Project Descriptions

Project 1: Implementation of Real Time Control

Real Time Control is an electro-mechanical system that allows for continuous monitoring of pipe flows, and automated control of equipment. This project involves upgrading three combined sewer flow regulators with Real Time Control systems which will increase the volume of combined wastewater (sewage and stormwater) captured and re-directed to the wastewater treatment plant (ROPEC) for treatment.

Project 2: Critical Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) and Storm Outfall Monitoring

This project involves the installation of permanent flow or level sensors in the six largest combined sewers contributors. The monitoring equipment, at five of these locations, will be installed as part of the Real Time Control project and will measure total incoming flow, captured flow, and the volume of over-flows at each location. Data will be communicated on a real-time basis to the central control centre. Temporary equipment will be installed at the remaining CSO location and used to confirm the contribution from each location, and prioritize any future permanent flow monitoring installation requirements.

Project 3: Combined Sewer Overflows Storage for Ultimate Combined Sewer Area (UCSA)

Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) storage facilities will hold surplus volumes that would otherwise overflow until capacity is available to transmit these volumes to the Robert O. Pickard Environmental Centre (ROPEC) for treatment. The storage project will focus on combined sewer overflows within the ultimate combined sewer area. CSO storage facilities will lower the amount of contaminants released to the Ottawa River, improving the water quality and reducing the number of beach closures.

Project 4: Review and Implement Sewer Interconnection Program

Older parts of the sewer system have interconnections between sanitary and storm sewers to prevent basement flooding. A review of remaining interconnections will determine which interconnections require readjustment or should be abandoned. The removal and adjustment of interconnections that are susceptible to overflows will lower the amount of over-flows released to the Ottawa River. This will improve water quality and reduce the number of beach closures.

Project 5: Sewer Separation Outside the Ultimate Combined Sewer Area (UCSA)

Sewer Separation is the replacement of a single pipe with two separate pipes: a sanitary pipe and a storm water pipe. Sewer separation has been part of the City’s Combined Sewer Overflow control strategy for decades. To date approximately 60% of the original combined sewer area has undergone sewer separation. Separation continues in all areas except the Ultimate Combined Sewer Area (UCSA). It is anticipated that all areas outside of the UCSA will be separated in approximately 25 years. The largest areas yet to undergo sewer separation are the following: West Rockcliffe, Manor Park, King Edward/Rideau, Old Ottawa East (Greenfield, Echo, Concord, Harvey), Somerset/Wellington, and NRC/RCAF (Federal Jurisdiction).

Project 6: Development of a Wet Weather Infrastructure Management Plan

Periods of heavy rainfall have significant impact on City infrastructure and private property, as well as on public health and the environment. The WWIMP will prioritize City initiatives aimed at managing wet weather flows and mitigating the adverse effects of wet weather flow on our wastewater and stormwater collection systems. Some of the issues to be addressed as part of the plan include basement and surface flooding, system opera-tion and maintenance, capacity for intensification and growth and environmental protection.

Project 7: Implementation of a Wet Weather Infrastructure Management Plan

The WWIMP will include an implementation plan and identify priority projects to be undertaken in target areas. Implementation of the WWIMP will reduce the threats to human health, beaches, the environment, and property arising from wet weather flows and flooding.

Project 8: Installation of Floatable Traps in Combined Sewer Area Catchbasins

Floatables contribute to the visual pollution of shorelines and can harm wildlife. A total of 3,200 floatables traps will be installed in catch basins.

These traps capture floatables, as well as some oil and grease, before they enter the combined sewer system.

Project 9: Pinecrest Creek / Westboro Stormwater Management Retrofit Pilot

The Pinecrest Creek/Westboro SWM Retrofit Plan will pro-vide a strategy to mitigate the impacts of uncontrolled ur-ban runoff on the creek and the Ottawa River. It will also serve as a pilot to develop a methodology to be applied to a future SWM Retrofit Plan for the rest of the urban area.

Project 10: Eastern Subwatersheds Stormwater Retrofit Plan

The Eastern Subwatershed SWM Retrofit Plan will provide a strategy to mitigate the impacts of uncontrolled runoff on these creeks and the adjacent Ottawa River. The Eastern Subwatersheds include Bilberry, Voyageur and Green's Creeks. All three creeks are subject to increased flooding and erosion, and degraded water quality and aquatic habitat that can be traced to uncontrolled runoff. Uncontrolled runoff has also contributed to beach closures at Petrie Island.

Project 11: Implementation of Stormwater Management Stormwater Retrofit Plans

This program will implement the physical works and other recommendations of the SWM Retrofit Plans on a priority basis. Projects will mitigate the ongoing impacts of uncontrolled stormwater runoff from the urban area.

Project 12: R.O. Pickard Environmental Centre Effluent Dechlorinization

Chlorine is used during the swimming season as a final disinfectant of treated wastewater prior to discharge to the Ottawa River from the Robert O. Pickard Environ-mental Centre (ROPEC). Since elevated chlorine levels can harm the natural environment, pending regulations from the Ministry of the Environment state that residual chlorine concentration in wastewater effluent must not exceed 0.02mg/L. This regulation is expected to come into effect by late 2010. The project will consist of installing a new dechlorination process after the disinfection stage in order to meet allowable concentrations. The removal of residual chlorine from the effluent will have a positive impact on the flora and fauna down-stream of the ROPEC outfall.

Project 13: Water Environment Strategy

The Water environment strategy will build upon the water protection policies within the Groundwater Management Strategy, Official Plan, Infrastructure Master Plan, and Lower Rideau Watershed Strategy, including the draft Integrated Protection Plan for the Ottawa River. The project benefits the local aquatic environment by determining strategies to protect or enhance the water environment including stream corridor habitat, overall watershed health, and water quality. This would have a positive impact on flora and fauna, and may reduce the impact of beach closures.

Project 14: Monitoring and Source Control Programs

This project involves continued implementation of the City's Water Environment Protection Program and Sewer Use Program. The Water Environment Protection Program conducts surface water monitoring that helps the City to focus abatement investigations, make in-formed planning decisions and guide restoration and remediation efforts.

Project 15: Wastewater and Drainage Environmental Quality Management System

This project involves the design and implementation of a system that will conform to the International ISO 14001 Environmental Management System Standard. Quality Management Systems (QMS) allow organizations to manage their business activities in a transparent and account-able manner.

This standard enables an organization to:

• Identify and control significant environmental impacts
• Continually improve its environmental performance
• Implement a systematic approach to setting environ-mental objectives and targets
• Achieve and demonstrate achievement of its objectives and targets

This allows for improved:

• Pollution prevention,
• Regulatory compliance, and
• Continuous improvement in environmental performance.

Project 16: Updates to the Ottawa River Bacterial Water Quality Computer Model

The "Ottawa River Water Quality Model" is designed to isolate and determine the impact of specific inputs to the river.

The model allows the City to:

• Understand current river response and behaviour,
• Assess, measure and mitigate CSO and stormwater inputs,
• Identify priorities, and
• Evaluate improvement strategies.

The purpose of this project is to ensure regular updating of the model with current data, and its enhancement over time to allow for modeling of parameters other than bacteria.

Project 17: Public Outreach and Education

Inform the public of the linkages between what they do and the health of the water environment; and increase awareness of ORAP initiatives.

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