October 7, 1998

To:Budget Committee

From:City Clerk

Subject:Sewer Odours - Berry Road Overflow Chamber

Humber Sanitary Trunk Sewer (Ward 2)

Recommendation:

The Works and Utilities Committee recommends that the capital project to remove the gases and odors emanating into the surrounding neighbourhood from the Berry Road Overflow Chamber, at a cost of approximately $600,000.00, be a high priority item in the 1999 Water and Wastewater Services Capital Budget.

The Works and Utilities Committee reports, for the information of the Budget Committee, and Council, having received the report dated September 17, 1998, from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services.

Background:

The Works and Utilities Committee on October 7, 1998, again had before it a communication (July20, 1998) from Councillor Irene Jones, Lakeshore - Queensway, forwarding a copy of a communication addressed to the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services concerning the Berry Road Overflow Chamber of the Humber Treatment Plant, and concerns raised by residents with respect to strong odour and gases coming from the plant.

The Works and Utilities Committee also had before it a report (September 17, 1998) from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services providing information concerning actions which have been undertaken by the Works and Emergency Services Department to address the odour problem related to the Humber Sanitary Trunk Sewer Overflow Chamber located at Berry Road and Stephen Drive; outlining a plan comprised of two schemes to address the odour problem, the first to include installation of the gas tight flap gate on the chamber's outlet, and the second involving permanent sealing of the chamber's overflow port and implementation of the necessary upgrades to the Humber Treatment Plant; advising that the Department is committed to completing the first scheme's scope of work as soon as possible and then test its effectiveness, and that if the first scheme solution is proved insufficient to positively eliminate the odours, the second scheme would have to be embarked on immediately; noting that the necessary funds for the upgrades were included in the 1999 preliminary Water and Wastewater Services Capital Program submission; and recommending that this report be received for information.

The following persons appeared before the Works and Utilities Committee in connection with the foregoing matter:

-Mr. Garry J. Kapitan, resident of Stephen Drive, Etobicoke;

-Ms. Janine Cavin, resident of Stephen Drive, Etobicoke;

-Mr. Bill Turner, resident of Stonegate Road, Etobicoke;

-Ms. Karey Shinn, Chair, Safe Sewage Committee, and submitted a communication with respect thereto;

-Councillor Irene Jones, Lakeshore - Queensway; and

-Councillor Blake F. Kinahan, Lakeshore - Queensway.

City Clerk

Trudy Perrin/es.3

Attachment

c:Councillor Irene Jones

Councillor Blake F. Kinahan

Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services

General Manager, Water and Wastewater Services

Interested Parties

(Report dated September 17, 1998, addressed to the

Works and Utilities Committee from the

Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services)

Purpose:

To provide information concerning actions which have been undertaken by the Department in order to address the odour problem.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

There are no additional financial implications arising from this report.

Recommendation:

It is recommended that this report be received for information.

Council Reference/Background/History:

We received a communication dated July 20, 1998, sent to the Chair of the Works and Utilities Committee, Councillor Betty Disero, from Councillor Irene Jones, Lakeshore - Queensway, including a copy of Councillor Jones' letter to the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services dated July 17, 1998, and concerning the subject of nuisance odours escaping from the outlet of the Humber Sanitary Trunk Sewer (STS) overflow chamber located at Berry Road and Stephen Drive, as well as complaints of the residents of the nearby apartment building related to this problem.

The Humber STS Berry Road Overflow Chamber is a "flow relief structure", which comes into operation when flow in the sewer draining to the Humber Treatment Plant (HTP) exceeds 1,365,000cubic metres per day (300 MIGD), the present capacity of the plant's primary treatment facilities. Under such circumstances, the raw sewage inlet gates of the plant must be partially closed to prevent flooding of its facilities and the amount of sewage not allowed to enter the plant overflows through the Berry Road Chamber's overflow port to an outfall pipe and eventually the Humber River. Such overflow events are rare; we have had two events in the last five years. Each event is reported to the Ministry of the Environment (MOE). Odourous gases that the residents complain about escape from the sewer through that overflow port and find their way out to the atmosphere through the pipe outlet. This outlet is located very close to several apartment buildings.

Various steps have been undertaken throughout the years to address this odour problem. A weighted plastic curtain was installed in 1994 to cover the chamber's overflow port and prevent odours from escaping while allowing sewage to overflow when the level in the sewer exceeds the overflow weir elevation. We withdraw more air from the sewer by increasing the capacity of the ventilation systems at the HTP. Also, activated carbon filters were inserted under the ventilated maintenance hole covers of the Berry Road Chamber as well as other Humber STS maintenance hole covers in the vicinity, and are changed frequently.

We believed that the remedial actions undertaken would address the problem. However, after an initial decrease, a number of odour complaints rose up again in the summer of 1998.

Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:

In order to address various issues which residents of the HTP neighborhood may have in relation to our operations, the Department organized and its staff attended a number of public meetings with participation of the specially formed HTP Neighbourhood Liaison Committee, as well as the local councillors. The last meeting took place on September 21, 1998. During these meetings, the Berry Road Chamber odour problem was also discussed. Based on the history of the problem and input from the public, including the affected residents, the following steps are now being undertaken by the Department.

(1)A gas tight steel gate is being designed to be installed on the outlet of the Berry Road overflow chamber to stop any gases from escaping the sewer system in this location (the sewer will still breath through its ventilated maintenance hole covers equipped with the activated carbon filters, as well as vent to the HTP odour control system). In case of an overflow event, the gate will open under pressure of water behind it, release the flow which escapes the sewer, and close back. Every overflow event will be monitored as to its time of occurrence and volume of sewage released using the existing flowmeter installed in the chamber. This flowmeter will also send an overflow alarm signal to the HTP. After each overflow event, the flap gate will be inspected by the operations staff to ensure that the gate is properly sealing the overflow outlet. The design of the gate and its installation details are being done by the Department's engineering design group. The estimated cost of the whole project is $50,000.00. The expenditure could be accommodated in the previously approved 1998 Water Pollution Control Budget, Account No. WP115 S20236.

(2)In case the solution described in point (1) above would not positively address the problem, the 15 metre long overflow port of the Berry Road Chamber would have to be permanently sealed. However, this would require the HTP primary treatment and outfall facilities to be upgraded to handle a peak flow of up to 1,725,000 cubic metres per day (380 MIGD) involving installation of additional process equipment and changes to the existing structures following the necessary design work and approval by the MOE. Such plant upgrades, if approved, would cost approximately $600,000.00, and would require more than one year to complete.

The necessary funds for the upgrades were included in the 1999 preliminary Water and Wastewater Services Capital Program submission.

Conclusions:

The presented plan to effectively address the odour problem related to the Berry Road Overflow Chamber contains two schemes. The first scheme, which includes installation of the gas tight flap gate on the chamber's outlet is simple, relatively inexpensive, and requires only a few months for its execution. However, its effectiveness will have to be proven in the field after completion of the related work.

The second scheme involving permanent sealing of the chamber's overflow port and implementation of the necessary upgrades to the HTP is much more complicated and costly, requires regulatory approvals and, if approved, may take a few years to complete.

Under the circumstances and taking into consideration serious concerns of the affected residents, the Department is committed to complete the first scheme's scope of work as soon as possible and then test its effectiveness. In case satisfactory results are achieved, the second scheme implementation would be postponed. However, if the first scheme solution is proved insufficient to positively eliminate the odours, the second scheme would have to be embarked on immediately.

Contact Name:

Mr. R. M. Pickett, Director, Water Pollution Control

Telephone: (416) 392-8230; Fax (416) 397-0908

E-Mail: bob_pickett@metrodesk.metrotor.on.ca.

(Communication dated July 20, 1998, addressed to the

Works and Utilities Committee from

Councillor Irene Jones, Lakeshore - Queensway)

Please find attached a copy of a letter I have written to Barry Gutteridge concerning the Berry Road Overflow Chamber of the Humber Treatment Plant, together with some additional explanatory information. Apparently, there has been a problem with sewer odour for these residents for many years.

I will be holding a meeting as quickly as it can be arranged to deal with the residents' health concerns and ask that you place this item on the next Works and Utilities Committee agenda, so we can act to get some relief to these people.

Please let me know if you require any additional information for this to be done.

(Communication dated July 17, 1998, addressed to the

Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services from

Councillor Irene Jones, Lakeshore - Queensway)

I attended a meeting of the Humber Treatment Plant Neighbourhood Liaison Committee last evening, July 16, 1998, at 130 The Queensway. There were many residents in attendance and one of the items discussed was the very strong odour and gases coming from the Berry Road Overflow Chamber. Mr. Vitek Wilewski, the engineer for the Plant, was very good in trying to explain to the residents what was happening and answering as many questions as he could. Apparently there has been a severe odour problem at this location for over 20 years and my impression is that the residents have lost patience and want immediate action now.

It was agreed that I would write to you and the Members of Council to request support for a study to identify the problem and make recommendations on how this matter might once and for all be resolved.

I am therefore requesting the following assistance from you:

(1)the support of funding for the study as proposed by the residents and Mr. Wilewski; and

(2)that a small stakeholder meeting be held to further review the concerns of the residents.

I would like to request that a representative from the Plant, yourself, the Public Health Department and the Healthy Cities office, as well as myself attend a meeting with a number of residents including Garry Kapitan, Mr. Kot, and other neighbours as recommended by Tracy Korovesi, the Public Consultation Officer as well as a resident from the Humber Bay Shores Residents Association.

The residents are concerned about the impact of the odour on their health, any impacts from the gases that are emitted from the chamber and whether there are any airborne contagious diseases or fire hazards being created.

I would also like to request that any costs associated with the needed upgrades be provided for in either this year's budget or next.

Thank you for your immediate attention.