Strathroy-Caradoc Council by way of a recorded voted7-1 in favour last week to direct staff to continue with the Mt. Brydges Wastewater Treatment Facility’s Upgrade project already underway. In February, Council sourced Riverbirch Biodisk to provide a review of the facility looking for options to optimized the process in the short term before the upgrades to the extended aeration process is completed. The assessment occurred with staff and Riverbirch March 1st of this year.
Staff reported to Council that the report appeared to have inaccuracies including:
– The information that Mt Brydges WWTF has screens for treatment.
– The sludge hauling frequency, is not adequate
– They did not meet with Operation Staff
– Routine maintenance is not being performed by Operations staff
The report does agree with the previously presented RV Anderson findings of:
– The system is under designed
– The current disc media is full of debris waste
– Screening is important to remove the debris
– Temperature is a factor in the RBC biological treatment process
– Heavy moving equipment with a buildup of solids will have an effect on the mechanical equipment
– The process is slow to respond to change
Staff reported it should be noted all of these items are addressed by the currently proposed solution of extended aeration, the design of which is currently underway.
Some of the upgrades suggested for the RBCs by the report are:
– Replacement of existing filter media to the Riverbirch’s Biodisk technology
– The addition of another RBC train
– Enclosure for RBC units to allow more frequent inspection and maintenance of the units.
– Installation of a heating system to maintain RBC’s desired temperature in winter.
The suggested upgrades within Riverbirch’s report did not include the need for screening and grit removal, an equalization tank, SCADA upgrades and electrical upgrades which are within the design scope of the ongoing project. Staff added, that Riverbirch’s proposed upgrades will require significant costs and are not quick fixes.
written by: C. Soares/council documents