Written By Olena Riznyk
LUCAN BIDDULPH – During the December 3rd council meeting, Paul Sherban, Senior Operations Manager at the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA), presented a comprehensive overview of the third-quarter 2024 report for Lucan’s wastewater treatment facilities. He emphasized that both the Lucan and Granton Wastewater Treatment Plants (WTPs), along with their associated collection systems, are operating smoothly, with no significant disruptions or regulatory issues.
The Lucan wastewater treatment plant is currently running at 79% of its rated capacity, indicating that the facility is functioning efficiently without approaching critical overload. However, Paul noted that in 2024, there were 61 days when wastewater flow exceeded the plant’s rated capacity of 1700 cubic meters per day due to exceptionally high flow rates. These surges are often linked to periods of heavy rainfall or seasonal changes, which increase the volume of wastewater entering the treatment system. Despite these higher-than-usual flow rates, the plant has managed the increased load without any operational issues, demonstrating the robustness of its systems.
In terms of maintenance, the report highlighted several key activities undertaken during the quarter. One significant task was the rebuilding of a backwash pump, which is crucial for maintaining the efficiency of the treatment process by ensuring that filters remain clean. Additionally, the aeration tanks, vital for oxygenating the wastewater and supporting the biological treatment process, were cleaned and maintained. Another notable development was the installation of a flow-paced chemical dosing system. This system is designed to optimize the chemical treatment of wastewater by adjusting the amount of chemicals used based on the flow rate, ensuring that the treatment process is both efficient and cost-effective.
Renee Hornick, Regional Hub Manager at OCWA, also provided an important update on the 2024 inspection of the wastewater treatment systems, which covered the period from January 2022 to December 2023.
Renee highlighted two areas of noncompliance identified during the inspection. The first issue was related to the absence of a flow measuring device in the system, which is required to accurately track the volume of wastewater entering and leaving the plant. However, OCWA is actively working to address this issue.
The second noncompliance was related to the handling of solids at the facility. While this has been an ongoing issue in previous years, significant improvements have been made in recent months. OCWA has been working to optimize the solids removal process, and the addition of the flow-paced chemical dosing system is expected to further improve the situation.
