April 6, 1998
To:Works and Utilities Committee
From:B. H. Gutteridge
Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services
Subject:Beneficial Utilization of the Main Treatment Plant=s Processed Biosolids
Recommendations:
That this report be received for information.
Council Reference/Background/History:
At its meeting held on February 11, 1998, when dealing with Clause No. 1 of Report No. 2, Biosolids Demonstration
Facility - Harbour Remediation & Transfer Inc., the Works and Utilities Committee requested the Interim Functional Lead
for Water and Wastewater Operations, to submit a report to every other meeting of the Committee on the status of the
biosolids program.
Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:
We have presently two agreements with private contractors to beneficially utilize part of approximately 53,000 dry tonnes
per year of biosolids generated at the Main Treatment Plant (MTP) as demonstration projects. One of them with Terratec
Environmental Inc. (Terratec) is for 10,000 dry tonnes per year to be utilized for agricultural use over a five year period
starting in mid 1997. The other one with Harbour Remediation & Transfer Inc. (HR&T), also for 10,000 dry tonnes per
year or 50,000 dry tonnes in total, is to alkaline stabilize the biosolids at their 97 Commissioners Street facility and utilize
the end product for mine tailing remediation.
The Terratec demonstration project is progressing satisfactorily and as planned. The contractor is continuing to store the
dewatered sludge in his expanded storage facility for removal during the summer months. However, the HR&T
demonstration project encountered a setback in 1997 due to the odour problems related to their alkaline stabilization
operations. Provision of the biosolids to HR&T has been stopped since September 25, 1997. An odour control
improvement project has been initiated by HR&T with financial support from the City. The project is presently in progress
and is managed by Zorix Consultants Inc., retained by HR&T.
Between March 30 and April 3, 1998, HR&T and Zorix conducted a one week trial run of the HR&T processing facility,
under its normal operation conditions, to test various odour control equipment and collect related samples for analysis. The
equipment tested included two types of scrubbers utilizing various chemicals. Air ionization technology is also being
considered.
There is one more week of testing planned, but its exact timing has not been determined yet.
During the March 30 to April 3, 1998 HR&T test run, we received a few related odour complaints from the neighboring
community. They have all been reported to the Ministry of Environment (MOE), and investigated by our staff. A slight
fishy odour in the vicinity of the HR&T facility was detected and linked to the test run.
To minimize sludge incineration at the MTP during the HR&T idling period, we have amended our agreement with
Terratec to allow them to take up to 7,000 dry tonnes per year of the MTP biosolids for agricultural use, in addition to the
originally contracted 10,000 dry tonnes per year, when possible, for a premium of $40.50 per dry tonne on the base price of
$85.00 per dry tonne.
Conclusions:
The beneficial biosolids reuse demonstration utilizing MTP biosolids is presently in progress based on our agreements
with two private companies Terratec Environmental Inc. and Harbour Remediation & Transfer Inc.
The Terratec contract works well, and the company agriculturally utilizes up to 17,000 dry tonnes per year of the MTP
biosolids.
The HR&T contract is presently on hold due to the odour problem encountered in 1997, which is now being addressed. We
expect the problem to be resolved by the end of November, 1998, when the contractor should resume its processing of the
MTP biosolids.
Contact Name:
Mr. R. M. Pickett, Director, Water Pollution Control Division
Telephone: 392-8230
Fax: (416) 397-0908
E-Mail bob_pickett@metrodesk.metrotor.on.ca.
M.G. Thorne, P. Eng.B.H. Gutteridge
Interim Functional LeadCommissioner
Water and WastewaterWorks and Emergency Services
rmp:mmFile No. 1001.20-131
