City of Saskatoon Sewer System Consultants Report

Executive Summary

The City of Saskatoon is in the process of implementing changes to the Sewer Use Bylaw. The changes would further restrict the substances allowed to be released into the sewer system by commercial and industrial users.

The City would benefit by having waste reductions at the source before release of effluent to the South Saskatchewan River. It would be cost effective and improve the quality of the effluent and solid waste leaving the treatment plant.

The major stakeholders affected by the proposed changes are commercial and industrial use. In order to comply with the changes many of the stakeholders would be required to make significant changes to infrastructure. Some businesses resistant to change due to the capitol costs associated with compliance.

The City is working with the stakeholders through a variety of strategies in order to facilitate the implementation of the changes. These include:

Stakeholder consultation meetings.

Temporary permits while stakeholders work towards compliance.

Different levels of permits for different types of businesses.

Pre-inspections and testing to determine what changes are required.

In addition to these strategies this report recommends:

Financial assistance via low interest loans, gradual repayment schedules, and/or rebates on business tax.

Cost effective opportunities for research and development in wastewater management, by engaging local educational bodies.

Public acknowledgement of innovative stakeholders .

These recommendations will enable a smooth transition of implementation, mitigating the negative implications to stakeholders.

Contents

Executive Summary ii

Introduction 1

Background 1

Purpose 4

Stakeholders 5

Major Stakeholders - Industry 6

Metal Platers 6

Liquid Waste Haulers 7

Hospitals 7

Food Sector 7

Carpet Cleaning, Dry Cleaning, Automotive Repair, Vehicle/Equipment Wash, and Fermentation Operations 8

Dental Operations 8

Photographic Imaging Operations 9

Minor Stakeholders 10

Government 10

Environmental Agencies 10

Employees 11

General Public 11

Recommendations 11

Conclusion 12

Bibliography 14

Introduction

Our group, "G5 Consulting", has been contracted to provide a Stakeholder Consultation Report for the City of Saskatoon. Updating the existing Sewer Use Bylaw will incorporate some of the strictest regulations of water discharge in Canada.

Based on the information contained within this report, the City will be positioned to share and implement its strategic vision on wastewater management (see Appendix "A"). This report will also advise how the City can continue to educate and assist stakeholders to meet the challenges and seize opportunities the new regulations present.

Background

The current Sewer Use Bylaw was implemented in 1971 and is no longer meets the needs of expanding populations of the City and surrounding municipalities. The update to the bylaw will set out new limits on the amounts and types of waste that can be discharged into the City's sewer system. By introducing these restrictions, the onus will be placed on certain commercial and industrial water users to pre-treat, reduce, and/or find alternative methods of disposal for the waste they produce. Initial control, at the source, of specific harmful products will ensure elimination or reduction to manageable levels, before wastewater arrives at the Wastewater Treatment Plant ("WWTP"). By introducing this multi-barrier treatment system, the effluent destined for release to the South Saskatchewan River will contain waste.

The cities of Vancouver, Toronto and Victoria enacted similar bylaws approximately 10 years ago. The new Sewer Use Bylaw is proposed to be in effect by July 1, 2013. At this point, only the development of the new regulations has been approved by City Council. The specific rules, regulations, permits, and fees will need final approval once identified.

As the new bylaw is rolled out, the impact on some stakeholders may change - there are still areas of the bylaw that are not finalized. Some sampling and monitoring is currently taking place and based on these preliminary findings, certain regulations and stipulations may be altered.

Temporary licences will be issued to allow time for businesses to comply. The City will assess each business on a case by case basis to determine if a permit is needed and which type is applicable.

The proposed bylaw includes several permit types:

Special Use

High Volume Discharge

Trucked Liquid Waste Hauler

Pre-Treatment Facility

The City has addressed stakeholders since 2007 through public consultations. Fast Consulting was hired for the initial process of surveying stakeholders. There were two main objectives of the consultation: provide stakeholders with an opportunity to become familiar with the new bylaw, and allow stakeholders to give input and feedback to the City. "Stakeholder consultation is really about initiating and sustaining constructive external relationships over time."

The City of Saskatoon's administration continued with the consultation process into 2009. Industry focus group meetings were held including the following stakeholders: metal platers, liquid waste haulers, and restaurant owners.

The City's consultation