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Q. |
What does the diversion of dry weather flows mean?
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Typical wastewater flows that have been discharged directly into the harbour through combined sewer overflows since the Halifax WWTF shut down will be diverted through the plant, where they will be screened for floatables and debris before being discharged about a kilometre into the harbour.
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Q: |
What happens on rainy days?
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When heavy rain results in high volumes of flow the wastewater will be directed to the CSOs.
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Q: |
What are the advantages to this dry weather flow diversion approach?
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The diversion of dry weather flows will mean many fewer days when raw sewage is discharged into the harbour through the CSOs. This will greatly reduce and possibly eliminate odours in the downtown. In addition, the wastewater will be screened and discharged a kilometre into the harbour instead of near the shoreline.
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Is this guaranteed to work?
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There are no guarantees but Halifax Water feels confident that this phase of the recovery has been well thought through. The diversion will be carefully sequenced beginning with gravity-fed systems so wastewater can be introduced gradually and adjustments can be made where required.
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Q: |
Will this measure also divert resources from the full restoration of the plant or add time to those recovery efforts?
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The work needed to divert dry weather flows was also required to restore the plant to full operation which remains on track for spring 2010.
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What can the public expect when this diversion begins?
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Noise can be expected from the CSOs when they are being pumped out in preparation for the diversion and there may be short-term odours as well.
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What is the timeline for phase one?
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The work required to begin the diversion of flows is already underway with pumping at a number of combined sewer overflow chambers in the downtown area completed or in progress. This pumping could briefly generate odours in the vicinity of the CSOs. The introduction of wastewater is being carefully sequenced beginning with gravity-fed systems. This will allow time to ensure everything is working properly and to make adjustments if and where they are needed.
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Q: |
Why can't the public know the findings of the forensic report?
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Updating council and the Halifax Water board in confidence is not an effort to withhold information from the public - it is crucial to the protection of the significant taxpayer investment in the project and to returning the water quality in the harbour to its previous levels as soon as possible.
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Q: |
Where can I find the financial records from Halifax Water showing the most recent figures for the cost of the Harbour Solutions Project?
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The Harbour Solutions Project Quarterly Report as provided to Halifax regional council on June 2, 2009 can be found at the below link on HRM's website.
http://halifax.ca/council/agendasc/documents/090602cai04.pdf.
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Q: |
The Halifax WWTF is shutdown. Will Dartmouth and Herring Cove suffer the same problems? |
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The Dartmouth WWTF continues to operate and the Herring Cove WWTF is scheduled to be operating in the commissioning phase later this summer.
The preliminary investigation report is currently being reviewed by staff from Halifax Water, HRM and relevant partners. Any changes that are deemed necessary to ensure the long-term operational integrity of all facilities will be implemented.
Halifax Water currently operates 13 other wastewater treatment facilities apart from the three Harbour Solutions Project WWTFs. These are all of a different design and not affected in any way by the temporary shutdown of the Halifax WWTF.
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Q: |
Will residents be swimming in Halifax Harbour this summer? |
A: |
There will not be supervised swimming at Black Rock beach and Dingle beach this summer.
HRM has a variety of beaches, lakes and outdoor pools, many of which are supervised by our trained lifeguards every day of the summer.
For a full list of beaches, lakes and outdoor pools, visit: http://www.halifax.ca/rec/beaches.html
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Q: |
Will taxpayers be on the hook for the repair of the Halifax WWTF? |
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The preliminary investigation report is currently being reviewed by staff from Halifax Water, HRM and relevant partners. Extensive insurance coverage is in place as well as contractual warranties and securities.
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Q: |
Were any personnel in the Halifax WWTF injured on the day of the shutdown? |
A: |
The safety of personnel is top priority with all HRM/Halifax Water operations. No personnel were injured as a result of the malfunction and temporary shutdown.
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Q: |
Is there a design flaw in the Halifax WWTF? |
A: |
The preliminary investigation report is currently being reviewed by staff from Halifax Water, HRM and relevant partners. It is known that when the plant was operational, it met all water quality objectives for Halifax Harbour as set out by residents. Crews continue to work diligently to restore the plant to full operation and those objectives will be met again.
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Q: |
Are odours in Halifax going to be a concern as the warmer weather approaches? |
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Every possible action will be taken to minimize any odour issues. As in past summers, warm, dry weather can generate odours in isolated areas in the sewage collection system. Halifax Water regularly removes accumulated debris from underground systems that may cause odours. If you do notice an odour around your neighbourhood, it may be caused by a number of things. Visit http://www.halifax.ca/HWWTF/SpringCleaning.html to review a checklist of things to look for.
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Q: |
Have the taxpayers of HRM bought a lemon? |
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The water quality objectives for Halifax Harbour, as set out by residents, were met, as promised, when the Halifax and Dartmouth plants were operational. Once the Halifax WWTF is returned to operation, those objectives will again be met.
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Q: |
Why is there no access allowed to the Halifax WWTF? |
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In order to assure the integrity of the investigation, only essential staff are allowed in the Halifax WWTF. It is important that all safety and forensic considerations are respected during the investigation process.
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Q: |
Are periodic overflows an indication the Harbour Solutions Project is under capacity? |
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The overflows with large municipal wastewater systems are common during wet weather conditions. This is not a result of under capacity. The treatment plants are designed to treat four times the average dry weather flow.
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Q: |
Should the project have been designed to secondary or higher treatment levels? |
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Prior to the incident, the HSP met all required environmental criteria and met the water quality objectives for Halifax Harbour as set out by residents. The recent malfunction has nothing to do with the level of treatment.
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Is advanced-primary treatment obsolete with new federal standards coming along? |
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The Harbour Solutions Project is designed to meet all required objectives presently in place. Federal requirements for secondary treatment have recently been approved but the time period for upgrades range from 10 to 30 years. Once the costs and timeframe for secondary treatment are confirmed, HRM/Halifax Water will comply and look to our provincial and federal partners for funding support. It is important to note that secondary treatment treats the same volume as advanced-primary, just at different levels.
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Q: |
Is this shut down a setback for HRM? |
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The shutdown is a temporary setback for the Harbour Solutions Project. We know when the plant was operational, the water quality objectives were met. It will be operational again and water quality objectives will be met again.
HRM is proud of its environmental accomplishments and ranked first in the "Medium Cities" category in sustainable management in Corporate Knights magazine in 2008. The track record will be further enhanced with the commissioning of the Herring Cove WWTFs and restoration of the Halifax WWTF. Dartmouth WWTF continues to operate in the commissioning phase.
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Q: |
Should residents feel the harbour water quality will never be properly restored? |
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This is a temporary setback for the Harbour Solutions Project, but it will be rectified. All staff involved in the project are working hard to bring the WWTF back to full operation. Water quality in the harbour will be restored within weeks of the plant being fully operational again.
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Q: |
Will the temporary shutdown of the Halifax WWTF cause odours throughout downtown Halifax? |
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As in past summers, warm, dry weather can generate odours in isolated areas in the sewage collection system. The temporary shutdown of the Halifax WWTF may result in odour challenges that were not present prior to the Harbour Solutuons Project as a result of the wastewater collection system constructed to intercept numerous sewage outfall points and divert flows to the Halifax WWTF. This concentration of flows to fewer discharge points may lead to isolated areas of slow moving or stagnant flows and generate odours. HRM and Halifax Water crews have a rigorous operational plan in place to help minimize any odours that could result.
Visit http://www.halifax.ca/HWWTF/SpringCleaning.html for a list of all systems that are cleaned on a regular basis.
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Q: |
What should residents do if they are experiencing odours in their homes/businesses? |
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As should always be done on a regular basis, residents and business owners should check their P-shaped trap to ensure water is resting in the line/pipe. More information can be found in our brochure.
Residents should also periodically run water through drains that are not regularly used. These lines can dry out over time and allow sewer gas into the home. Visit http://www.halifax.ca/HWWTF/SpringCleaning.html to review a checklist of things to look for.
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Q: |
Could the Halifax WWTF shutdown lead to sewer backups in homes/businesses? |
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The temporary shutdown of the Halifax WWTF should not have any effect on the sewer system flows. Residents/businesses should install back flow prevention valves on sewer laterals, if not currently installed. This is a standard precaution to safeguard against a sewer backup.
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Q: |
Why is the investigation into the cause of the Halifax WWTF malfunction taking so long? |
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The preliminary investigation report is currently being reviewed by staff from Halifax Water, HRM and relevant partners. The Halifax WWTF is a complicated system. We want to ensure that taxpayers are protected, the asset is returned to full operation and that another event does not occur.
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Q: |
Will businesses that offer harbour tours be affected by this shutdown? |
A: |
Prior to the Jan. 14th malfunction and prior to any Harbour Solutions Project wastewater treatment facilities treating flows, many businesses offered harbour tours. The Dartmouth WWTF continues to operate and the Herring Cove WWTF is scheduled to be operating in the commissioning phase later this summer.
All staff involved in the project are working hard to bring the Halifax WWTF back to full operation.
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Q: |
Will the Tall Ships be affected by this shutdown? |
A: |
Halifax has hosted Tall Ships gatherings four times over two decades, all of which were prior to any of the Harbour Solutions Project’s wastewater treatment facilities being in service.
The Dartmouth WWTF continues to operate and the Herring Cove WWTF is scheduled to be operating in the commissioning phase later this summer.
All staff involved in the project are working hard to bring the Halifax WWTF back to full operation.
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Q: |
Why were the screens removed from the combined sewer overflow chambers? |
A: |
When the Halifax WWTF malfunction occurred, flows that previously headed to the wastewater treatment facility were diverted to eight combined sewer overflow chambers (CSOs). These CSOs are designed to operate only during overflow events when flows exceed the Halifax WWTFs design capacity of four times the average dry weather flow.
The design capacity for the Halifax WWTF is 14,000 cubic meters/hour or 336 million litres/day.
In these overflow events, wastewater would be diverted to the CSOs, floatables screened, and the CSOs would continue operating until flow levels dropped below four times average dry weather flow. Since the Halifax WWTF shutdown, the CSOs have been running continuously and crews have been pumping out the chambers.
This pumping creates odour and noise issues in the area of the CSOs, as well as increased debris concentrations in the receiving waters for a short period of time, but on a frequent basis. There are also concerns that continuously running the CSOs will damage the equipment and could lead to street flooding if the screens malfunction, as the equipment is designed to run only during periodic overflow events.
Therefore, the CSOs have been shutdown and the screens removed until the Halifax WWTF is operational.
This means floatables will be temporarily discharged into the harbour, from the Halifax side of the harbour only, until the Halifax WWTF is returned to operation.
The Dartmouth WWTF continues to operate and the Herring Cove WWTF is scheduled to be operating in the commissioning phase later this summer.
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Q: |
What should people not be flushing down their toilets or putting down their sink drains? |
A: |
Residents should not flush items such as tampons, tampon applicators, sanitary napkins, condoms, cotton swabs, wipes, dental floss and bandaids. These items should go in the garbage.
Please listen to our pollution prevention radio message (MP3 Format Sound, 510 KB)
Audio Script:
(SFX: Don’t Dump This!!)
Take Responsibilty for the safety and beauty of our Harbour.
Even if the packaging says it’s flushable.
Even if you’ve been doing it for years. STOP.
Tampons, condoms, diapers and wipes. Cotton swabs and balls, liners, bandaids, floss …
These belong in the Garbage. NOT the Harbour.
Find yourself wondering whether or not it should be flushed?
The answer … is “Don’t”.
(SFX: Don’t Dump This!!)
This Naturally Green message brought to you by Halifax Water . For proper practices, visit Halifaxwater.ca.
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