In 2015, FCM brought together 12 municipalities from across Canada, including the City of Melville, to help them better integrate sustainability considerations into their infrastructure planning and decision-making processes. Together, these communities have collectively built up Canada’s bench strength in sustainable infrastructure planning.

Over the past decade, Melville had increasingly become a bedroom and retirement community, attracting residents from nearby Regina and Yorkton. The small city faced a large infrastructure deficit along with the expectations and demands of a growing modern community.

Through the collaborative peer-to-peer forum provided by LAMP, the City of Melville learned from other communities and a variety of professionals with expertise in strategic and capacity-building initiatives. Drawing on its new skills and knowledge, the city developed a new asset management policy and governance framework, as well as a more systematic approach to decision-making. Where asset purchases and development once focused on solving the issues of the day, the city now deeply considers the long-term implications of these investments.

With this strong foundation in place, the city is now in a much better position to achieve its vision and goals while managing risk as it plans to welcome more residents to Melville in the years to come.

To have a door open, to have that cross-Canada platform and multi-functional group, was one of the greatest benefits of the program. A lot of best practices, a lot of new ideas, a lot of sharing the same pain happened in those rooms, and it was just absolutely incredible what we took away from that."

—Chris Bruce, Director of Community Services, City of Melville

Low costs and simplicity of operation are key for effective wastewater treatment in small communities. A wastewater treatment engineering firm in Winnipeg had developed a system they called a Submerged Attached Growth Reactor (SAGR) in 2007. The system is cheap to build, operate and maintain compared to the alternatives, and the water it produces meets or exceeds regulatory requirements.

The SAGR system is designed to be added onto a lagoon system such as Perth’s. It provides a third stage of treatment, removing ammonia and suspended solids, and reducing the time water needs to sit in the lagoon. The system can remove ammonia even when cold water slows down the growth of bacteria needed for the treatment process.

The town conducted a field test in 2012. The test demonstrated that the new addition could increase the flow of water through the lagoon and enhance the existing treatment system.

After the successful field test, the town installed the SAGR system in 2018, integrating it into the existing lagoon site and using local materials. The surrounding wetlands were not disturbed during construction. With provision for adding another cell if required, the system will meet the needs of Perth’s residents for decades to come.

The Perth SAGR demonstrates a simple, sustainable method of treating sewage. This system can be replicated by other small towns with existing lagoons that need an alternative to more costly, conventional wastewater treatment plants.

The recent lab results for the system are great—equalled only by a mechanized treatment plant. For a small town with limited capital and operating budgets, the SAGR system is affordable and makes a lot of sense."

—Grant Machan, Director of Environmental Services, Town of Perth

The study compared government-run and private-sector composting options. It looked at possible effects on long-term land use planning, the environment and service costs. It also evaluated composting equipment and methods. The study’s recommendations included options for how to best manage the site to divert as much organic waste from landfill as possible. Seven potential sites were thoroughly analyzed and compared.

The project team held public consultations to respond to residents’ questions and concerns around a new composting facility. They also met with local agricultural groups to understand the type and quality of compost that would best meet various local needs. Residents’ top concern was odour control, and extensive odour modelling was a focal point of the study. While some of the modelling results were concerning to some residents, the data proved invaluable to the district. 

The three-year study predicted that diverting food waste from landfill would reduce methane emissions and leachate and significantly extend the life of existing landfills. Depending on the approach taken, between 3,500 and 3,800 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) could be avoided each year. 

The study also showed that the compost would benefit agriculture and the quality of produce grown in the region, supporting the local economy. The facility would create a small number of new jobs and bring in revenue through compost sales. Diverting food waste would also save money—with the expected tipping fee for composting food waste estimated at about $85 per tonne compared to $110 per tonne for disposal.

While the hunt for a site to host the future organic waste processing facility continues, this comprehensive study provided the district with a solid foundation for its future facility. 

Photos courtesy of Tetra Tech, Inc.

Our comprehensive feasibility study showed the need for one high-tech regional site for commercial food waste, wastewater sludge and urban residential food waste. Our elected officials are able to make this large-scale decision because of the feasibility study.”

—Cameron Baughen, Solid Waste Management Coordinator, Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen

The project team took an unprecedented community-driven approach to designing and building the network of charging stations. By 2019, the pilot project had connected 1,857 kilometres of highway for electric vehicle travel. The two electric utilities in the region, FortisBC and BC Hydro, own and operate the 13 direct-current (DC) fast-charging stations. Local governments own and operate the 40 less costly Level 2 charging stations. 

The visibility of the new electric vehicle network and all the communications surrounding it dramatically increased residents’ interest in transitioning from conventional to electric vehicles. At the end of December 2019, the estimated number of electric vehicles registered in the Kootenays was more than double the number projected.

In addition to a welcome reduction in noise pollution, the shift from petroleum-based fuel to electric power is expected to reduce emissions by 51,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) by 2030. Small, locally owned businesses are also benefiting from the new infrastructure as more travellers drop in to visit local shops while their vehicles charge. 

The districts credit their success to extensive collaboration and a single, critical decision: to go big. A smaller project might have been easier to implement, but without the full network in place, the desired impacts would not have been achieved. The project has changed the conversation on electric vehicles in the region and has garnered significant attention from other municipalities aiming to replicate the districts’ success. 

As a small business owner in a small community, I’m thrilled the charger is here. I think many drivers are happy to have a reason to stop in our great town, and we’re grateful for the additional business these travellers bring.”

-Lamiah Arnold-Trower, Owner of the Dragonfly Café in Salmo, BC

This pilot project tested the technical and economic viability of adding one to two electric vehicles to each municipality’s fleet (for a total of 10 new vehicles) and making them available for sharing among municipal employees, residents and partners.

Each vehicle was equipped for the car-sharing system to optimize its use. Car-sharing software was developed to collect data, including the distance travelled by users, trip duration and frequency of use. The partners also installed 10 charging stations in the six participating municipalities. 

By the end of the pilot in 2019, the municipalities had collectively reduced their fleets’ greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 59.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). They had also established a revenue-generating system that put the unused capacity of their fleets to excellent use. With the establishment of this electric vehicle network, the mentality and behaviour of employees and residents has changed in relation to both electric vehicles and car-sharing programs.

Other small and medium-sized municipalities have been inspired to follow suit. By the end of 2018, before the pilot was even fully rolled out, nine additional municipalities and one regional county municipality in Quebec had expressed interest in implementing a similar system. In New Brunswick, five municipalities are also participating in a pilot project of the same system. 

This successful pilot and the significant community interest it inspired are promising steps toward achieving the goals outlined in Quebec’s action plan to electrify transportation in the province, Propelling Québec Forward with Electricity: Transportation Electrification Action Plan 2015–2020. Through this plan, the province aims to increase the number of electric vehicles in its fleets, reduce GHGs and dependence on oil, and contribute to Quebec’s economy by supporting a growing industry and using the electric energy available in the province.

I like [the program] because I don’t have a car, I have a motorcycle, so it’s perfect for grocery shopping and everything. When it rains, it’s very convenient and not too expensive, so I love it and strongly recommend it. I can pick up my grandchildren for a walk and ice cream.”

—André Godon, Nicolet resident

The municipality put in a pumping system to divert pre-treated effluent through strong geotextile bags. The bags sit for up to 28 days, passively filtering the effluent and creating drier and lighter nutrient-rich compost. The compost is then used to fertilize sod fields in the region. This process produces a high-quality dried sludge (Grade A). It also significantly reduces the concentration of suspended solids in the wastewater treatment process, an important measure of water quality. It has also reduced trucking costs for sludge transportation and disposal by $30,000 per year. 

Within the first year, the facility had surpassed the town’s projections by dewatering 150,000 more gallons of sludge than anticipated (450,000 gallons in total). With much less sludge to transport for disposal, the town was able to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 25.8 tonnes of CO₂e annually (equivalent to transporting 150 truckloads). Only four dump trucks are now required to transport the remaining sludge for disposal each year. 
 

The geo bags have been a welcome addition to the Montague treatment system. They are easy to use and provide a more natural, sustainable way to dispose of excess solid by-products.”

—Matt Duffy, Operator, Montague Wastewater Treatment Plant, Town of Three Rivers

A team of consultants and engineers collaborated with NRH representatives to construct the new building on an underused site connected to an existing community housing building. NRH established a development committee for the project, which included NRH employees, regional staff and community members. These community representatives, along with seniors living in the existing building, played a key role in some of the decisions made during the design and construction phases. This type of committee is now seen as a best practice and has since been implemented in all new builds by NRH.

The building features geothermal heating and cooling and other energy-efficiency measures, reducing the building’s energy use by an impressive 48 percent compared to standard buildings. It also uses less water, thanks to a grey water recovery system and low-flow fixtures, and reduces waste through organics recycling. 

The residence’s environmental features earned the Region of Niagara its first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Silver certification for an affordable housing building and will mean welcome savings for residents on utility and energy costs. And, as an aging-in-place wellness model with plenty of outdoor and amenity space for socialization, the new residence is anticipated to reduce health care costs. 

Through the project’s funding and rental income, the building is financially self-sustaining. The project has also contributed to the local Welland economy, adding over $9 million in employment and product purchases. It created 50 construction jobs and has brought new employment opportunities for a live-in building attendant, cleaners and contractors. The new building is also expected to generate about $80,000 in additional property tax revenue for the city.

This modern and welcoming building is a boon to the community, a great example of urban intensification integrating much-needed community housing, and a wonderful new place for seniors to call home.

I love this place so much. The people in this building are very friendly and they always make me feel like family.”

—Réjeanne Nicholls, Birchwood Place resident

The first five buildings were connected to the new heating system in 2014. A dryer system was built to dry the biowaste for the heating system. The town installed a backup oil-powered boiler to cover peak demand in cold weather and give the biomass boiler a break for maintenance.

As with many best-laid plans, a couple of snags kept the town on its toes. It soon became clear that the heating requirements of the school and arena, which are located at the far end of the two-kilometre network, did not justify the construction costs to connect them. The pharmacy also underwent major renovations that improved its energy efficiency, reducing the potential impact of connecting it to the system. The town redirected its efforts to where they were most needed, setting up a second system to supply heat to offices, a mechanic shop and a workshop in 2015. 

The town’s flexibility served it well throughout the project. While little information was initially available on implementing such a system and heating with biofuels, the town kept an open mind as new information, techniques and equipment became available, learning and adapting along the way. 

The project has displaced fossil fuels and electricity for 95.1% of the energy used to heat the town’s municipal and institutional buildings. It has dramatically reduced the town’s reliance on these resources and reduced the town’s GHGs by about 133 tonnes per year. 

The project has also increased residents’ awareness of the value of sustainability and sparked pride in the community. Local jobs have also been created, attracting skilled young workers to the area. Saint-Ubalde has become an outstanding example of rural independence and innovation with a project that can easily be replicated in surrounding communities and in other parts of Canada. 

We have a local resource, the raw material, which is biomass. We need to encourage projects that use biomass—it’s money that stays here.”

—Pierre Saint-Germain, Mayor of Saint-Ubalde

Sources

L'érablière Savard et Douville Saint-Ubalde passe du mazout à la biomasse

The concept for a backwash wastewater recovery system was soon developed. First, the wastewater would flow into two sedimentation ponds to reduce its mineral content. The wastewater would then flow through a small stream for further cleaning and end in a filtration pond where it would return to the aquifer. The cleaned wastewater would be used to irrigate sports fields and parkland. 

Although the feasibility study noted the need for further testing and data collection, it also recommended that the work to implement the system proceed. After discussing the project with residents and a wide range of stakeholder groups and receiving significant support, the city put its plans in motion. 

The backwash wastewater recovery system was in place soon after the new water treatment plant opened, with only a few weather-related delays. True to its design, the system helps the city manage stormwater, recharge its groundwater aquifers and reduce the volume of water going into the sewer system. It also provides wildlife habitat and green space for the community. A five-kilometre walking path is popular year-round, and the filtration pond, stocked with rainbow trout, has become a favourite fishing destination among locals and visitors alike. 

The city’s decision to leverage its investment to further increase its environmental impacts is an inspiring example of how municipalities can take opportunities to push for even better results for the communities they serve.  

It was nice surprise to see how many people came out once they realized the walking paths and fish pond were available. It’s a very popular spot."

—Glenda Holmes, Waterworks Manager, City of Yorkton

In the new integrated waste management complex, a transfer centre makes it possible to process waste and recyclable materials separately in the same building.

At the ecocentre, residents separate their household hazardous waste, wood, metal and bulky items, such as furniture and appliances, into containers. Items in good condition, along with other items made from recycled materials, are sold at the reuse store. The warehouse provides storage space for local community organizations.

The RGMRM initially used an electric baler to press waste and recyclables into compact bundles for shipping. The baler was intended to reduce the number of trucks needed to transport them, which in turn would reduce GHG emissions. However, the amount of organic material remaining in the waste made it difficult to bale. The RGMRM reconsidered this component of the project as a result. The use of the press for recyclable materials reduced and optimized transportation costs over eight years, from 2012 to 2019. Ultimately, the drop in global demand for materials recovered through curbside recycling prompted the RGMRM to retire the baler.   

The RGMRM’s unique, one-stop approach to waste management has made the complex a popular destination for area residents. Trips to the eco-centre and reuse store are now a part of residents’ daily lives, instilling a strong sense of pride in the community. The site boasts up to 26,000 visits per year from a population of about 29,000. The welcoming and attractive reuse store, supplied by onsite workshops and local artisans, has been especially well-received. 

The project’s focus on recovery and reuse has significantly reduced the volume of waste sent to landfill. Consolidating waste management services has also reduced collection costs for participating municipalities and created 16 new permanent jobs at the complex. 

The success of this project clearly showcases the benefits of centralized waste management for all municipalities. This one-stop approach to waste management is an inspiring example that can be replicated in any community. 

Before the reuse store opened, I had no choice but to buy just new. It certainly changed the way I shop."

—Linda Girard, resident of Ragueneau