Agenda Index City of Vancouver

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

TO: Vancouver City Council

FROM: General Manager of Engineering Services

SUBJECT: Liquid Waste Management Plan Update

INFORMATION

COUNCIL POLICY

In the early 1970s, Council approved the policy of separating sanitary and storm sewers, starting in the West End and Downtown areas, in order to begin reducing and eliminating combined sewer overflows.

In 1981, the sewer separation policy was reaffirmed with the adoption of the 1% life cycle replacement policy for sewer mains as part of the Sewers Long Range Capital Plan.

Both of these policies were reaffirmed in the 1991 Policy on Vancouver's "Design and Service Level Standards for Sewer Collection Infrastructure", and have been reaffirmed as part of every Capital Plan since.

Council has also previously approved a number of recommendations concerning the Liquid Waste Management Plan. Directions under the City Plan approved by Council include:

PURPOSE

This report provides a progress update of the Liquid Waste Management Plan (LWMP) and advises Council of upcoming schedules leading to GVRD Board and municipal approval of the Stage 2 LWMP and submission to the Province.

BACKGROUND

In accordance with the provincial Waste Management Act, the GVRD began a process in 1986 to develop a LWMP which would update and replace existing liquid waste discharge regulations in the region. In 1989, the Stage 1 report was completed, based on existing information and data, and forwarded to the Province. In response to this submission, the Province mandated a number of measures including: the provision of secondary treatment at the Annacis and Lulu Island sewage treatment plants (albeit contrary to the recommendations of the submission); fast tracking the management of combined sewer overflows (CSOs); implementing a regional source control program; and conducting an environmental assessment program.

Since that time, considerable effort has been expended throughout the Region in meeting these requirements:

- construction of secondary treatment is now complete at Annacis Island and Lulu Island;
- a revised GVS&DD cost allocation agreement was implemented in 1995 to finance these projects;
- CSO reductions in Vancouver have been achieved through continued sewer separation and through the Burrard Inlet Operational Plan which reduced CSOs at Clark Drive by over 30%;
- a region-wide source control by-law has been established, similar to Vancouver's source control by-law, and is managed in Vancouver by our Permits and Licences Department, and
- environmental assessments have been done with particular emphasis on CSOs, storm water, and discharges from sewage treatment plants.

In 1996, the GVRD Board gave approval to undertake preparation of the Stage 2 LWMP report. Over the past three years, a number of technical advisory committees were established to examine in greater detail the range of liquid waste issues in the region. Most of the committee work has now been completed and draft reports are being written.

Over the past two months, two technical workshops and two public open houses have also been held to present and obtain feedback on the most recent LWMP findings.

DISCUSSION

The liquid waste management issues affecting Vancouver can be grouped into three main categories; sewage treatment plants, collection systems (in particular CSOs), and storm water management.

A. Sewage Treatment Plants

Under the GVS&DD cost allocation agreement, 70% of the capital cost of works to provide a higher than primary level of sewage treatment are shared region-wide, and 30% is paid by the local sewerage area. As a result, the possible upgrading of the Iona (Vancouver) and Lions Gate (North Shore) treatment plants is of region-wide concern. As previously mentioned, upgrading from primary to secondary treatment at the Annacis and Lulu sewage treatment plants (STPs) were mandated as a result of the Stage 1 Plan. From the planning process to date, it is likely that the Iona and Lions Gate STPs will need some upgrading in the near future, but not likely to full secondary treatment.

Environmental assessments of both the Iona and Lions Gate plant discharges have indicated there are no significant problems at this time. There have been, however, some exceedances of the Provincial permit requirements on occasion. As a result of this and due to general population growth, it is expected that some upgrading of these plants will be needed.

Upgrading of the Iona STP can be done by enhancing the existing primary treatment process. It is estimated that about $50 million in capital improvements may be needed over the next decade. This cost would be shared on a regional basis. In addition, the annual operating costs would increase by $1.3 million, which would be entirely at the cost of the Vancouver Sewerage Area (VSA).

Similarly, enhancements at the Lions Gate Treatment Plant are expected. The capital cost for this work is estimated to be about $30 million, which would be shared on a regional basis.
In addition to these expected upgrades, additional recommended work will likely include ongoing investigations and studies to identify other strategies that would defer or eliminate the need for future expensive treatment plant expansions to meet Provincial requirements and population growth. Such strategies could include reducing treatment plant loading through source control programs and reducing infiltration and inflow through enhanced sewer infrastructure management methods.

B. Collection System

Vancouver's original sewer collection system was built as a combined system (storm water and sewage mixed together in a single pipe). This results in sewage overflows to Vancouver's surrounding waterbodies during moderate to heavy rainfall periods. To eliminate this problem, the City has been replacing its old deteriorated pipes with twin pipes to ensure that all sanitary sewage will eventually be transported to the sewage treatment plant and not overflow to the environment.

Environmental assessments at our main CSO outfalls indicates that there are only minor impacts from effluent discharges. As a result, it is expected that the City's ongoing separation program will be sufficient to address the CSO issue over the long term. Our program (1% replacement) provides a CSO reduction which exceeds the rate which would be accomplished through following the Province's existing regulations under the Waste Management Act.

Other capital improvements could also be made to the sewer infrastructure to provide additional CSO reductions in the short term. A number of projects have been identified at a total cost of $25 million which could reduce CSO more quickly, particularly at the Clark Drive outfall. Most of these improvements would be in the GVRD portion of the system. Expenditures in this area would be entirely at the cost of the VSA. It will likely be recommended that further review of these shorter term enhancements be done and assessed through the regular GVRD budgeting process.

C. Storm Water

Storm water management is a municipal responsibility. Currently, there are no senior government regulations covering this area. Through the LWMP process, the Provincial Government is requiring some form of storm water management which will become the standard for all municipalities in the region.

The Storm Water Task Group was formed to examine this issue in detail. Potential storm water management practices can vary considerable from municipality to municipality. Recommendations for a storm water strategy have not been finalized, but it appears that municipalities will be asked to consider standards which include best management practices and a formalized integrated planning approach related to storm water issues when planning new developments.

NEXT STEPS

Over the next few months, LWMP reports will be written based on feedback from the public and technical meetings. Following this, approvals and commitments will be sought by the GVRD from municipalities. It is anticipated that this will occur in early fall and staff will submit a recommendation report at that time for Council's consideration. The final LWMP submission to the Province is expected by the end of the year.

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