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Narrative on Water Quality

July 26, 2006    

Contents:

• Water quality

• Community goals- Lake and River management

• Select articles in the media

• Possible exceptions re shallow and dystrophic lakes common to Nova Scotia

• Typology of (northern) lakes based on metabolic balance and ecosystem stoichiometry

• Phosphorus modelling and stormwater treatment to remove typical urban pollutants post-human colonization of the watersheds

• Our select local submissions relating to Applied Limnology vis-a-vis land planning/development

• Don't blame onsite septic systems without statistically valid scientific evidence; see reports from the brilliant inventor of the contour disposal beds, Engineering Scientist, David Pask MEng PEng

• Conduct bacterial (or microbiological) source tracking (BST) before one concludes on the source of fecal pollution

• HRM's Receiving Water Baseline Sampling Program for fecal coliforms; and examples of recent closures of supervised beaches

Water quality

Also see the trophic guidelines of the CCME (Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment), and the indicator thresholds for anthropogenic stressors in Nova Scotia.

See also Mandell's Comparative Lakes for HRM.

Phosphorus modelling and stormwater treatment to remove typical urban pollutants post-human colonization of the watersheds

In addition, the assessment should also take into account the predictive TP modelling based on future land use patterns as the Future Probable and as the Future Ultimate values depending upon the urban export coefficients utilized; assumption to be based on typical urban stormwater discharge practices.

But the high values resulting from the predictive TP Modelling based on future scenarios can perhaps be minimized by mandating almost nil incremental phosphorus export through a combination of total stormwater treatment as well as through sound community stewardship practices!

As the year-2004 CCME's TP policy clearly narrates to the effect that not adhering to the reference/background + 50% maximum increase concept, even if they fall within the reference or background trigger ranges, could result in significant changes to the `COMMUNITY STRUCTURE' (cf. eutro1, and eutro2)!

Total stormwater treatment should also include removal of other urban pollutants as well, not just phosphorus! The CDS technology, the Stormceptor, and the Vortechnics are superb devices for pre-treatment, but they have to be followed by sophisticated polishing systems, for example a scientifically designed wetland with the attendant maintenance in perpetuity (see the note of caution)!

Comparisons could also be made with the indicator thresholds for anthropogenic stressors of lakes in Nova Scotia, freshwater and dystrophic (colour ≥ 30-35) as the case may be! The anthropogenic stressors cover several parameters over and above TP!

Caution: There have been conflicting results in the long term removal of typical stressors in storm drainage using constructed (or engineered) wetlands. Further, such wetlands have not had a successful history in the amelioration of acid drainage in HRM. In such cases, the long term sustainable methodology may be treatment of urban and suburban stormwater by traditional wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) based on the tertiary removal process in the case of stressed lakes! This implies considerable capital costs and operation & maintenance!

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