HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-06-095 - Waste Water Collection System Classification
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Community Services
Report To:
Date of Meeting:
Submitted By:
Prepared By:
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Date of Report:
Report No.:
Subject:
Community Services Committee
September 18, 2006
Ken Currier, Director of Operations, 2657
Ken Currier, Director of Operations, 2657
All
August 28, 2006
CSD-06-095
WASTE WATER COLLECTION SYSTEM CLASSIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION:
For information only.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Kitchener is responsible for the waste water collection system from the customers
connections to the waste water treatment plant. Maintenance of the collection system is the joint
responsibility of the Operations Division and the Engineering Division of DTS through it's
Sanitary Utility. The system has 690 KM of waste water collection mains and 57,000 lateral
customer connections.
The collection system is a complex arrangement of pipes and pumping stations that transports
waste water from customer premises to the Waste Water Treatment Plant through a variety of
local mains and trunk sewers. The treatment of the waste water is the responsibility of the
Region of Waterloo who in turn contracts the plant operation to OCW A, the Ontario Clean Water
Agency.
All staff that adjusts, inspects or evaluates a process that controls the effectiveness of the
collection system must be licensed by the Ministry of the Environment, MOE at a level
consistent with the MOE classification for the municipal collection system.
REPORT:
The Ontario Water Resources Act prescribes that all owners of Waste Water Collection systems
file an application with the Director for the classification of their facility. The City of Kitchener has
in the past complied with that requirement and until recently was classified as a Waste Water
Collection System Level 3 by the MOE. The requirement also stipulates that if there are any
changes to the system the owner must re-apply for classification review. The last review of
Kitchener's waste water collection classification was in 1995.
Report No: CSD-06-095
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Changes that influence the classification level include:
· size of the system, based on population served
. % of industrial sewage collection
· pumping stations and forcemains
· age of the facilities
· technology utilized to control the system.
The recent submission by City of Kitchener staff for a certificate of classification review has
been processed and received from the MOE resulting in the Kitchener Waste Water collection
system being re-classified as a Wastewater Collection Facility Class 4.
What this means is we have reached the highest classification level issued by the MOE and are
required to maintain enhanced levels of training and oversight of the collection system.
Operating staff will be required to reach and maintain the following levels:
· Have successfully completed grade 12 in Ontario or have education qualifications the
Director considers equivalent.
· Successfully completed at least 4 years of additional education or training that in the
opinion of the Director is relevant to the functions performed by operators for that type of
faci lity
· Successfully passed an examination approved by the Director relating to the functions of
operators with class 4 licenses.
· Must have previously held a Wastewater Collection Class 3 license
· Must have at least 4 years of experience as an operator in that facility including at least
2 years as an "operator in charge" in a class 3 or 4 facility.
· Must continue to receive annual training that is relevant to the facility and delivered
through an accredited training agency offering Continuing Education Units, CEU's
Currently 3 of our facility pumping station operating staff have passed the examination
component to be considered for Level 4 classification and are awaiting the remaining training
and/or related experience.
To comply with the oversight requirements we have designated our Supervisor of Sewer and
Storm Water Management as the "overall operator in charge" and the Lead Hands of the
operating crews as the "operators in charge"
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The additional training is estimated at $60,000 and will be phased into our operating budget
requests.
Report No: CSD-06-095
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CONCLUSION:
The upgrading of the Waste Water Collection Facility license is a direct reflection as to the size
and complexity of Kitchener's collection system. Staff required to maintain and operate the
system require constant upgrading of their skills and knowledge by acquiring CEU's to keep
pace with the technological changes occurring in the waste water industry. Kitchener having
been recognized as a Level 4 Facility places us as a leader in the Waste Water Collection
Facilities in Southern Ontario.
Ken Currier
Director of Operations
AP
