Wastewater Treatment and Biosolids Management Master Plan

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

The goal of the Wastewater Treatment and Biosolids Management Master Plan is to ensure the City’s wastewater (everything flushed down your sinks, drains, and toilets) is managed in a way that is sustainable, protects our waterways and the environment. The Master Plan is the City's long-term plan that will look at how the City is currently managing Guelph's wastewater and how we can continue to meet the demands of Guelph's growing population now until 2051.

The draft master plan considers:

  • Advances in treatment technologies.
  • Changes in wastewater treatment plant infrastructure needs and legislation.
  • Sustainable and cost efficient wastewater treatment concepts that mitigate climate change and contribute to reaching the City’s goal of using 100 per cent renewable energy sources by 2050.
  • Guelph’s growing population and it’s impact on the wastewater treatment process and Speed River’s capacity.
  • How it will contribute to achieving the strategic priorities set out through the City’s Strategic Plan.

Class Environmental Assessment Schedule Change

The Wastewater Treatment and Biosolids Management Master Plan was originally initiated to satisfy the requirements of a Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment (EA). To complete the Class EA planning process for recommended projects needed in the short term, the Class EA scope has been expanded to fulfil the requirements of a Schedule C study. Following completion of a Schedule C Class EA study, projects are eligible for implementation through detailed design and construction.

For the Schedule C Class EA, Phases 1-4 of the Class EA process are being completed. This includes development of an implementation plan, a third community open house and documentation of the study in an Environmental Study Report (ESR).

Have your say

  • Visit the third virtual public open house (pdf available): attend the virtual open house to learn what the Master Plan aims to do, what challenges the City is facing and how it impacts you and the rest of our community.
  • Take the online surveys: answer survey questions by March 31 to offer any comments or ask questions

The goal of the Wastewater Treatment and Biosolids Management Master Plan is to ensure the City’s wastewater (everything flushed down your sinks, drains, and toilets) is managed in a way that is sustainable, protects our waterways and the environment. The Master Plan is the City's long-term plan that will look at how the City is currently managing Guelph's wastewater and how we can continue to meet the demands of Guelph's growing population now until 2051.

The draft master plan considers:

  • Advances in treatment technologies.
  • Changes in wastewater treatment plant infrastructure needs and legislation.
  • Sustainable and cost efficient wastewater treatment concepts that mitigate climate change and contribute to reaching the City’s goal of using 100 per cent renewable energy sources by 2050.
  • Guelph’s growing population and it’s impact on the wastewater treatment process and Speed River’s capacity.
  • How it will contribute to achieving the strategic priorities set out through the City’s Strategic Plan.

Class Environmental Assessment Schedule Change

The Wastewater Treatment and Biosolids Management Master Plan was originally initiated to satisfy the requirements of a Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment (EA). To complete the Class EA planning process for recommended projects needed in the short term, the Class EA scope has been expanded to fulfil the requirements of a Schedule C study. Following completion of a Schedule C Class EA study, projects are eligible for implementation through detailed design and construction.

For the Schedule C Class EA, Phases 1-4 of the Class EA process are being completed. This includes development of an implementation plan, a third community open house and documentation of the study in an Environmental Study Report (ESR).

Have your say

  • Visit the third virtual public open house (pdf available): attend the virtual open house to learn what the Master Plan aims to do, what challenges the City is facing and how it impacts you and the rest of our community.
  • Take the online surveys: answer survey questions by March 31 to offer any comments or ask questions
CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

Thank you for your interest in the Wastewater Treatment and Biosolids Management Master Plan.  We invite you to learn more by visiting the project page and viewing FAQs.  Please provide your questions and we will aim to have answers in five business days,  

  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    Dose Guelph ban garburators

    RForrestSmith asked 4 months ago

    Hello! Sorry for the delay in this response. 

    The City’s sewer use bylaw does not permit the use of garburators. Organic material should be placed in the green bins for further processing at the Waste Resource Innovation Centre.  https://guelph.ca/living/environment/garbage-and-recycling/

  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    Do like the concept of community engagement with regard to issues pertaining to Guelph. Elders would most likely contribute a great deal but many are not computer literate. Possible to engage local newspaper to explain this issue?

    8 months ago

    Newspaper advertisements have been used to notify the public of Project Initiation and both Public Open Houses and will be used to notify the public of Project Completion. Our engagement efforts have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and have been offered entirely online however our project team is happy to provide informaiton and have discussion with members of the public who do not have access to, or comfort with, computers.

  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    Investigate removal of microplastics from water using ferrofluids/magnets

    8 months ago

    Microplastic removal with ferrofluids/magnets was not investigated as part of this Master Plan, as the focus for wastewater treatment technologies was on those that have full-scale installations at municipal wastewater treatment plants. However, if this technology becomes more prevalent in wastewater treatment in the future, it could be investigated during future Master Plan updates.

  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    The money being used to expand this facility will be Guelph Tax dollars. I am sure most people will be happy that the treatment plant is being expanded to handle a larger volume capacity. However, if this presentation was presented to the tax payers with all the options on the table - I am sure Guelph Tax payers would vote for a renewable energy option.

    8 months ago

    Energy efficiency and greenhouse gas generation projections were developed for each alternative and considered in the evaluation. Alternatives that are more energy efficient and minimize greenhouse gas emissions receive higher scores. We are proud to let the peope in Guelph know that some components of the preferred solution are projected to have a net positive impact on greenhouse gas emissions in the City.

  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    Perhaps additional details about the eliminated long-list options, descriptions of the alternatives, costs, etc. could have been provided in a "handout"/ additional details link. Curious what additional First Nations engagement has been completed.

    8 months ago

    Regarding First Nations engagement, the team has been engaged with impacted Indigenous and First Nations communities throughout the project, as required for the Class EA process. The City is in the process of building relationships with First Nations and Indigenous groups with the goal of conducting meaningful engagement on projects such as this one.

  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    show on the survey how many have already taken it. other wise how would I know if anyone else was engaged?

    8 months ago

    Our question was intended to get feedback about how the process was for you as a participant. We appreciate that you might want to know more about our engagement analytics too. This information will be presented in the public open house report, as part of the Master Plan. The report provides detailed information on the number of people who visited the web page and who completed the survey. All responses to comments are located on www.haveyoursay.guelph.ca.

  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    Not enough focus on environmental concerns

    8 months ago

    Environmental impacts will be clearly outlined in the Master Plan report, which will be available for public review.

  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    If there was an anaerobic digestor on site less biosolid waste storage would be required and odor control would not been needed, since the biosolids would ferment in the digestor and thus would not have an odor.

    8 months ago

    The Guelph WWTP currently has 4 anaerobic digesters onsite that are used for sludge stabilization, producing biosolids. The odour control facility is mainly to mitigate any potential odours from the new integrated primary sludge and WAS thickening facility and from the new dewatering facility.

  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    for someone that is not in waste water treatment the presentation used language that most people are unfamiliar with. The only reason I kind of knew what was being presented was because of the Magic School Bus.

    8 months ago

    Thank you for the feedback. That is one of our favourite episodes of Magic School Bus. We will work to make future materials as clear as possible. If you have any questions, please reach out to the project team for further discussion.

  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    Options for storage and odour control were unclear

    8 months ago

    Thank you for this feedback. To be clear, biosolids storage was selected to provide operational flexibility at the Guelph WWTP during the winter months when land application of the Lystek product is not possible. Odour control was included as a component to mitigate any potential odour impacts from the new solids handling.

Page last updated: 12 Apr 2022, 12:28 PM