Westside Regional Wastewater

Treatment Plant

Stage 3 Upgrade Completion

November 2012
 Environmental Services

1450 K.L.O. Road

Kelowna, B.C. V1W 3Z4
Telephone: (250) 469-6241
Fax: (250) 762-7011
www.regionaldistrict.com

Westside Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant

Updated 2012
Introduction

The overall objective of wastewater treatment is to treat waterborne waste to a degree

that it may be discharged at an environmentally acceptable level, prevent the pollution of
surface waters and protect downstream users. This is done by reducing the concentration
of nutrients and trace chemicals, and by eliminating any heavy metals that may be
present in the waste stream. Disinfection of the clarified effluent reduces the chances of
disease by eradicating pathogens and viruses.

Raw wastewater is high in ammonia and phosphorus with little to no nitrates present. It
has a high BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) and COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand).
Raw wastewater contains dissolved and suspended organics and inorganics including
food, paper, plastics, rags, sand and grit as well as human waste. These nutrients and
dissolved/suspended materials must be reduced before being discharged into the
receiving waters of Okanagan Lake.

The Westside Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant (WRWTP) located in the District of
West Kelowna, is a Class IV, tertiary treatment plant, operated by the Regional District of
Central Okanagan (RDCO). The WRWTP receives wastewater from the District of West
Kelowna, the District of Peachland and the Westbank First Nation Reserves #9 and #10.
The commissioning of the Westside Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant in 1989 led to
the replacement of the aerated lagoon facility located near the Johnson Bentley Pool. Its
purpose was to serve the area of Westbank and Shannon Lake that had sewers. In 1995
the WRWTP underwent its first of three expansions; the second in 2006, and the third
was completed in 2012. The final resulting plant capacity of 16,800m3/day will ensure
future development and capacity, as well as provide much needed redundancy for
operations.

The WRWTP operates a full scale modified Bardenpho process (known as the Westbank
Process) that uses biological nutrient removal (BNR) in sequential anaerobic, anoxic, and
aerobic zones. This three stage activated sludge process removes both nitrogen and
phosphorus from the wastewater and achieves a high carbonaceous BOD removal. This,
along with an ultraviolet (UV) disinfection system, clarifiers, and filters reduce the impact
of pathogens, solids and nutrients that discharge into Okanagan Lake.

In 2011, the total population served by the treatment plant was just over 43,000 - with
5,200 users from Peachland, 30,000 from West Kelowna and 8,000 from WFN.
Process Descriptions

Headworks

The headworks provide preliminary treatment of wastewater by removing large solids and
heavy particles. The solids and particles are processed and removed from the waste
stream.

As wastewater flows into the plant it goes through a coarse bar screen. This manual
screen assists in removing rags and solids larger than 25 mm (Operations Manual).

A flow control gate and parshall flume is located just before the headworks building in the
influent channel. The gate opens and closes automatically to regulate the influent flow.
The parshall flume electronically measures the flow entering the headworks area which is
monitored by the plant computer system or SCADA.

From there it splits into three channels; two convey the influent into the perforated plate
mechanical screens and the third channel acts an emergency bypass. The mechanical
screens intercept particles larger than 6mm (Operations Manual). A brush washer
system controlled by a timer or differential level setpoint (depending on the need) cleans
the screens to maintain continuous flow. The screenings from the mechanical perforated
plate screens go through a compactor/washer. This washes as much organics as
possible back into the treatment process and compresses water out of the screenings.
The washed screenings are deposited into a disposal bin and trucked to the landfill.

The screened wastewater enters one of two cylindrical Vortex Degritter chambers. The
denser particles are forced to the outside walls by centrifugal force and settle to the
bottom. The degritted wastewater returns to the channel. The grit is then pumped into a
Cyclone Classifier, which further separates the material, returning water and organics to
the process. The heavier inorganics discharge to a steel clarifier tank (Operations
Manual).

Once settled to the bottom of the clarifier tank, a screw conveyor removes the grit and
dumps it into the disposal bin (Operations Manual). The liquid overflows from the surface
of the classifier and returns to the main stream on its way to the primary clarifiers.

Primary Clarifier

The wastewater now flows by gravity to one of three rectangular primary settling
clarifiers where finer settling of solids takes place. The velocity decreases to 200 -
300mm/min. (Operations Manual) which allows for 60 - 70% of the total suspended solids
to settle out. The primary clarifier also decreases the organic load that is contained in raw
wastewater reducing the COD by 20 - 40%.
As the wastewater passes through the primary clarifier, mechanical rakes skim the
surface of material that will float. The same rakes scrape the bottom of the tank removing
heavier solids (sludge) that will settle out. The skimmings and sludge are pumped into
one of two Fermentors for further processing and the rest of the wastewater flows out the
back of the tank as primary effluent the bioreactors.

Each of the rectangular primary clarifiers are sized for a hydraulic retention time of 1.5
- 2.0 hours with a capacity of 4.2 ML/day average daily flow and a peak design flow of
8.4 ML/day per clarifier (Operations Manual).

Fermentation Thickening Tank

The sludge in the fermentation tank contains primary clarifier sludge that is thick and
contains some grit, trace metals, nutrients, organics and microorganisms. Through a
process known as advanced acid fermentation, the compounds in the sludge break down
into smaller compounds through a series of chemical reactions. These micro compounds
reduce to acids. Of these acids, acetic acid is abundant -- and wanted. The acids
separate from the heavy sludge and form a layer on top of the sludge. These Volatile
Fatty Acids (VFA's) flow over V-notched weirs at the surface and are pumped into the
bioreactor and used in the anaerobic zone for phosphorus release. The sludge that
settles to the bottom of the tank is pumped into the Centrifuge for dewatering. The solids
content of this sludge is usually between 4 - 6% solids.

Bioreactor

In this area we maintain a population of microorganisms and solids (between 1500- 3500
mg/L suspended solids -- depending on the time of year and temperature). About 70-
80% of these solids in the bioreacter are volatile (organic -- containing carbon).

The Westside Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant operates a full scale modified
Bardenpho process that uses biological nutrient removal (BNR) in sequential anaerobic,
anoxic, and aerobic zones. This three-stage activated sludge process removes
both nitrogen compounds and phosphorus from the wastewater and achieves a high
carbonaceous BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) removal.

Figure 1, shown on the next page, is a simplified representation of a 3 stage modified

Bardenpho process showing the zones and flows into and out of the bioreactor. The
modification of having the ability to add a small portion of Primary Effluent (PE) to the
anaerobic zone and the rest split between the anoxic zones is known as the Westbank
Process.
 RAS line
Internal recycle

chimney

anaerobic anoxic aerobic

zone zone zone
secondary
clarifier

flow from WAS to DAFT

primary VFA addition
clarifier from thickener

Figure 1: Westbank Process

Flow into the bioreactor consists of:

 Primary effluent from the primary clarifier.
 Return activated sludge (RAS) from the bottom of the secondary clarifier(s).
 Supernatant from the gravity thickener (Fermentor).

Flow out of the bioreactor consists of:

 Bioreactor effluent flows to secondary clarifier.
 Waste activated sludge (WAS) pumped to the Dissolved Air Floatation (DAF) Tank
for thickening.

Primary clarifier effluent enters the bioreactor and is diverted into the anaerobic and
anoxic zones. Primary effluent that enters the anaerobic zone goes into a chimney and
mixes with the RAS from the secondary clarifier before flowing into the anaerobic zone.
Primary effluent has a high BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) and will readily take up
oxygen in almost any form. This eliminates any nitrates ( ) that may be present in the
RAS before entering the anaerobic zone -- which must be free of oxygen.

The remaining flow enters the anoxic zones (flow may be directed into 1-3 cells through
valving) and is used as a carbon source for the microorganisms.

The primary reason for returning activated sludge (RAS) to the anaerobic zone is to
reintroduce microorganisms into the process. The RAS maintains the population in the
bioreactor by returning mixed liquor (sludge containing microorganisms) that has settled
to the bottom of the secondary clarifier.

Suitable conditions such as food, dissolved oxygen and temperature allow the bacterium
(mixed liquor) to reproduce and increase in concentration. An increase in temperature
accommodates higher reaction rates which increase the overall populations. To maintain a
balanced population some of the organisms are taken out of the process. The WAS pumps
withdraw mixed liquor from the last aerobic zone and pump to the DAF tank.

Anaerobic Zone

The anaerobic zone is the first zone in the bioreactor and is ideally devoid of oxygen and
nitrates. The wastewater entering the anaerobic zone is:

 Organically loaded.
 High in BOD.
 High in ammonia with little to no nitrates present.
 Nutrient rich with phosphorus.

The purpose of the anaerobic zone is to make the microorganisms release phosphorus
stored in their cells. In this environment, the microorganisms are deprived of oxygen and
nitrate and prompted to transport orthophosphorus across their cells while taking up
substrate (VFA).

The subsequent phosphorus release into the wastewater is crucial for the uptake of
phosphorus in the aerobic zone. The phosphorus that is released by the microorganisms
is 4 - 6 times the amount of phosphorus that is contained in the raw wastewater.

Mechanisms of Phosphorus Release

Acinetobacter calcoaceticus is an aerobic organism that can -- under anaerobic conditions

-- take up organic carbon in the form of acetate (CH 3COOH) while releasing phosphorus
(PO1) (Barnard,1985).

The short chain carbon source (CH3COOH) is taken into the cell and stored as a
carbohydrate poly- 13 -hydroybutyrate molecule (PHB), through an incomplete citric acid
cycle. Being an aerobic organism it cannot complete the reaction due to a lack of oxygen.

In the anaerobic zone ATP (Adenosine triphosphate -- energy) is expended (ATP

ADP (adenosine diphosphate)-- phosphorylation) to transport the VFA across the cell
membrane and store it as PHB. In this process the stored polyphosphate degrades to a
phosphate that is easily expelled across the cell membrane into the wastewater.
Anoxic Zone

As mentioned previously, a portion of the primary effluent flow is directed into the anoxic
zones to provide an additional organic carbon source (food) since most of the carbon was
taken up in the anaerobic zone and stored as the PHB molecule.

The anoxic zone receives nitrates through the internal recycle of mixed liquor from the
aerobic zone. This wastewater is high in ammonia, nitrates and phosphorus while being
low in dissolved oxygen (<0.10 mg/L DO). Mixers keep the mixed liquor in suspension.

Denitrification takes place in the anoxic zones. Denitrification is the reduction of nitrate to
nitrogen gas. Pseudomonas denitrificans and Bacillus spp. are primarily responsible for
the denitrification process. The overall reaction is:
NO32- (aq)  NO2- (aq)  N2O (aq)  N2 (g)
This process is similar to aerobic respiration but where nitrate is used as the final electron
acceptor instead of oxygen. In the overall process the nitrates convert to nitrogen gas.

The BOD is also reduced in the anoxic zones as a result of the oxidation of organic
matter through anaerobic respiration.

Unoxidized organic matter (BOD) + NO32- (aq)  Oxidized organic matter (reduced
BOD) + N2 (g)

The degree of nitrogen removal is controlled by the rate of the internal recycle flow.

Aerobic Zone

The flow from the anoxic zones flows hydraulically into the aeration zones. The air is
dispersed to the aerobic zones through a grid of fine bubble diffusers. The movement of
the bubbles from the diffusers also acts to keep the solids fully mixed.

The wastewater is high in phosphorus and ammonia and low in nitrates. Dissolved
oxygen levels are kept greater than 1.0 mg/L DO, and vary according to plant operations
(the WRWTP ranges from 1.00 to 2.50 mg/L DO).

The aerobic zones are responsible for two types of biological processes -- Luxury uptake
of phosphorus (luxury P) and nitrification.

LuxuryP Uptake

Luxury P uptake is the excessive uptake of phosphorus by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus,

who takes in more phosphorus (PO) then is required for the metabolic activity of the cell.
The carbon (CH3COOH) taken up and stored as PHB in the anaerobic zone is used here
to produce energy (ATP) by way of the Krebs cycle and electron transport chain.
The PHB molecule is broken down by the Entner Duodroff reaction which replaces
glycolosis and donates electrons and hydrogen ions for the Krebs cycle. The formation of
Acetyl CoA (as in glycolosis), then enters the citric acid cycle. For every turn of the cycle
high energy NADH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide with hydrogen) and FADH2 (flavin
adenine dinucleotide with hydrogen) is formed along with 1 ATP. These high energy
molecules then enter into the electron transport chain to power ATP synthesis (Carnpbell,
l990).

The electron transport chain uses oxygen as the final electron acceptor expelling carbon
dioxide across the cell membrane as a result of aerobic respiration. The high energy
electrons pass down the chain oxidizing the chain until the electrons get to the final
electron acceptor. The purpose of the chain is to convert energy that was originally taken
in as food to oxygen thus forming a proton gradient across the inner membrane of the
mitochondria -- where all this takes place.

This proton gradient of Hydrogen (H+) drives the phosphorylation of ADP (simply
represented as: ADP + P ATP). This reaction takes up the surplus of phosphorus that
was expelled in the anaerobic zone. The phosphorus is synthesized (combined) and
stored as a polyphosphate. The result is a phosphate rich sludge of which a portion is
removed from the end of the aerobic zone.

Nitrification Process

Nitrifying bacteria are able to oxidize ammonia (and other reduced nitrogen compounds)
to nitrate (and other oxidized nitrogen compounds). This process is known as nitrification
and take's place in an aerobic environment (BCWWA).

There are two subgroups of nitrifiers -- the ammonia (NH3) oxidizers and the nitrite (N02-)
oxidizers.

Ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB), most commonly Nitrosomonas, convert ammonia to

nitrite:

NH3 + ½O2 + H2O  NO2- + H2O

This is a rate limiting step that relies on temperatures above 8°c to proceed.

The nitrite oxidizer that converts the nitrite to nitrate (NOn is Nitrobacter. The reaction is
as follows:
NO2- + ½O2 + H2O  NO3- + H2O
The rate at which nitrifyers grow is slow because of the way they obtain their energy which
is relatively inefficient. These chemolithotrophs must oxidize simple inorganic compounds,
such as ammonia and nitrite, and used dissolved carbon dioxide to make sugars for cell
material. Many other organisms obtain their energy from organic compounds and are
called heterotrophs (BCWWA).

After the bioreactor the wastewater flows to the secondary clarifiers for clarification.

Secondary Clarifier

Bioreactor effluent flows from the end of the aeration zone to a circular secondary clarifier.
In these clarifiers, the influent enters from the bottom of the tank, flows up through the
center column, and discharges through ports into a dissipation well to slow and distribute
the flow (Operation Manual).

The secondary clarifier is designed to separate and remove suspended solids (mixed
liquor) that settle to the bottom as well as scum and floatables from the surface of the
water.

Skimmers rotate along the surface of the water, directing scum and floatables to a scum
box. The scum collected in the trough discharges into a manhole and pumped to the DAF
tank.

Suspended and heavier solids settle to the tank floor where they are collected by rotating
rake arms. The solids deposit into a sludge hopper and are pumped into a RAS splitter
box. The RAS splitter box collects and mixes the RAS from all secondary clarifiers and
split the flows evenly to return to the bioreactor according to plant operations.

The clarified effluent flows over weirs located along the periphery of the tank.
Approximately 95 - 99 % of the solids entering the clarifier have been removed. The
clarified water feeds to the AquaDisk media filters where finer solids are removed.

UV Disinfection

Ultraviolet radiation is effective in the Disinfection of effluent wastewater. Water from the
filters pass through one of two channels each containing 2 banks of UV lights that are
immersed. Each bank contains 12 racks, with 8 quartz UV lamps attached in a horizontal
fashion. The UV assembly expands across the entire width of the channel. For proper UV
penetration throughout, water flows within one inch of the lamps.

The UV lamps emit a 254 nanometer (nm) wavelength at a high intensity level. Genetic
material absorbs wavelengths between 250 - 279 nm. As the light penetrates an organism
it denatures its' DNA helix and modifies bonds within the cell. The cell cannot reproduce
and dies within 1 minute to 2 hours after exposure.

AquaDiskMedia Filters

The clarified effluent enters the filtration tank through an overflow weir and by gravity
passes through a 10 micron cloth membrane. As solids accumulate on the membrane, a
biological mat is formed on the filter, and the liquid level in the tank increases. The filtered
liquid enters the internal portion of the disk where it is directed to the Ultraviolet (UV)
disinfection system - the last process before discharge into Okanagan Lake.

At a predetermined level or time, the backwash cycle will be initiated. Solids are
backwashed from the media surface by liquid suction from both sides of each disk. During
backwash, disks are cleaned in multiples of two (there are four tanks of 12 filter disks).
Disks rotate slowly, allowing each segment to be cleaned. Backwash water is directed to
the headworks. Filtration is not interrupted during this cycle.

The AquaDisk filtration process requires no moving parts during filtration. Heavier solids
are allowed to settle to the bottom portion of the filter tank. These solids are then pumped
on an intermittent basis back to the plant headworks.

As discussed previously, the filter disk is stationary except during the backwash cycle--
filtration continues throughout the backwash and sludge pumping cycles. These features
allow continuous filtration while maintaining peak filter performance.

Each filtration tank is rated for an average design flow of 11,400m3/day and a maximum of
22,800m3/day. Design parameters indicate that the average incoming Total Suspended
Solids should be 5 mg/1 with a maximum of 10 mg/L.

Outfall

The Westside Wastewater Plant discharges reclaimed wastewater effluent into Okanagan
Lake. The discharge pipe is approximately 280m from shore and 60m from the surface of
the water.

Also added in 2005, were the additions of two Archimedes screw lift pumps to lift the
effluent up to a reservoir, which pressurizes the discharge pipe, increasing the discharge
rate.

The effluent criterion for discharge into the lake is delegated and monitored by the Ministry
of Environment (MOE). The MOE sets limits for each plant or industry that releases
effluents into receiving waters. Under the Environmental Management Act - Operational
Certificate (11652 (updated November 14, 2011), the characteristics of the effluent
discharged from the WWTP to Okanagan Lake must be equivalent to, or better than:

- 5 day BOD 10.0mg/L

- Total Suspended Solids 10.0mg/L
- Total Nitrogen annual average 6.0mg/L
Not to exceed 8.0mg/L
- Total Phosphorus as P annual average 0.25mg/L
The addition of a continuous on-line analyzer (Chemscan) in 2005 is used to monitor the
nutrient levels of the effluent being discharged into Okanagan Lake.

On average -- in 2011 -- the WRWTP removed more than 99% of the total phosphorus
entering the plant, contributing 583kg of total phosphorus to Okanagan Lake. The total
nitrogen removed was 87% and a 98% BOD reduction was achieved.

With the completion of the Stage Three Upgrades in 2012, the plant design capacity has
increased by 50% to 16,800m3/day. This additional capacity will help deal with the
accelerating population in the service area and will continue to preserve the quality of
Okanagan Lake and provide the Westside area with continuing service.

Solids Handling

Wasting

Bioreactor bacterial population is controlled with sludge wasting. The more Mixed Liquor
Suspended Solids (MLSS) wasted the lower the Sludge Retention Time (SRT). The SRT
is equated to sludge age. A sludge age of 6-8 days is ideal depending on the nutrient
reduction functionality.

Dissolved Air Floatation (DAF)

The sludge wasted from the bioreactors enters a DAF tank. This tank pressurizes
recycled DAF effluent water causing excess amounts of Dissolved Oxygen (DO) to be
trapped in solution. As this flow is re-introduced into the DAF tank the excess DO comes
out solution and rises to the surface as tiny air bubbles. These tiny air bubbles carry any
solids in the water to the surface. The solids content from the DAF ranges about 3 – 7%
and are then scraped off the top of the tank into a sludge vault. Clear subnatant exits the
back of the tank and into a wetwell to be taken back to the headworks.

Centrifuge

The Thickened Waste Activated Sludge (TWAS) is pumped to the centrifuge and mixed
with Fermented Primary Sludge (FPS). Polymer is added to the feed to help in the
dewatering process. It enters the centrifuge where centrifugal forces separate the solids
from the water. The water drawn from the solids is called centrate. Centrate has high
nutrient content and is sent back to headworks of the plant. The biosolids produced have
a solids content of about 19 – 23% solids and are pumped to a sludge handling building
where it is distributed to one of two trailers. When the trailers are full they are trucked
offsite to a land application site (Sylvis).

Odour Control

Foul air is collected from along the process and treated through the use of a biofilter.
Odour removal is achieved by having the foul air pass through an organic media, such as
bacterial growth on wood chips, and removing the H2S that causes the odour. The
Biofilter treats foul air from the grit room, headworks buildings, and the foul air taken from
the sludge handling building as well as the screening building and the equalization tank.
General Information/Definitions

1. Organic Nitrogen: organically bound, does not include all organic nitrogen
compounds. Analytically, organic N and Ammonia can be determined together and
can be referred to as TKN.

2. Total Oxidized Nitrogen: sum of the Nitrite and Nitrate.

3. Total Nitrogen: sum of organic Nitrogen, Ammonia, Nitrate and Nitrite.

4. Denitrification: the reduction of nitrate to nitrogen gas. This process takes

place in an anoxic zone.

5. Nitrification: nitrifying bacteria oxidize ammonia and other reduced nitrogen

compounds to nitrate and other oxidized Nitrogen compounds. This process takes
place in an aerobic environment.

6. Luxury Phosphorus Uptake: the excessive uptake of phosphorus by way of the

Krebs Cycle. This occurs in the anaerobic zone. The process is often compared to
the charging of a car battery. In the anaerobic zone the bacteria "discharge P" and
then in the aerobic zone the bacteria "charge with P".

7. Anoxic: containing no free dissolved oxygen or chemical compounds with oxygen

attached (such as NO3).

8. Aerobic: containing dissolved oxygen in the form of chemical compounds.

9. Fermentation: the anaerobic breakdown of molecules that yield energy.

10. Ammonia: is toxic to fish and causes an extra oxygen demand on the lake.

11. Phosphorus: is a growth-limiting plant nutrient that regulates the amount of plant
growth in natural waters. Eutrophication occurs when an excess of phosphorus is
introduced into the waters by: natural land runoff, wastewater effluents, agricultural
runoff and human generated phosphates.

12. Nitrate/Nitrite: is another nutrient used by aquatic flora. It may also be toxic to
fish and other aquatic species when its presence is abundant.