Post by Max on Jul 21, 2007 17:14:01 GMT -3
City taking action on foul odours from Lively tailings ponds
Date Published | Jul. 20, 2007 - Northern Life
City officials held a news conference Friday to detail efforts being made to reduce odours from Lively's tailings pond. Photo by Wendy Bird 2007.
City of Greater Sudbury officials are investigating the option of halting the disposal of the City's waste activated sludge in the R3 tailings pond. The City is reviewing the option of temporarily re-directing the waste to another pond in the tailings area, known as the R4 pond, until a medium term solution is implemented.
The R4 tailings pond reaches a depth of 40-feet, over four times the depth of the R3 pond. Sludge that settles to the bottom of the R4 pond would remain undisturbed by wave action and based on the City's experience sludge in this depth of water will not create any odour episodes.
"Our first concern is for the health and well-being of the local residents," said Greater Sudbury Mayor John Rodriguez. "This is a quality of life issue that must be addressed now."
The City has been using the tailings pond, owned by CVRD Inco Limited, for approximately 30 years as a disposal site for the City's waste activated sludge--the solid material removed from municipal wastewater during the treatment process.
The City would need to construct a 1,400 metre piping system that would permit the delivery of the sludge to the R4 pond. It will take about a month to construct. The construction of the new piping system is being estimated at $500,000.
In addition to the option of ceasing the sludge disposal in the R3 pond, the City will be installing a coherent water resonator at the R3 pond site the week of July 23, 2007. If successful the solar operated resonator will make oxygen more readily available in the water, allowing increased biological activity that will lead to reduced odour. It will take a minimum of two weeks for the resonator to have an impact on the water. The City is paying $20,000 for the use of the resonator and will be charged an additional $20,000 if the resonator proves to be successful.
Further, City officials have re-routed waste haulage trucks away from Lively's residential neighbourhoods and business district. Air quality is being monitored around the R3 site, and in the communities of Lively, Copper Cliff and Azilda. The City is also continuing with its application of lime and bioxide to the waste to minimize the foul odours.
The City has also set up a team of City staff and industry experts to provide medium and long-term solutions to the sludge disposal issue.
Date Published | Jul. 20, 2007 - Northern Life
City officials held a news conference Friday to detail efforts being made to reduce odours from Lively's tailings pond. Photo by Wendy Bird 2007.
City of Greater Sudbury officials are investigating the option of halting the disposal of the City's waste activated sludge in the R3 tailings pond. The City is reviewing the option of temporarily re-directing the waste to another pond in the tailings area, known as the R4 pond, until a medium term solution is implemented.
The R4 tailings pond reaches a depth of 40-feet, over four times the depth of the R3 pond. Sludge that settles to the bottom of the R4 pond would remain undisturbed by wave action and based on the City's experience sludge in this depth of water will not create any odour episodes.
"Our first concern is for the health and well-being of the local residents," said Greater Sudbury Mayor John Rodriguez. "This is a quality of life issue that must be addressed now."
The City has been using the tailings pond, owned by CVRD Inco Limited, for approximately 30 years as a disposal site for the City's waste activated sludge--the solid material removed from municipal wastewater during the treatment process.
The City would need to construct a 1,400 metre piping system that would permit the delivery of the sludge to the R4 pond. It will take about a month to construct. The construction of the new piping system is being estimated at $500,000.
In addition to the option of ceasing the sludge disposal in the R3 pond, the City will be installing a coherent water resonator at the R3 pond site the week of July 23, 2007. If successful the solar operated resonator will make oxygen more readily available in the water, allowing increased biological activity that will lead to reduced odour. It will take a minimum of two weeks for the resonator to have an impact on the water. The City is paying $20,000 for the use of the resonator and will be charged an additional $20,000 if the resonator proves to be successful.
Further, City officials have re-routed waste haulage trucks away from Lively's residential neighbourhoods and business district. Air quality is being monitored around the R3 site, and in the communities of Lively, Copper Cliff and Azilda. The City is also continuing with its application of lime and bioxide to the waste to minimize the foul odours.
The City has also set up a team of City staff and industry experts to provide medium and long-term solutions to the sludge disposal issue.
