Sessions
CONNECTING THROUGH HUMOUR - KEYNOTE SPEAKER - KATE DAVIS
Kate Davis has the unique ability to find humour in any situation and offers creative solutions to defuse frustrations in both the workplace and at home. A hit comedian, who has opened for the likes of Seth Meyers, Bill Clinton, and Barbara Walters, Davis' generous insight and hilarious presence is a powerful combination that helps empower organizations.
ALBERTA CASE STUDIES IN ELIMINATING CONFINED SPACE FOR AIR RELEASE VALVE CHAMBERS - PRESENTED BY DEREK TRAQUAIR, USC UTILITY SUPPLY
This presentation will discuss the new and evolving technologies in Combination Air Release and Vacuum Valve technology. These will include high pressure and flow applications, increased sludge and grease capacities, eliminating the need for confined space operation, and the installation/maintenance for cold-weather applications. Case studies will also be presented of installations throughout Western Canada and their applications for Alberta Operators. A goal of this technical workshop is to increase operator safety by highlighting the technology available to eliminate confined space entry in air release valve chambers.
APPROVAL COMPLIANCE AND AQUATERA’S REGULATORY ROAD MAP - PRESENTED BY EMILY LU OF EPA, AND GRANT DIXON AND TRACY MACDONALD OF ASSOCIATED ENGINEERING
In this technical session, compliance specifics, record keeping, and reporting requirements will be reviewed under the Alberta Environment Protection and Enhancement Act for Water and Wastewater Systems. Participants will review the journey and road map that Aquatera has implemented internally for its various facilities within the Grande Prairie region, which has led to a positive and transparent working relationship with regulators.
AQUATERA'S LANDFILL GAS PROJECT AND OPTIMIZATION - PRESENTED BY BOB SAVIDAN, AQUATERA
This presentation is focussed on the Aquatera Landfill Gas to Energy Project and the maintenance and operations of the gas fields transitioning from a third-party contractor to in house operations. Robert Savidan will share the journey of the Landfill Gas to Energy project including the history of project, why Aquatera chose to bring the gas field operation and maintenance in house and will share the challenges and key learnings of the project including recommendations for moving forward.
BIO-ELECTRICAL CHEMICAL ANAEROBIC SEWAGE TREATMENT (BEAST) - PRESENTED BY JENNIFER BESINGER, COUNTY OF GRANDE PRAIRIE AND RHONDA HEWKO, ELKAN ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
Bio-Electrochemical Anaerobic Sewage Treatment (BEAST) Technology Offers Promising, Effective and Economical Results for Wastewater Systems. The technology is based on enhanced biodegradation of organic carbon through a combination of anaerobic methanogenic and microbial electrochemical (bioelectrochemical) degradation processes, leading to biomethane production. The bio-electrochemical degradation is achieved in a membraneless, flow-through anode–cathode setup (Microbial Electrolysis Cell), operating at a low voltage - below the water electrolysis threshold. While previous patents and technologies using bio-electrochemical anaerobic processes focus on biohydrogen production, this technology focuses on and has proven improved effluent quality, in terms of BOD and TSS, as well as some phosphorus and nitrogen.
The application of this technology can be well-suited to residential wastewater treatment systems as well as to work camps. It can also be easily scaled for small to mid-sized communities.
CHETAMON FIRE LESSONS LEARNED - PRESENTED BY JOHN GREATHEAD AND TREVOR ESCOTT, MUNICIPALITY OF JASPER AND JOEL KISNER, AQUATERA
In the summer of 2022, the Chetamon Wildfire encroached on the Municipality of Jasper. This presentation will focus on the impacts to the operations team, and the key learnings from this incident including the background of the municipalities, what occurred, and what improvements are required.
ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE CANADA STUDY ON WASTE-TO-ENERGY - PRESENTED BY MATTHEW HAMILTON, ECCC
Waste to energy (WTE) technologies provide an opportunity to extract energy and useful materials from residual mixed municipal solid waste (MSW), wastewater biosolids, and other wastes that might otherwise be disposed in a landfill. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has retained Morrison Hershfield to conduct a study on WTE approaches for processing MSW in Canada. An industry survey and a literature review have provided a global picture of the WTE technologies and an overview of existing facilities in Canada. This presentation will give an overview of key findings of this study to date, including opportunities and challenges faced by the WTE industry.
GIS SOLUTIONS FOR ASSET MANAGEMENT - PRESENTED BY SHAYNE CONWAY, AQUATERA
This course will provide solutions for both management and front-line staff to maintain assets within specified sectors and the solutions discussed will adhere to standard operating software, equipment, and procedures. Participants will be provided the general concepts regarding GIS and asset management; demonstration and review of technical solutions and accompanying hardware; GIS Asset Data Best Practices; City Asset Management Software, building dashboards; using GIS Data, line locating using GIS Data, using drones for material tracking and more!
GIS-CENTRIC ASSET INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT - PRESENTED BY CHRISTOPHER ROTH AND ROB SANTOD, ESRI CANADA AND IAN PERRY, AQUATERA
In this course participants will learn a GIS enabled approach to maintenance management for linear assets such as water distribution, wastewater collection, storm water drainage and more! Making GIS enabled maintenance management decisions will ensure that budgets are met, asset condition is maintained or improved, and maintenance is focussed. Executives, management, and operators will benefit from seeing real world examples and asset management solutions with utilities and municipalities from across Canada.
HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE OPERATOR - PRESENTED BY SWANA
The objective of the course is to provide information to household hazardous waste operating staff on good operating practices and safety. Students will learn how to handle a wide range of household hazardous waste efficiently and safely, along with the basics of a well laid out site and operational procedures.
INNOVATIONS IN LEAK DETECTION - PRESENTED BY KELLY HARMON, ENVIROTRACE
EnviroTRACE is introducing an innovative proactive smart technology for water leak detection which is able to assist in the reduction of water loss, identify unknown leaks, and ensure water distribution integrity in a highly cost effective manner. This smart technology has the ability to locate all leaks by size accurately, easily, and efficiently with minimal disruption.
INTEGRATED PROJECT DELIVERY - PRESENTED BY ALEKSI MAKILA, CHANDOS CONSTRUCTION
With the growing need of improvements and upgrades to existing water and wastewater infrastucture, integrated project delivery is gaining momentum in the Alberta and B.C. municipalities. In this course participants will gain an understanding of the current challenges in the water and wastewater industry and differing approach to traditional project delivery.
INTEGRATING WATER AND WASTEWATER SYSTEMS INTO YOUR EMERGENCY RESILIENCY PLANS - PRESENTED BY STEPHAN WENINGER, STANTEC
Operators, Managers and Municipal Administrators will learn of the importance of collaboratively planning, how to better assess their communities' risks, how to better plan for emergencies, and what resources are available to them.
LEACHATE MANAGEMENT - PRESENTED BY SWANA
Leachate Management is a comprehensive look at the management of leachate from production to collection and storage to treatment including design and operation of landfills. Participants in this course will also examine the complex combination of physical, chemical, and microbial processes that creates this toxic mix; survey the regulations from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba; discuss minimizing and mitigating leachate outbreaks; and, look at various treatment options.
MAINTENANCE AND REBUILD OF THE ROTARY LOBE PUMP - PRESENTED BY JORDAN HRUPP, WASTE'N WATERTECH
This session will provide students with the basic understanding of how to maintain and rebuild a rotary lobe pump. For people not familiar with these pumps it will provide them an introduction to how these pumps operate and are maintained. To people who are already familiar, it provides an opportunity to further touch on their skills and answer questions on topics that possibly they may have questions about.
OPERATOR CERTIFICATION AND DRINKING WATER AND WASTEWATER UPDATE - PRESENTED BY CHRISTINE DONOVAN, TERENCE KO AND RHONDA DROVER, EPA
Join the EPA for an update and discussion on the current state of operator certification, and drinking water and wastewater guidelines.
ORGANIC CONTROL, THM'S AND THE OPERATOR - PRESENTED BY GRANT DIXON, NICHOLAI KRISTEL AND SUTHA SUTHAKER, ASSOCIATED ENGINEERING
Most Operators in Northern Alberta have had to deal with higher organics in their source water. It could be seasonal or an ongoing issue. Organics can cause taste and odour issues, difficulties with treatment processes and disinfection by-products.
One of the most difficult issues with in water treatment is controlling organics especially with seasonal source water changes and climate events.
In this presentation, we will explore various methods of organic removal and controlling disinfection by-products this will include source water management, use of enhanced coagulation techniques, filtration improvements, absorption options and disinfection by-product control.
The presentation will provide practical tools for Managers and Operators of water treatment systems to help manage organics in their source water.
OXYGENATION AND CIRCULATION TECHNIQUES FOR RAW WATER - PRESENTED BY DHAVAL VAGHASIYA, ALGAE CONTROL CANADA
This workshop will inform operators, water resource managers, scientists, engineers, and any interested stakeholders in oxygenation and circulation techniques. The workshop will provide a comprehensive review of both theory and practice of oxygenation and circulation techniques, including reasons for oxygenation and circulation, types and proper selection of oxygenation and circulation techniques, caveats and lessons learned from oxygenation and circulation techniques, calculating oxygen demands, models (“rule of thumb”) vs. site-specific data, calculating theoretical vs. actual oxygen transfer rates, calculating oxygen transfer from the wind, sizing for manganese/iron, sizing for nutrient management and sizing for cyanobacteria control.
PROCESS CONTROL AND SCADA FUNDAMENTALS - PRESENTED BY ZANE SPENCER, MPE ENGINEERING
This workshop will engage participants in a discussion and explanation of typical components utilized in each of the levels of the control system model including Process Level, Local Control Level, Communications Media Level, Supervisory Control Level. Participants will become familiar with instruments and basic troubleshooting will be explained, demonstrated and available for interactive participation. Troubleshooting will include voltage testing, fuse checking, Diagnostic LED checking, radio connection basics, networking basics and basic computer / software skills. Participants will gain the skills required to implement or further refine basic troubleshooting skills for their own applications.
THE HOUSE OF LEADERS: BUILDING A RESILIENT WORKFORCE - PRESENTED BY RUTH PROULX, MOUNTAINVIEW PSYCHOLOGICAL
From how we think, feel and perform, leadership resilience skills can build the essential thinking, emotional and social skills that drive performance, maintain well-being and deliver results. Participants will learn scientific knowledge in a fun, dynamic and memorable way, increasing skills and approaches that will set them apart, enhance their careers and, help build trust within their organizations and communities.
USING BIOAUGMENTATION TO IMPROVE WATER LAGOON PERFORMANCE - PRESENTED BY DHAVAL VAGHASIYA, ALGAE CONTROL CANADA
Excessive accumulation of sludge hinders wastewater treatment. Reducing the volume of water in the lagoon reduces the retention time of the cell, which results in higher BOD, TSS and ammonia values in effluents. Also, it can short-circuit the
treatment process. The first part of this case study was presented in the Annual Operators Seminar (Banff 2022), in that presentation, we covered how much sludge was reduced with one year of bioaugmentation treatment and how it affected the Town of Ponoka’s effluent water quality parameters. In this presentation, we will cover the effect of winter months on sludge accumulation and water quality parameters, along with the reduction of sludge due to the summer 2022 bioaugmentation treatment.
WATER REQUIREMENTS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR MUNICIPALITIES SUPPORTING LOCAL INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT - PRESENTED BY STEVEN HERMAN, WATERSMART SOLUTIONS LTD.
In an increasingly competitive business environment, municipalities seeking to encourage industrial development within their borders must differentiate themselves from regional and global competitors. Water is a critical input for industrial processes, and municipalities can play a role in water sourcing and management to promote economic development. In this presentation, you will learn about the fundamentals of water management in Alberta; the potential benefits of municipalities playing a role in securing water for industrial development; and how municipalities can secure water access, from practical and regulatory perspectives.
WATERSHEDS: WHERE WE DRAW AND DISCHARGE WATER - PRESENTED BY ADAM NORRIS AND RHONDA CLARKE-GAUTHIER, MPWA, AND AMY CLARKSON, CITY OF GRANDE PRAIRIE
Our utilities provide critical services of clean drinking water and a receiving environment for treated water. This session will focus on the processes that drive how watersheds function and determine the quality of water that is in our water bodies. Topics to be discussed include wetlands, rivers, lakes, aquifers, human footprint and Drinking Water Safety Plans/Source Water Protection Plans. Through this session there will be the opportunity to think upstream of the intake pipe and downstream of the outlet pipe. As a tool, maps for different local water intakes will be used to examine cumulative effects and the watershed that supplies a given community.
WORKING WITH TALENTS AND STRENGTHS - PRESENTED BY KRIS ROBINS, KRIS ROBINS CONSULTING
In this course participants will learn the differences between skills, experience, talents and strengths; methods to identify the strengths of their team members in order to delegate more effectively; explore how team task descriptions may serve them better than individual job descriptions; see the utility and benefits of matching an individual's strengths to specific team tasks; how strengths-based recruiting can build a strong team with diversified talents; and have some fun exploring how talents-based problem solving identifies their own personal strengths!
WSER 101 COMPLIANCE WITH THE WASTEWATER SYSTEMS EFFLUENT REGULATIONS - PRESENTED BY CARLY TRUPPE AND KARISSA AUBIE, ECCC
Effluent from wastewater systems is the largest source of pollution by volume in Canadian waters. The wastewater systems effluent regulations are federal regulations that were developed to protect the environment by lowering the level of harmful substances released through wastewater effluent. This reduces threats to fish, fish habitat and human health from fish consumption.
The regulations apply to wastewater systems that were designed to collect 100 m3 or more of wastewater per day and discharges to a place that can directly or indirectly reach fish bearing waters. The regulations set national baseline effluent quality standards that are achievable through secondary wastewater treatment and prohibit the discharge of effluent that is acutely lethal to rainbow trout. To be in compliance with the regulations, operators of wastewater systems have to meet specific requirements for carrying out effluent monitoring, reporting and record keeping.