods of time limited to a day or two, and its impact on drinking water production has typically been relatively minor. This impact has successfully been addressed through operational measures of additional plant overtime and/or shifting production between the WPP facilities. The cost incurred for such past events were generally limited to staff overtime, increased maintenance and fuel for equipment and emergency repairs to frozen process piping and screening equipment.

However, beginning with the winter of 2013, these occasional short term events have changed to longer duration events creating a significant reduction in Lemieux Island WPP drinking water production capacity and requiring more drastic measures to meet the City’s water demands. In 2013, ice blockage led to construction of a temporary extension to the intake to go to greater depth in the river and draw water from below the ice layer at a cost of approximately $750,000. This solution worked very well in a situation of packed passive frazil ice but restricts the water production capacity at Lemieux when in place creating core service delivery risks.

The extension of the Lemieux Island intake has now become a seasonal precaution implemented each year. In the late fall, the extensions are connected to the existing intake pipe via short sections of pipe that are then removed in the spring, restoring full capacity on the Intake.

In 2015 and 2016, ice blockages were as a result of active frazil ice that adhered to the now temporarily installed intake extensions further restricting intake capacity. Active frazil ice is more complicated to address as it adheres to the inside of the pipes. Staff are required to bypass the pipes altogether or send divers into the water to try to remove the blockages.

Historical operating records do not indicate that the Britannia WPP has been affected by frazil ice events. This is likely due to the fact that the Britannia WPP is in deeper water (see Figure 1). However in 2015, frazil ice was present at the Britannia WPP intake well and modestly impaired operations for a few weeks. As records do not indicate this as being a recurring situation, staff are monitoring this situation closely to see if the frequency of events changes over time. 8

Right: Shovelling ice away from the intake screen in the Lemieux intake building.

Below: Frazil ice

Since February 2013, over $2M has been spent in response to frazil ice incidents at Lemieux Island to ensure continued water production to meet the City’s demand. This cost include divers, staff overtime, fuel, temporary intake extensions, repair and replacement of treatment process components and installation of a contingency by-pass pumping system. For details in the winter by winter response to this situation, please refer to Document 2.

Photo Below: Divers Measuring Frazil Ice Thickness, Temporary Piping in Foreground

Piping routed through ice to deeper water below

Shoreline

To address this now more significant and recurring situation, a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (MCEA) project was initiated in May 2014 to evaluate permanent alternative solutions for improving the intake infrastructure to mitigate the impacts of frazil ice on the Lemieux Island WPP. The project included the completion of the functional design of the preferred solution that would improve the Lemieux Island WPP performance under winter conditions, thereby improving the reliability of the plant to produce water up to its rated capacity. The City has completed the Environmental Assessment (EA) of the alternative solutions in accordance with the requirements of the MCEA Schedule “B” project process. The final deliverable for the EA portion of the project is a report outlining the preferred alternative for modifying the existing inlet structure as a Deeper Water Intake Beyond Ice Cover to prevent restrictions to the plant intake due to frazil ice and is detailed in Document 1. 10

DISCUSSION

The Lemieux Island Drinking WPP is located in the Ottawa River at the approximate location of Parkdale Avenue meets the John A. Macdonald Parkway.

The raw water supply is obtained from the Ottawa River through four 1600mm diameter intake pipes that extend approximately 11 m from the shoreline to a depth of approximately 1.5 m below the water surface. The relatively shallow depth of water at the inlet of the existing intake piping structure, often results in frazil ice build up below the river ice surface and interferes with the flow entering the plant. In January 2013, the frazil ice build up was exceptionally deep and restricted intake flows from the typical 120 to 150 ML/d down to roughly 60 ML/d. The operational response required crews, consisting of Drinking Water staff and staff resources across Environmental Services Department, working 24 hours a day, seven days a week to manually clear the frazil ice from the intake screen. The Britannia WPP does not experience the same frazil ice issues due to a different intake piping configuration, and a greater depth of water over the inlet.

The City has identified a preferred long-term solution for reducing risk to water supply caused by frazil l ice impacts at the Lemieux Island WPP intake. This project followed the Municipal Engineers Association’s (MEA) MCEA (2000, amended 2004, 2007 and 2011) process. The objectives of this Class EA were to:

 describe the background and rationale for the project; 11

 explain the risk of frazil ice formation conditions at the Lemieux Island WPP intake;  evaluate alternatives for mitigation;  document the process of identifying a preferred long-term solution; and,  receive stakeholder and agency input.

The project evaluated five alternatives against the objective of improving the plant intake in order to mitigate the impacts of frazil ice impeding flow over the long-term, as summarized below:

Table 2. Alternative Solution Descriptions Alternative Short- Estimated Capital Number Justification Title listed? Costs* Does not solve Problem/Opportunity and 1 Do Nothing No $0 meet long-term project objective. The new intake would be in shallow water where there is a risk of active frazil and the Proximity to installation of the berm Shore creates a new hydraulic 2 Intake Yes condition that might create a $5,900,000 (Berm potential of passive frazil Solution) impact. This solution does not meet the long-term project objective.

The intake would be located Deep at a greater depth, (i.e. 9-10 Water m) and typically under ice $9,600,000 - 3 Intake Yes cover in the winter months. $12,500,000 Under Ice This would reduce the Cover presence of one type of frazil ice (active). The intake would be located Deep at a greater depth (i.e. 15- Water 17 m). This would $17,200,000 - 4 Intake Yes significantly reduce the $18,500,000 Beyond Ice presence of both types of Cover frazil ice (active and passive). 12

Only partially solves Problem/Opportunity. However, this alternative can be used in conjunction with Alternative 2 (Proximity to Shore Intake Berm Solution) and Alternative 3 5 Ice Boom No (Deep Water Intake Under $650,000 Ice Cover) to improve intake performance. This alternative could also be used in the current setting, as an additional temporary measure to the existing temporary intake.

*Costs include construction, engineering services and a 40% contingency. Costs will be updated upon completion of the functional design.

Alternatives 2, 3, and 4 were evaluated in greater detail using a Multi-Criteria Analysis to identify a preliminary recommendation, comprised of five categories with different weighting assigned to each category:

(i) Technical Performance,

(ii) Project Implementation,

(iii) Natural Environment,

(iv) Cultural Heritage/Archaeology, and,

(v) Lifecycle Costs.

The magnitude of net positive and negative effects for each short-listed alternative with respect to environmental factors (technical, natural, cultural and financial) was identified.

It is important to note that Technical Performance was given a weighting of 45% in the Multi-Criteria Analysis, much higher than the other factors. As noted in the background section, there has been an increase in frequency of frazil ice events in the past few years. The frazil ice events have been diverse in nature and requiring various measures and increased costs to ensure continued water production. These recent events suggest that the likelihood of frazil ice events is increasing, thereby increasing 13 the risk that frazil ice could compromise our ability to meet the City’s water demand. The Technical Advisory Committee felt that a prolonged inability to produce water at the Lemieux Island WPP was very serious and could not be tolerated given that Britannia WPP alone could not meet demand over a prolonged period, particularly under winter conditions. As noted in the background section, the Britannia WPP alone, with a maximum winter production rate of 220ML/d, is not capable of meeting average winter water demands (~260ML/d). While the City’s reservoir capacity is able to replenish system wide demand for a short period, there is insufficient storage capacity available system wide to replenish a sustained water production capacity shortfall.

Alternative 4, Deep Water Intake Beyond Ice Cover, had the least negative impacts and was brought forward as the preferred choice as it locates the intake in the deepest portion of the river with the highest flows. As such, it gives the City the best chance of maintaining the core service delivery by minimizing the likelihood of intake blockage due to either active or passive frazil ice. Capital costs for the recommended alternative, Deep Water Intake Beyond Ice Cover, are estimated to range from $17.2M to $18.5M based on Class D estimates, depending on whether open trenching or tunneling are chosen in the functional design. It is important to note that estimated costs include a 40% contingency. While Alternative 4 is the most expensive option, it is the most reliable option to minimize the risk of frazil ice (active and passive) impacting water production and reduce annual costs to manage, which have been up to $700,000/year for the implementation of by-pass pumping. Currently, the project capital account number 906665 has $7.74M, and the remainder would be brought forward as future budget pressure if the project receives approval.

The original estimate of $7.74M was developed following the 2013 winter frazil ice situation and was based on the operating experience and frazil ice knowledge available at the time. The development of the functional design of the various options has allowed gathering of much greater information related to the factors associated with the generation of frazil ice, both active and passive types, and including new knowledge obtained through bathymetry studies that show the river bed topography and ice modeling. This additional information have clarified the physical conditions and provided insight regarding the potential solutions and the complexity of replacing the intake. The next intake will need to extend further into the river than what was previously identified to water that is much deeper where the likelihood of frazil ice, be it active or passive is much reduced. The now much longer intake has significantly increased the original estimated cost. Furthermore, the additional frazil ice events experienced since the original estimate have involved both active and passive varieties of frazil ice requiring 14 differing response efforts and much greater expenditures to ensure continued water production. It is apparent that the risk of repeat events has increased in recent years. The selected solution must promise a significant reduction in the risk of blockages similar to those experienced in 2013, 2015 and 2016 to maintain water production in winter months to meet the City’s demands.

A detailed and accurate schedule will be developed during the preliminary and detailed design stages of the project. The design of the project will begin in the fall of 2016 and based upon budgetary approvals, construction will commence after detailed design is complete. The project is expected to be complete by the end of 2020, which will be confirmed through the detail design process.

As part of the contingency measures, staff will proceed with the design and construction of the Ice Boom (Alternative 5). Based on the ice modeling exercise and input from the ice experts, this type of frazil ice can be managed by the use of an ice boom. The ice boom would encourage the formation of an ice layer upstream of the intake, which would reduce heat loss (thereby reducing frazil generation) and also provide an area to capture both active and passive frazil ice being generated at the upstream rapids. The Ice Boom used in conjunction with the current intake would be effective to maintain operations in circumstances where there isn’t ice cover on the river surface to place the portable pumps and temporary piping. Similar to other emergency ice management efforts, funding for this initiative will be from 906800 (Water Treatment Rehab 2013- 2014).

The following figure illustrates the alternatives, including the recommended Alternative 4: Deep Water Intake Beyond Ice Cover. 15

RURAL IMPLICATIONS

There are no rural implications associated with this report.

CONSULTATION

One of the essential components of the EA process is public and agency participation. Stakeholders and review agencies were identified at the beginning of the project and have been consulted throughout project by e-mail and/or regular mail. The Notice of Commencement was published in Le Droit on the October 2, 2014, as well as in the EMC Community Newspaper from September 29, 2014 to October 3, 2014. Notice for Public Information Centre was placed in Le Droit on September 18, 2015, as well as in the EMC Community Newspaper on September 17, 2015. The Public Meeting was held on September 30, 2015 at the Lemieux Island WPP, 1 River Street, Ottawa, ON K1Y 2C4.

No comments were received at the Public Information Centre, hence, no change to the alternatives presented was required.

To date there has been no meetings with the main interested agencies and stakeholders: Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and Transport Canada. 16

Due to the potential for environmental impacts of the various alternative solutions, we have had a phone conversation with the above listed agencies to notify them of the project and the draft Project File has been sent to them. The responses we have received to date are summarized as such:

Department of Fisheries and Oceans:

Department of Fisheries and Oceans will not review the draft due to lack of resources nor are they able to discuss the project in detail and provide advice at this early stage of the project. Upon submission, their review of the final Project File will be completed within 30 days. If they believe that there are sufficient details in the document, they may advise to proceed without further required information. It is more likely that we will need to demonstrate environmental risk mitigation when the project enters subsequent design phases and when more information in regards to project implementation is developed and available.

Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR):

We have not yet received any response from MNR. We have followed up on October 19, 2015 and have not yet received a response.

Transport Canada:

Transport Canada requested that we send through the draft Project File using their Notice of Works form, which was done on September 1, 2015. However, in the receipt acknowledgement letter, this agency specified that they require a level of detail review that will only be possible later on this the project (following the first stage of design, i.e. conceptual design).

Ministère de l’Énergie et des Resources Naturelles de Québec:

The Ministère de l’Énergie et des Resources Naturelles de Québec were consulted and there has been no response to date.They may provide comments when more details are provided after functional design.

COMMENTS BY THE WARD COUNCILLOR(S)

Councillor Leiper is aware of this project. 17

ADVISORY COMMITTEE(S) COMMENTS

Advisory Committees were not consulted as this report is administrative in nature.

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

For the reasons set out hereafter there are no legal impediments to implementing the recommendations in the report.

Alternative 4, Deep Water Intake Beyond Ice Cover, contemplates construction of a new intake into deeper water beyond the ice cover. Under this Alternative, it is proposed to extend the intake piping an estimated 225m from the existing shore, across the Ontario- Quebec border. It is understood that the intake structure would be constructed on the river bed on the Quebec side of the border. Alternatives 2 and 3 would not involve crossing the provincial border. However, Alternatives 2, 3 and 4 all involve shoreline and in-water construction activities, including permanent installations in the riverbed.

According to the draft Class EA report prepared by CH2M Hill Canada Limited (October 2015), Notice of Commencement of the Municipal Class EA was sent to a number of governmental and non-governmental stakeholders, including a number of federal and provincial departments and ministries, and Aboriginal bands. As noted earlier in this report, to date no meetings with the main interested governmental agencies has occurred.

Timing and Coordination

The transborder aspect of Alternative 4 will require a coordinated approach to permitting and approvals with relevant federal and provincial agencies. Timing for necessary permitting and approvals will be affected by the scope of review/consultation. In most cases the scope of review will only be determined once the application or notice has been filed with the required information about the project. As noted earlier, the main agencies will require a certain level of detail in order to commence their review processes. Once the necessary applications or notices have been filed, we would anticipate permitting processes to require a minimum of several months to complete and possibly longer if extended consultation is required. A detailed timeline can be developed with a more definitive analysis of permitting and approval requirements, after consultation with the main regulatory stakeholders.

Preliminary Review of Potential Permitting/Approval Requirements 18

A preliminary review of potential permitting/approval requirements based on the project description in the Class EA report suggests that permits or approvals required for the project may include:

Federal Requirements

Section 5 of the federal Navigation Protection Act requires that a Notice to the Minister (Minister of Transport) be submitted by owners of works in scheduled navigable waters. The Ottawa River is a scheduled navigable waterway to which the Act applies. Transport Canada will review the Notice to the Minister to determine whether an Approval is required (including whether the proposed works may be considered “minor”), and whether the works trigger a requirement for environmental review and/or Aboriginal consultation in connection with their approval. A Fisheries Act review will also be required, and an authorization will likely also be required from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans pursuant to Section 35 of that Act. Species At Risk permitting may be required from Environment Canada if habitat of endangered or threatened species (or members of those species) may be affected, as referenced in the Class EA report (pg.3-3).

Ontario Requirements

A Class EA has been undertaken pursuant to the requirements of the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act. Notice of Completion has not yet been filed. The existing Permit To Take Water (4062-7QMKQM) issued under the Ontario Water Resources Act will likely need to be amended or re-issued in respect of the new intake. Permits for shoreline and in-water work and for the use of the riverbed for the installation of works on the Ontario side may be required under the Public Lands Act administered by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Provincial species at risk permitting, administered by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, could also be triggered by shoreline or in-water activities. Conservation Authority permitting may also be required under the applicable Alternations to Shorelines and Watercourses Regulation.

Quebec Requirements

Since Alternative 4 contemplates that the intake structure and water taking would occur on the Quebec side of the boundary, a water taking permit may be required under the Quebec Environment Quality Act. A permit for in-water work and installation on the Quebec side may be required under the Quebec Watercourses Act. Both pieces of legislation are administered by the Quebec Ministry of Sustainable Development, 19

Environment and Fight Against Climate Change. Aspects of the Watercourses Act are administered by the Quebec Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources. Approvals pertaining to use and occupancy of the riverbed may be further complicated if any portions of the riverbed affected by the project are held privately.

The administration of water taking legislation in both Quebec and Ontario will have regard to whether the application(s) accord with the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Basin Sustainable Water Resources Agreement of 2005 as it relates to any new or increased taking of water.

Further archaeological assessment may be required in consultation with Ontario and Quebec (Alternative 4) authorities, as noted in the Class EA report.

Aboriginal Consultation

The City of Ottawa has existing relationships with several Aboriginal communities and organizations and has been involved in consultation with them in the past. As noted in the Class EA report, notification with respect to the commencement of the Class EA was provided to these communities and organizations. Depending on the nature and extent of the permitting and approvals that are determined to be needed, there may be a requirement for consultation by the City with the Aboriginal communities and organizations that have been contacted already. The nature and extent of the consultation that may be required will be dependent on the nature of the likely impacts of the alternative chosen and the details of the permitting. Along with the assessment of the details of the required permitting and approvals for the project an assessment of the Aboriginal consultation will need to be undertaken. This can be done at the same time as the assessment of the permitting and approvals. Consultation may require some additional time for the project development and permitting process.

RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS

Implementation of this project will significantly reduce the potential for intake blockage at the Lemieux Island WPP. Intake blockage would result in reduced capacity for water purification at the Lemieux Island WPP. The Britannia WPP’s winter maximum daily production rate (~220ML/d) is not sufficient for meeting the City’s winter average or maximum water demands (~260ML/d and ~300ML/d, respectively). As such, an outage at Lemieux Island WPP of a day or more would result in water shortages. The recommended Alternative 4 is the preferred long term solution for reducing the risk of water shortages due to ice at the Lemieux Island WPP water intake. 20

ASSET MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS

The recommendations documented in this report are consistent with the City’s Comprehensive Asset Management (CAM) Program (City of Ottawa Comprehensive Asset Management Program) objectives.

The recommended alternative, the Deep Water Intake Beyond Ice Cover, provides the best approach in regards to technical performance. While this alternative has a higher initial capital cost, it provides the best chance of maintaining the target level of service by reducing the likelihood of intake blockage due to frazil ice. From a lifecycle perspective, minimizing the risk of frazil ice impacting water production reduces ongoing annual costs which can be substantial. This alternative supports a forward looking approach to meet future challenges, including legislative and environmental factors.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

Capital internal order 906665 Lemieux WPP Ice Intake Management has a current balance of $7.74M. The remaining requirement of $10.8M will be identified as a future capital budget pressure.

ACCESSIBILITY IMPACTS

The project has no accessibility impacts.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

The project has been conducted as required by Schedule B of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment planning process. The archeological, natural environment, hydro-geological and Phase 1 environmental site assessments were done for this study. Due to the project location and nature of the work, the potential environmental impacts are expected to be limited and proposed mitigation measures have been identified in the study report. The EA has looked into potential environmental impacts and the proposed alternative is one that provides that best opportunity, overall, after evaluating many factors including environmental impacts. The EA addresses Environmental impacts at high level. Functional and detailed design will address them in specifics, with input from relevant authorities.

TERM OF COUNCIL PRIORITIES

This project is consistent with the long term sustainability of drinking water services. The project will improve operational performance and reliability of services to residents and 21 businesses.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

Document 1: Draft Lemieux Island Water Purification Plant Intake Improvements – Schedule B Environmental Assessment

Document 2: Summary of Winter Events

DISPOSITION

Following submission to the Environment Committee and Council, the Lemieux Island Water Purification Plant Intake Improvements – Schedule B Environmental Assessment Report (see Document 1) will be made available to the public for a 30-day review period. The public will be notified through the posting of a Notice of Study Completion advertisement published in local newspapers. Additionally, the Notice will be forwarded to the Study’s mailing list.