Steps Underway to Lessen Impact of Plant Shutdown
A number of initiatives are underway and significant process has, and is, being made. In the interim, steps are being taken to lessen the impact of the plant shutdown on the downtown.
Ozone Machines
On Friday, July 10, two ozone generators were installed in a small shed adjacent to a catchbasin on the west side of Upper Water Street just north of Cogswell Street.
This is how they work:
- ozone is fed into the catchbasin via two flexible hoses through a pipe installed under the sidewalk and into the back of the catchbasin
- ozone oxidizes the odour-producing compunds including hydrogen sulphide
At times, there may be insufficient ozone present to oxidize all of the odour-producing compounds. This is because their presence and concentration vary widely and are affected by numerous environmental conditions such as tide, weather conditions, wind speed and direction and temperature, to name a few. The units continue to work as they were designed to work and staff are continuously exploring ways to improve the performance of this system.
Carbon Air Filters
Plans are also in place to install activated carbon air filters in one or two catchbasins in the same area on a trial basis. The filters have been ordered and will be installed once received from the supplier.
Plan to Divert Dry Weather Flows
Crews continue to work on a plan that would divert dry-weather flows to the Halifax plant. These flows will be screened and discharged through the existing Halifax WWTF outfall pipe, which extends approximately one kilometre into the harbour and provides 50-1 dilution. This measure is expected to reduce odour issues, screen floatables, and reduce the impact on the wastewater collection system resulting from stagnant flows. The present schedule call for flows from the collection system to be diverted to the plant in early September.
New Pumps
Five new wastewater pumps are being ordered with a delivery time of six months at an installation cost of approximately $2 million. Insurance will cover the cost of these wastewater pumps, which is the largest single piece of equipment needing replacement.
New Mechanical/Electrical Equipment
In addition, mechanical/electrical contractors Black & MacDonald have been contracted to replace or repair mechanical and electrical damaged in the flood. Black & MacDonald are presently on-site.
Halifax Water and HRM will continue to work diligently to restore the plant to full operation and ensure all three of the Harbour Solutions Project wastewater treatment facilities are safeguarded from any similar type of occurrence.
It remains the intention of Halifax Water and HRM to see the Halifax plant back in operation in the spring of 2010, that any problems that led to the sequence of events that caused the flooding have been addressed, and that the water quality within Halifax Harbour is once again restored to levels enjoyed last summer by residents.
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