OgoGrow just got a lot cheaper, but you're going to need a bigger truck

By John McDonald September 12, 2017 - 8:00 PM

KELOWNA - With a small mountain of the garden compost piling up, Kelowna council has made a move to boost the sale of OgoGrow. Council on Monday approved amendments to the bylaws governing the sale and price of OgoGrow, allowing the compost to be sold at negotiated prices rather than a minimum flat rate. Utiltiy services manager Kevin Van Vliet says this allows the city to sell the product much further afield. “With compost, the cost of hauling it any distance becomes a real inhibitor,” he explains. “Our current market area is really defined by the costs of trucking.” While there’s a steady stream of OgoGrow leaving local distribution points with gardeners in their pickup trucks, Van Vliet says 90 per cent of sales are to regional wholesalers who either sell the product as is or upgrade it further.But the production of 65,000 cubic yards annually has exceeded demand for the last six years, Van Vliet says, leaving the city with aproximately 50,000 cubic metres of excess inventory.Local gardeners will now pay $21.43 per cubic yard for anything less than 50 cubic yards of OgoGrow at the Glenmore but they would need a pretty big truck to take advantage of the lowest bulk price of $5 for 20,000 yards and up. However the bylaw also gives the city’s director of civic operations authority to negotiate bulk sale prices of between $0 and $7 per cubic yard should stored inventory exceed 25 per cent of annual production. Van Vliet says the move should immediately boost sales and take some pressure off the production site it shares with the City of Vernon.

“Compost needs to be turned regularly so it’s stored on an asphalt slab,” he says. “If you store it off the slab, it gets mixed with dirt when you turn it and degrades the quality which might affect sales.” According to the City of Kelowna website, OgoGrow is made from biosolids from both Vernon and Kelowna waste treatment plants, mixed with wood waste and wood ash. It is recommended for application on flowers, shrubs and in vegetable gardens, however, its use and production are controversial. The Central Okanagan Regional District was forced two years ago to change the contractor who was receiving its biosolids after protestors in the Nicola Valley near Merritt began picketing against the dumping of what they call toxic sewage sludge. While Kelowna sends its biosolids to Vernon, the regional district as well as the City of West Kelowna, Peachland and the Westbank First Nation all use the Westside regional wastewater treatment plant.
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Kelowna Report & Bylaw
 https://kelownapublishing.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ashx?DocumentId=8432   (p114-118)

New Rates from proposed bylaw

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April 2017 Meeting Agenda 
https://www.vernon.ca/sites/default/files/docs/meetings/agendas/170404_biolsolids.pdf

Feces to fortune: US sewage may contain billions in precious metals

Published time: March 23, 2015 22:22 RTScientists are perusing poop at America’s wastewater treatment facilities for gold, silver, copper and other useful metals. The sewage from one million people could net $13 million in metals each year, all while making fertilizer more efficient. More than seven million dry tons biosolids (read: poop) are generated in the US annually by more than 16,500 municipal wastewater treatment facilities. And that sewage contains metals that people ingest and otherwise flush down the toilet, or rinse out in the laundry and shower. "There are metals everywhere," Dr. Kathleen Smith of the US Geological Survey (USGS) said in a statement, noting that they are "in your hair care products, detergents, even nanoparticles that are put in socks to prevent bad odors." Smith leads a team of researchers looking to get metals out of biosolids because about half of all human waste ‒ about 3.5 million tons in the US ‒ is used as fertilizer on farms and in forests, while the other half is incinerated or sent to landfills. “If you can get rid of some of the nuisance metals that currently limit how much of these biosolids we can use on fields and forests, and at the same time recover valuable metals and other elements, that's a win-win," Smith said. It may be odd thinking of precious metals like silver and gold as nuisances, but they impede the usefulness of fertilizers. "We have a two-pronged approach," Smith said. "In one part of the study, we are looking at removing some regulated metals from the biosolids that limit their use for land application." "In the other part of the project, we're interested in collecting valuable metals that could be sold, including some of the more technologically important metals, such as vanadium and copper that are in cell phones, computers and alloys," she added. (more)
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Also See:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/sewage-sludge-contains-millions-of-dollars-worth-of-gold-other-metals-1.2948080

British ‘poo bus’ goes into service: It runs on human sewage, food waste and smells like a bus

Louise Downing, Bloomberg News | November 20, 2014

A bus running on gas made from human sewage and food waste will today begin ferrying passengers between two British cities. The “Bio-Bus” will transport 40 passengers a time between Bristol Airport and Bath in the U.K.’s southwest, Wessex Water Services Ltd., the company behind the vehicle, said in an e- mailed statement. It’s Britain’s first bus to be powered using gas derived from such waste, it said. The bus can travel up to 300 kilometres on one tank of gas, which takes the annual waste of about five people. “Gas-powered vehicles have an important role to play in improving air quality in U.K. cities but the Bio-Bus goes further than that and is actually powered by people living in the local area, including quite possibly those on the bus itself,” Mohammed Saddiq, the general manager of Geneco, a unit of Bath-based Wessex Water, said in the statement. The company also has started injecting gas made from food waste and sewage into the grid to power more than 8,000 homes, it said in the statement. Britain’s water companies are increasingly turning to waste as a source of power to cut bills and increase energy security. Severn Trent Plc, the country’s second-largest publicly traded water company, last month began injecting gas from sewage into the grid.

RDCO has biosolids plan after hiring BioCentral

Posted: Thursday, September 18, 2014 5:45 am | Updated: 5:45 am, Thu Sep 18, 2014. Dorothy Brotherton Westside Weekly
Biosolids — the polite term for what’s left over after sewage is treated — are going to be handled a new way after leaving the Westside Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant. The Regional District of Central Okanagan has awarded a contract to BioCentral to manage the biosolids for the next five years, at a value of about $1.15 million.  A request for proposals went out in August, asking for a handling plan that would be environmentally sustainable as to its impacts on water, air and land, acceptable in terms of odour and health and, of course, affordable. The request specified beneficial reuse of the biosolids. Four proposals were received and input was gathered from Interior Health, before the treatment plant’s select committee of stakeholders gave the contract to BioCentral. “The new biosolids management process will save money over the five years,” said Peachland Mayor Keith Fielding. The cost is $500,000 less than the previous plan plus an additional $1 million in savings because of reduced transportation costs. This comes after Interior Health nixed a plan to continue dumping biosolids at the Old Brenda Mine Site above Peachland. The idea there was to use biosolids as fertilizer on areas that are being re-vegetated. Peachland council had not liked that idea, worrying about impacts to the town’s watershed. Council was relieved when Interior Health said the plan for the proposed treatment and use at Brenda Mine was insufficient to protect drinking water if an extreme wet weather event happened. Biosolids had been trucked to Bob’s Lake pit and to the Pennask pit at Brenda Mine in a pilot program. Peter Rotheisler, manager of environmental services for the regional district, said in his report that the biosolids will be taken to a BioCentral composting facility just west of Merritt under the new contract.

Biosolids Used To Close Landfill

Written by Peter McIntyre 1075 KISSFM Monday, 15 September 2014 16:45

Biosolids from Metro Vancouver will be used to help close down a landfill in the Vernon area. The Regional District of North Okanagan will use the treated sewage -- along with yard waste compost -- to grow grass at the Pottery Road landfill site, which could eventually be turned into a park. "Additionally, these materials contain natural soil microorganisms that convert methane gas from landfills into carbon dioxide thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 21 times," says RDNO's Manager of Regional Engineering Services Nicole Kohnert. Kohnert says making the topsoil instead of buying it ready-made, will save the project over 400-thousand dollars. "This nutrient rich material will be mixed with RDNO yard waste compost and local mineral soils to generate 12,000 m3 of topsoil, which will then be hauled from the Greater Vernon Recycling and Disposal Facility to the Pottery Road Landfill. The mixture will provide the nutrients that are needed for grass growth in the spring of 2015," states an RDNO news release. Kohnert says the project team is working with the Environment Ministry to make sure odour isn't an issue.
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http://www.rdno.ca/press-releases/140915_MR_Biosolids_Pottery_Road.pdf

Looking for a crappy solution

by Wayne Moore |CASTANET - Jul 9, 2014 / 5:00 am
The Regional District of Central Okanagan is looking for a place to dump solid waste from its Regional Westside Wastewater Treatment Plant. In the meantime, the biosolids are being trucked to the City of Clinton at a cost to the taxpayer of $300,000 in 2014. The additional cost is being shared by taxpayers in West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation and Peachland. According to RDCO Communications Officer, Bruce Smith, five truck loads of biosolids are being trucked from the westside to Clinton each week. The solid waste will continue to be trucked until a solution can be found closer to home. Prior to its closure in 2010, biosolids were buried at the Westside Landfill. For a brief time solid waste was then buried at the Glenmore Landfill and, after that agreement expired, waste was used to recapture two decommissioned gravel pits on the westside. All the while a permanent solution was sought. "We thought we had a land application with Westbank First Nation and they decided they weren't going to support any biosolids land application in their community forest," says Smith. "We began looking for another alternative and Brenda Mines reclamation came up." Smith says while that site looked promising Peachland put in a number of stipulations, one of those being approval from Interior Health. "Interior Health came back and said based on the potential for a heavy rain event and the materials getting into Trepanier Creek, you shouldn't go ahead," says Smith. "All the while we were stockpiling material and said, okay, Plan B is to go to Clinton. Now, Plan C we closed last Friday was a Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI) from anyone who had ideas on how to manage the biosolids on a long term basis." The regional district is in the process of reviewing the REOI's before moving forward with recommendations. "This is an example of a lack of planning and now we are faced with a really big hit that we have to explain to the users," RDCO Director Doug Findlater stated at a recent board meting. "All along I have said this will not work in the long term." One possible solution is an intergovernmental one involving West Kelowna, WFN and Peachland as well as Penticton, Kelowna and Sun Rype which is apparently also having problems managing their biosolids. Smith says the RDCO will also look at best practices in other jurisdictions - one of those the Regional District of Nanaimo. Since 1999, RDN biosolids have been beneficially used in agriculture, landfill closures, mine reclamation and forestry. It says RDN biosolids have been beneficially used in Vancouver Island University's (VIU) Forest Fertilization Program since 2007.

West Kelowna ratepayers can expect higher utility bill next month

Posted: Thursday, June 26, 2014 4:22 pm kelowna Daily Courier
West Kelowna residents will see a substantial increase on their July utility bill, a result of increased costs associated with the Regional Westside Wastewater Treatment Plant. West Kelowna said in a news release Wednesday it was advised by the Regional District of Central Okanagan that it would be charged an additional $494,265 for sewer service based on adjustment to the sewer flow calculation for the community. A further $210,000 increase would be billed to the municipality to pay for increased biosolid hauling costs. West Kelowna residents will see a rate increase of 22.92 per cent ($49.24 annually per household) on RDCO sewer rates, beginning on the next utility bill to be distributed in July. Partially offsetting the sewer rate increase is a reduction in recycling fees. Incentive funds provided from Multi-Material British Columbia (MMBC) for communities that participate in recycling programs will be used to reduce the cost of recycling to residents. Altogether, these changes will result in a net annual increase of $30.80 on the utility bill for an average single-family home, beginning next month.

Ogo Gro Truck Burns

Written by Glen Morrison 107.5 KISSFM Monday, 03 February 2014 07:20
A truck's a write off after a fire at the "Ogo-Gro" facility on Commonage road.It happened just before midnight and Vernon crews could do little but hose the remains as it was fully engulfed when the arrived. The plant makes fertilizer from Vernon and Kelowna reclaimed sewage. There's no estimate on the loss or a cause yet.

Concern about biosolids in West Kelowna's watershed

By Judie Steeves - Kelowna Capital News Updated: May 08, 2013 9:29 AM

West Kelowna Mayor Doug Findlater is concerned about a proposal to dump biosolids from the Westside Wastewater Treatment Plant into the municipality’s watershed. The project is run by Sylvis Environmental Services Inc., which has been spreading the material in the Bob’s Lake pit, off the Okanagan Connector of the Coquihalla Highway, near Paradise  and Island Lakes. Instead, it is proposing to spread it in part of the Westbank First Nation’s community forest on Mount Swite, in the Bear Creek area, as a fertilizer to increase growth rates and productivity in an area to be re-forested. Findlater expressed his concern about the project at Tuesday’s regular meeting of the Okanagan Basin Water Board and said he would like feedback on the proposal from members of the Okanagan Water Stewardship Council, which acts as a technical advisory committee to the OBWB. Technical reports on the process report biosolids have been used as an organic fertilizer for forest productivity in the Pacific Northwest for more than 40 years without any instance of forest fertilization causing detrimental effect to soil, plant or water systems through application at agronomic rates in B.C. “The impacts of these applications have been carefully studied and are deemed to be purely beneficial from both ecological and fertilization perspectives,” according to a letter from Sylvis received by the regional district about the proposal in early April. However, Findlater noted it’s the company selling the process that’s doing the reporting. OBWB water stewardship director Nelson Jatel noted he expects there will be some questions about the endocrine disruptor content in the material as well. Director Tom Siddon agreed he felt there should be more information available about the risks associated with disposing of biosolids. The Sylvis letter said all biosolids applications will be a minimum of 30 metres from water. Specifically, it said two sites are being considered, one that is 1,100 hectares and is up on the Pennask summit, off the Connector, and the other 14 kilometres up the Bear Lake Forest Service Road, within an area that is 10,000 hectares in total. The WFN chief and council have approved the application on its community forest licence lands said the letter. The letter reported there is a requirement that above-ground foods not be picked from the area for human consumption for 18 months after application, and no below-ground tubers and roots for 38 months after application. Signs would be posted to warn people about that.

Vernon pumps money into odour control at biosolids plant

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star  Updated: April 08, 2013 3:57 PM
The City of Vernon is trying to deal with a stinky situation.  Council agreed Monday to spend $127,500 for a water system at the biosolids composting facility in the Commonage. "A reduction in smell may occur," said Mayor Rob Sawatzky. Complaints are common from nearby residents about an odour emanating from the facility that takes from sewer biosolids and turns it into Ogogrow fertilizer. "There seems to be an issue for some residents at some times," said Sawatzky. "We have to approve anything reasonably affordable that helps with the situation." As part of the composting process, water must be available to ensure the correct moisture content occurs in the material. Presently the process uses treated reclaimed waste water but it's not available outside of the spray irrigation season. The plan is to access reclaimed water from nearby McKay reservoir. Along with Vernon, Kelowna will provide $297,500 because it is also an owner of the biosolids facility. Coun. Patrick Nicol insists the water system is necessary to ensure that the city doesn't contravene provincial permits. But he insists the most important factor is to provide residents with some relief from the odour. "This seems to make a lot of sense and I hope it will make an impact," he said.

Greater Victoria sewage project overruns, if any, will fall to local taxpayers

By Cindy E. Harnett and Rob Shaw, Timescolonist.comJuly 17, 2012 7:13 AM

Local taxpayers are on the hook for any overruns for the region’s new secondary sewage treatment system, officials confirmed Monday after the federal and provincial governments announced the maximum amounts they’ll contribute. To cover the expected total bill of $782.7 million, the federal contribution will be up to $253.4 million, the provincial contribution is a maximum of $248 million and the Capital Regional District provides the balance, estimated at $281.3 million. Federal money will arrive before and during construction, but the province will wait until the system is running. Conservative MP James Moore announced the federal money at a news conference Monday at the Inn at Laurel Point. “The construction is beginning soon, work begins this year, the funding is now flowing and a partnership has been built,” Moore said.  The goal is to end the pumping of raw sewage into the waters around Victoria, Moore said. “Its time has come, and we’re taking action.” The provincial government made it clear that its contribution — based on 2010 cost estimates — will only be delivered when the project is up and running in 2017-18 or 2018-19. “We want to make sure we get to substantial completion before we start contributing,” said Oak Bay-Gordon Head Liberal MLA Ida Chong. “Basically you have to show your receipts ... and it has to be working,” said CRD chairman Geoff Young. The CRD is on the hook for land purchases, legal fees and annual operating costs of $14.5 million. The estimated property-tax burden for homeowners ranges from $100 to $500 a year, depending on the municipality and how much waste and wastewater it produces.If the project goes over-budget, the CRD has to pay the difference, said Jack Hull, the CRD’s general manager of integrated water services.

Saanich Mayor Frank Leonard said the funding caps by senior governments are justifiable. “I think it inspires discipline.” The system consists of three projects: the McLoughlin Point wastewater treatment plant in Esquimalt, a biosolids energy centre proposed for Saanich and piping-system upgrades. At McLoughlin Point, liquid will be extracted and discharged into the ocean through a new marine outfall on the same site. Leftover sludge will be piped 18 kilometres to a biosolids energy centre, proposed for Hartland landfill in Saanich. It will be built through a public-private partnership with support from P3 Canada Fund, a Crown corporation that assesses, provides consultation and makes recommendations on public-private partnerships. Biosolids are to be processed into a fuel for cement kilns in Vancouver, replacing coal. Ownership of the facility and accountability stays with the CRD. Denise Blackwell, chairwoman of the CRD’s liquid waste management committee, expects construction to start in 2013, generating 10,000 “person-years” of employment. The CRD is to debate whether municipalities will phase in the increased tax burden as part of property taxes or on water bills. Currently, sewage flows through metal screens before it is piped about a kilometre into the ocean.

Coldstream Ranch sludge treatment sparks discussions

By Jennifer Smith - Vernon Morning Star Published: May 18, 2012 1:00 AM
Curiosity is a byproduct of sludge being spread over some Lavington fields. Coldstream Ranch has started spreading an organic residue on a few of its corn fields. The sludge is waste from fruit processing at Sun-Rype in Kelowna, which is treated at a waste facility. During winter applications of the sludge, some concerns were brought to the District of Coldstream over the smell and safety. “I’m suspicious it is more than just apple composte, it’s a class two toxic sludge,” said Coun. Maria Besso. The material contains nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and some residual fecal coliforms from the wastewater treatment. Despite the evidence of fecal coliforms, the ranch has permission from the Ministry of Environment to spread it on fields. “The biosolids being applied to Coldstream Ranch is the organic residue remaining after treatment of processing water for the production of juice and wine,” said Jody McCall, operations forester/professional agrologist, in a response to Coldstream. “The material is all organic, contains no pesticides and has beneficial nutrients for the soil.” Coun. Gyula Kiss suggests the sludge can’t be any more dangerous than what is traditionally spread over crops. “I would be more worried about the bacteria in the cow manure.” But Besso still questions the safety of the sludge, especially since a precautionary sign was erected at the ranch over the winter. “If it were less dangerous than cow manure then they wouldn’t have to put a sign up,” said Besso. She is also concerned about seepage into Coldstream Creek, which flows into Greater Vernon’s drinking water. There are three areas the sludge is being applied to: Buchanan, Big B and Keefer fields. The first two are 850 metres from Coldstream Creek, while Keefer is 130 metres away. Residential properties are at least 30 metres away from the fields. The District of Coldstream is investigating the sludge and whether it presents any health concerns. “We’re not claiming that anything wrong is being done here, we just want some information,” said Coun. Doug Dirk.

Creek concerns still flowing

One Coldstream politician is calling her colleagues ostriches. Coun. Maria Besso says concerns about cows tromping through and defecating in Coldstream Creek are not being taken seriously. “It seems to me like we’re hiding our head in the sand and not dealing with it,” said Besso. She refers to Coldstream Ranch allowing cows in area creeks, after she heard several complaints from residents following a recent event where cattle stormed the fence. “Can we not say to someone, ‘please fix your fence?’” Besso asked. “It’s not good for the environment and it’s not good for the cattle either.” While the trampled fences have since been re-erected, the overall situation is more complicated than that, since senior governments have regulation over what occurs in the creeks. Mayor Jim Garlick calls the government regulations a backwards situation. “If he sticks a pump in the creek he gets in trouble from the Ministry of Environment but he can let his cattle walk in the creek,” said Garlick. “It doesn’t make sense.”

UBCO, City do biosolid energy research

by Castanet Staff - Story: 58796  Dec 9, 2010 / 11:00 am

Researchers at UBC Okanagan are working with the City of Kelowna to study how biosolid waste from the Waste Water Treatment Facility can be converted into a reusable energy source. A multidisciplinary research team led by UBC professor Cigdem Eskicioglu will assess and compare the City's current biosolids disposal process with an alternative method that uses anaerobic digestion. Anaerobic digestion breaks down organic waste in the absence of oxygen. The gas produced from this process – primarily methane and carbon dioxide – can be used to generate electricity and heat. "The City wants to explore the possibility of having an anaerobic digester at the Glenmore Landfill,” says Mark Watt, the City’s Integrated Systems Project Manager. “It could help the City meet provincial greenhouse emissions reduction targets and potentially produce energy for use in the landfill operation or elsewhere.”

Eskicioglu's research team was recently awarded a $454,540 grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council to complete the project. "Biosolids from the Kelowna Wastewater Treatment Facility are currently trucked to a composting facility and then turned into Ogogrow, a natural fertilizer sold commercially," says Eskicioglu, an environmental engineer. Under the new proposed reuse scenario, biosolids would be trucked from the treatment facility to the landfill. It would then go through the anaerobic digestion process, with methane recovered from the biosolids fed into the landfill’s existing landfill gas management system for electricity generation. The remaining solids can still be used as fertilizer, enriched with even more nutrients.  Eskicioglu says the project could lead to a biosolid digestion process that produces rich fertilizer while generating more gas that can be converted to energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The research team will start experimenting in January.

RDCO Board meeting highlights

by Castanet Staff - Oct 14, 2010 / 4:30 pm
Highlights of the October 14 board meeting of the Regional District of the Central Okanagan: 


Two-year Bio solids Management Plan - The Regional Board has authorized a short-term, two-year plan for managing biosolids produced at the Westside Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant with SYLVIS, a leading Canadian environmental consulting firm. The facility generates approximately 5,000 tonnes of biosolid material each year through the wastewater treatment process. The company proposes the beneficial application and use of the biosolids in a scientifically proven, Ministry of Environment regulated process for several identified sites in Crown land areas. SYLVIS will complete the Land Application Permit process, conduct biosolids application and prepare a long-term management plan at a cost of $78 per tonne, excluding transportation costs. This plan is required since the Regional District will not be allowed to dispose of its biosolid materials in the City of Kelowna Glenmore Landfill after November.

Waste rate hike surprises district

Brent Mutis - Vernon Morning Star Published: July 31, 2010 12:00 PM

The District of Coldstream received an unpleasant surprise when the sewer invoice for the first quarter of 2010 was received. Coldstream sends a significant percentage of its liquid waste to Vernon for treatment but a communication breakdown seems to have made a rate hike to $1.54 per cubic metre come as a bit of a shock to Coldstream. Coun. Pat Cochrane says the district should be paying their share but notes it would have been nice to know about the price raise in advance. “I guess it’s not a surprise it went up but there was not proper notification,” said Cochrane. “I felt there was the ability for the city (of Vernon) to provide the appropriate communication.” The rate increase puts Coldstream in a shortfall of $275,000 as customers there are currently charged only $1.26 per cubic metre. Council opted to make up for the difference by dipping into surplus and reserve funds. But that course of action doesn’t sit well with everyone. Though the recommendation passed, Coun. Maria Besso voted against taking money from surplus. “I don’t feel comfortable taking it all out of reserves,” she said.

According to a report from Trevor Seibel, the district’s director of financial administration, the depletion of the reserves would likely lead to a considerable rate increase for customers in 2011. “It puts council in a really awkward position,” said Cochrane. “It does blindside residents when we, as representatives, can’t inform them ahead of time.” Other options to make up for the shortfall included increasing sewer rates for customers or funding it from a combination of increased user rates and reserve funds. The rate increase is to help pay for $500,000 in improvements to the City of Vernon’s liquid waste management plan and $1.6 million in capital costs for the city’s bio solids facility. Coldstream is looking into whether or not their customers should pay for collection in Vernon’s system as the district has their own independent collection system.

Coldsteam Issues

Written by Glen Morrison Thursday, 29 July 2010 02:25107.5 KISSFM

Coldstream's zoning the surface of Kalamalka lake within it's boundaries. Mayor Jim Garlick says it's in response to things like pile driver barges left anchored off the foreshore and the possibility of houseboats. There'll be a public hearing for input at the August meeting of council.

And the mayor's asking Vernon for some advance notice when making changes to what the city bills the municipality for sewer. He says they can understand the need when things like increased costs for the biosolids facility come up unexpectedly, but fair warning's needed. To cover the latest hike Coldstream will dip into reserves but some of the cost will go to the users.

Less Odour Expected From Bio-solids

Peter McIntyre Tuesday, 15 June 2010 10:09107.5 KISSFM

Vernon's bio-solids facility has had odour problems in the past but new technology and operating policies may help clear the air. As part of a multi million dollar expansion, a number of changes have been made due to complaints. Councillor Patrick Nicol says $124,000 is being invested into the E-Nose system."It allows a computer tracking system to know the odour counts everywhere associated with that bio-solids plant up in the Commonage area."Nicol says it also allows staff to shut down the system from home, when necessary. The facility--- which turns sewage into a marketable garden fertilizer product--- will undergo testing for several more weeks.

Councillor Bob Spiers told the media, the upgrades and new policies are showing positive results. "All the odour control monitoring seems to indicate it will be a heck of a lot better than before, and hopefully it will satisfy everyone." Spiers says a consultant that was hired for the project went the "Cadillac route" and put in the necessary controls that "should have been in there in the first place." Vernon council approved a $6.6 million upgrade and expansion back in August with 70 percent of the funds from the city of Kelowna and 30 percent from Vernon, which is based on the amount of waste product the facility handles.

Sylvis to manager biosolids

2010-03-23 Kelowna Daily Courier:
The regional district board has authorized a contract with Sylvis Environmental for development of a plan to manage biosolid waste materials from the Westside Regional Waste Water Treatment Plant. While its bid of $49,360 was the highest of three pre-qualified responses to a request for proposals, Sylvis received the highest overall evaluation score and is within the project budget.
Approximately 5,000 metric tonnes of biosolids are generated by the treatment plant each year. Through an agreement with the City of Kelowna and Ministry of Environment, biosolids are currently disposed of at the Glenmore Landfill. A management plan is required for disposal of these materials since the option of burying the materials in the Glenmore Landfill is expected to end later this year.

New Measures For Bio-Solids Plant

Written by Peter McIntyre Tuesday, 23 February 2010 11:16 107.5 KISSFM:

Tighter operating rules should make the bio-solids facility south of Vernon less of a problem, even though it's been expanded. The plant on Commonage Road, which turns sewage into gardening fertilizer, has led to numerous odour complaints. Councillor Bob Spiers says a draft operating protocol has been developed, and looks promising. "It will address all of the what ifs, and if something went wrong in the future, to make sure we never get back to the situation where we were over capacity 40 to 50 percent, that type of deal." Spiers says the plant should be back to full operation in August which he says is when the improvements should be noticed----or in this case, not noticed. "They won't be operating at the final levels until probably mid August or September and that will be when you can start judging whether all the improvements have occurred and are effective." Costs of the facility are shared by Kelowna (70 %) and Vernon (30%), based on the amount of waste product that comes in.

Biosolids Advisory Committee Meeting Next Wednesday

• Agenda Package - Wednesday, February 17, 2010 - 10:00am

Location: Biosolids Facility (The Regional Compost Facility, located at 551 Commonage Road on the outskirts of Vernon)

All Vernon Committee meetings are open to the Public.