The plant produces 200m3 of waste water per day. The waste water contains solids, blood and other compounds common to both farmed and wild salmon processing facilities. Until early 2011, the waste water flowed through the District of Tofino sewage system and was discharged to the marine environment with minimal treatment. Mainstream Canada had been actively looking for ways to further reduce this waste.

They built a pressurized ozone system that treats the processing water before it is passed on to the District of Tofino’s system. The waste water system uses a series of processes to separate solids from liquid. Those solids are shipped away and recycled into compost. The remaining liquid is sent through the ozone system for disinfection. Once the ozone treatment is completed, the effluent passes through ultraviolet light to destroy any remaining ozone before the effluent is sent to the district.

The system makes insures the waste water coming out of our plant is clean and free of any materials which could have a negative impact on the ocean environment.

It will process wastewater from barracks and it’s expected to start working in January. The effluent will need to meet health and safety codes for a year before it’s used for irrigation around a memorial for drill instructors.

The idea for the process goes back at least to the 1970s, when a few designers started mimicking natural processes to provide electricity and clean water. Wetlands served as inspiration for removing pollutants from water, and engineers constructed various wetland-based systems that have been deployed across the country. The whole process takes place underground until the effluent is clean enough for irrigation and industrial processes where health codes permit.

Depending on the type of reuse, the water can be treated by ozone, ultraviolet, or chlorine to kill any pathogens that remain.

Numerous reuse schemes are popping up around the country as water shortages and green initiatives create a demand for these processes. Ozone and UV often play a prominent role where the water can come in contact with humans.

The aquarium continuously takes in about 1,400 gallons of seawater a minute and discharges a like amount. Part of the reason for the exemption is none of the waste seawater samples exhibited toxicity effects. In addition, the facility takes steps to treat the water prior to discharge. The aquarium routes all seawater exposed to birds and mammals through ultraviolet (UV) sterilization. This process gets rid of bacteria and other microbes. Other discharged water, particularly water that has been in contact with exotic species, is run through ozone treatment in order to kill any larvae or eggs that could potentially reach the bay. And water treated with chemicals or pharmaceuticals is isolated and not released back into the bay.

According to the Center for Disease Control, Recreational Water Illnesses (RWIs) traced to water parks, swimming pools and water play areas can be caused by a single person who contaminates the entire swimming area. When a swimmer swallows water in a water feature that has been contaminated with E. coli bacteria, the result can be serious and even deadly.

Water parks have a vested interest in maintaining clean water. One outbreak of bacteria-borne disease can cut attendance dramatically and permanently tarnish a reputation. But in many states there’s no government agency making sure that water parks are providing clean water.

The chlorine that water parks use doesn’t kill everything and the time it takes varies. When pH and disinfectant levels are correct, chlorine kills most germs that cause recreational water illness within minutes, but it takes longer to kill some germs, like Cryptosporidium, which can survive for days even in a properly disinfected pool. According to the CDC, because Cryptosporidium has developed a tolerance to chlorine, reported cases of disease from the germ more than doubled from 2004 to 2007.

A secondary method of water purification is also necessary for complete safety, and new ones are constantly being developed. Ozone and ultraviolet treatment are two that have been proven effective and are in use at some water parks. As a result of a cryptosporidium-fueled outbreak at an upstate New York water park, New York State requires the use, in addition to chlorine, of ultra-violet or ozone treatment of water in water parks.

There is currently no federal regulatory authority governing the operation and maintenance of water parks. All codes are approved and enforced by state and local agencies. But the CDC is about to release the first part of a “Model Aquatic Health Code” that it hopes will become a national standard. The full Code will cover all aspects of recreational water venues, including guidelines on preventing and responding to recreational water illnesses.

The provincial legislation enacted in 2002 gave municipalities six years to provide residents with fully treated water. The guidelines were put in place following the deaths of seven people in Walkerton, Ont., in 2000 after drinking water was contaminated with E. coli bacteria. Cryptosporidium can cause severe headaches and diarrhea and can’t be eliminated by chlorinating the water supply.

Municipalities have until March 31, 2010 to offer comment on the proposals. Compliance will likely be required by 2013.

Ozone water treatment leaves a residual of ozone in the water. By recycling the water in the tank through the ozone system, ozone disinfect both the water in the tank as well as prevents the formation of bio films on the tank walls. UV only treats the water that passes through the UV reactor. It can not prevent contamination of the storage tank or prevent secondary contamination down stream of the reactor. Combining the UV and ozone technologies provides seamless protection for the water system.

Spartan Environmental Technologies was chosen as the supplier of the ozone water treatment system. Spartan will be providing one of it’s SPARTOX ozonation systems for the application.