Water – A Scarce Resource
Panelists
Katherine Crowther
Acting Senior Engineer, Toronto Water – Water Infrastructure Management
Renee Chu
Water Consultant
Business Operations Management , Toronto Water
Denise Wight
Director of Sales, New Wave Industries
Claire Darmanin
Chief Operating Officer, International Carwash Association
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Water in the News - Canada
Water in the News – Around the World
Water –
The most important ingredient in
the carwash process.
Things you need to know:
1. Aging Infrastructure,
2. Increasing Costs and Supply Issues
3. Conservation
4. Reclaim
5. Marketing
Infrastructure,
Supply and Costs
Toronto Water Infrastructure Renewal and
Capital Works Programs
Katherine Crowther
Acting Senior Engineer, Toronto Water – Water Infrastructure Management
Toronto Water Overview
R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant
Ashbridges Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant
•
Serves 3.2 million residents and businesses in
Toronto, and portions of York and Peel
•
Operates many facilities 24 hours per day, 365
R.C. Harris Water
days per year
Treatment Plant
•
Toronto Water Capital Program is 100% ratesupported and no reliance on the property tax
base to support Toronto Water operating and
capital budgets.
12
Inventory of Assets - Replacement Value of $28 Billion
WATER - $9.0 Billion
 4 water filtration plants
 10 reservoirs and 4 elevated
storage tanks
 5,427 km of distribution
watermains and 528 km of
trunk watermains
 60,933 valves and 40,817
hydrants
 470,202 water service
connections, plus York Region
(population served 600,000)
 18 water pumping stations
WASTEWATER - $19.0 Billion
 4 wastewater treatment plants
 5 storage and detention tanks
 4,400 km of sanitary, 1,300 km of
combined and 4,300 km of storm
sewers
 151,485 maintenance holes
 463,300 sewer service connections
 82 wastewater pumping stations
 371 km of watercourses, 89
stormwater management ponds
 2,300 outfalls & 165,662
catchbasins
13
Watermain Construction History
(1858 – 1960)
Annual Watermain Breaks
(1960-2010)
2250
Etobicoke
North York
2000
Scarborough
Former
Toronto
Number of Break Records
1750
1500
1250
1000
750
500
250
0
Year
Program Challenges
Aging Infrastructure and Capital Renewal Rates
– $1.6 billion backlog ($1.1 billion for underground
assets; $500 million for water/wastewater treatment
plants and facilities).
16
State of Good Repair Funding & Backlog
SOGR Backlog
SOGR Budget Proposed
Annual Renewal Need
29
2012 Capital Budget
26
2012-2021 Capital Plan by Asset Class ($000s)
27
2012 Water Rate
How Does Toronto Compare?
2011 Water Cost
Residential (300 m3/y)
1600
1400
Total Charge
1200
Fixed Charge
990
956
$/year
1000
685
723
725
798
800
734
834
32
800
458
207
261
593
537
186
600
400
648
924
200
0
35
How Does Toronto Compare?
2011 Water Cost
Large Industrial (1,000,000 m3/Y)
$3,301
$3,500
$3,080
$3,000
$2,408
$ 000s/Y
$2,500
$2,416
$1,791
$2,000
$1,525
$1,505
$1,603
$1,500
$1,000
$500
$-
36
2012 Water Rate Increase Impact
Type of
Property
Residential
Industrial
2011 Full
Consumption Annualized Cost *
m3/y
$/y
Projected
2012 Cost
$/y
2012 Rate Increase
Impact
$/y
%
300
$685
$747
$62
9.00%
100,000
$164,009
$178,769
$14,761
9.00%
1,000,000
$1,603,082
$1,747,359
$144,277
9.00%
* Rate increase implemented March 1, 2011, represents full 12 months annualized cost
•
•
Daily cost for all residential water, wastewater and stormwater services
only $2.04 per day.
An increase of: 17¢ per household per day.
37
Projected Water Rate Increase
2012 PROJECTIONS
2011
Block 1 Rate Icrease
Block 2 Rate Icrease
Reduction over Block 1 Rate
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
10.80%
9.00%
9.00%
9.00%
3.00%
3.00%
3.00%
3.00%
3.00%
3.00%
8.58%
9.00%
9.00%
9.00%
3.00%
3.00%
3.00%
3.00%
3.00%
3.00%
30%
30%
30%
30%
30%
30%
30%
30%
30%
30%
38
Questions?
• Katherine Crowther, P.Eng.
• Senior Engineer, Water Infrastructure Management
• City of Toronto
• www.toronto.ca/water
Efficiency and
Conservation
Renee Chu
Water Consultant
Business Operations Management , Toronto Water
City of Toronto Water Efficiency Program
Water Conservation - Do we have a
water shortage? Why should we care?

What can the carwash industry do to
improve water efficiency?

What’s in it for me? – City of Toronto
“Capacity Buyback” cash incentives
program

Great Lakes region
Access to 18% of the world’s surface
freshwater supply shared by 1% of the global
population!!!
If there isn’t a water shortage locally, why is
water efficiency important?
To help protect the environment

Treatment of drinking water and wastewater
consumes a lot of energy and chemicals
Improved efficiency = less chemicals use for
treatment and less energy for distribution

To produce 1 cubic metre of water requires
approximately 1.0 to 1.2 kWh of electricity
(= lighting a 60 watt light bulb for 17 hrs)

Reduction in wastewater treatment plant effluent
discharge helps improve water quality

If there isn’t a water shortage locally, why is
water efficiency important?
To help individuals and businesses save $$!

Although water rate in Toronto is still fairly low (just
under $2.50 per cubic metre), it’s been rising by 9%
annually since 2008

Efficiency = directly lowering water bill
Lowering operating cost of water infrastructure =
indirectly lowering water bill

Water savings opportunities for the carwash industry
1. Reclaim systems

Full, turn-key systems, or site- specific systems
More challenging for in-bay automatic carwash
compared to conveyors because all chemical
products and contaminants end up in the same
separator tank

Proper maintenance is critical to ensure quality
of reclaimed water

Water savings opportunities for the carwash industry
2. Other proven conservation practices
Low flow nozzles, proper nozzle alignment and
pressure

Properly calibrated conveyors - nozzles timed
to turn on as the vehicle passes under the arch,
and shut off as the vehicle exits each arch

Laser sensors - identify the length of the vehicle
being washed in automatic carwashes


Leaks repair – simple, yet effective!
City of Toronto Capacity Buy Back Program
Who?
Open to all commercial
and institutional
organizations located
in the City of Toronto
E.g. Schools, health
care facilities, office
towers, shopping
centres, restaurants,
hotels, carwashes etc.
Why?
Helps organizations
identify ways to use
water more efficiently
– save $, enhance
productivity
Allows the City to “buy
back” water capacity
freed up by
participants through
water use reduction
City of Toronto Capacity Buy Back Program
What?
Implementation of
permanent process or
equipment change = up
to 30 cents cash
incentive per litre saved
per annual average day
Participants can save $
over the long term with
reduced water bill
When?
Program is ongoing
How the Capacity Buy Back Program works
Step 1: Company contact the City to express interest in participation
Step 2: Company will be contacted by the City to determine eligibility and
options
Step 3: If deemed eligible, a professional engineer contracted by the City will
complete a water use audit for the organization
Step 4: Implementation of some or all water efficiency measures identified in
the audit (please note that the participant is solely responsible for project
implementation)
Step 5: The City will verify water efficiency measure(s) completed by the
participant
Step 6: A incentive will be issued (up to 30 cents per litre of water saved per
average day)
Program Highlights
To Date:
•
•
•
•
94 applicants
Participants saved $7.82 million
Water Savings 10.44 ML/d (> 4 Olympic size pools/day)
Paid out $2.8 million in incentives
FAQs
Q: What does a water use audit consist of?
A: Engineer will conduct site visit to identify all water using activities on premise, and
recommend water saving measures relevant to each water using activity. An estimate on
payback period for each measure will also be provided
Q: What type of water efficiency measures are eligible for an incentive under the Capacity
Buyback program?
A: Permanent process or equipment change, i.e. those not impacted by behavioural change.
E.g. replacing water-cooled refrigeration with air-cooled units, installing reclaim systems
Q: If the incentive amount does not cover the cost of implementation, why should I
participate?
A: Cash incentive would defray upfront capital cost, or help reduce the cost of implementing
further water efficiency measures.
Using water more efficiently will generate long term savings from water bill, reduce energy
use, sewer charges and increase productivity
Q: What’s the application process?
A: Please contact the Water Efficiency Office
Contact info: [email protected], 416-392-7000
Questions?
Renee Chu
Water Consultant, Service Programs
Toronto Water
City of Toronto
416-392-7015
[email protected]
Reclaim
Denise Wight
Director of Sales, New Wave Industries
WHAT IS WATER RECLAMATION?
 Reclaim by definition is to
‘get back’, ‘retrieve’ or
‘recover’.
 Reclaiming the water is the
first step in the process of
water management.
 Reclaim water needs to be:
– separated from the
“solids”
– filtered
– treated for odor prior to
being utilized again.
Proper Tank Design for Underground Water Storage is
Critical in the Reclamation Process
 A series of water storage tanks are installed underground to capture the
reclaimed water.
 The water contains “solids” up to 150 microns
 Optimum wash quality water post water reclamation filtration is 5 microns.
 A poorly designed tanking system can potentially mean disaster for the carwash
operator.
The Theory of Settling
Stoke’s Law
V (R/S) = (g x (Rho1 – Rho2) x D^2) / 18 Nu
Where:
V (R/S) = Rise or Settling Velocity of a Particle
(cm / sec)
g = Acceleration by Gravity (cm / sec^2)
Rho1 = Density of Medium (g / cm^3)
Rho2 = Density of Particle (g / cm^3)
D = Particle Diameter (cm)
Nu = Viscosity of Medium (g / cm / sec)
How Big is a Micron Anyway?
– A human eye can see 25-35
microns at best
– A human hair is typically 50
microns in diameter
– Gravel: 10,000 microns (approx.
3/8 in.)
– Coarse sand: 1,000 microns
– Fine sand / Table salt:70 - 100
microns
– Silt / Talcum Powder: 10 microns
– Bacteria: 1-10 microns
With the ever increasing use of 0° nozzles and the requirements set forth
by pump manufacturers’ which require 5 micron quality water as a
standard provision of their warranty; 5 micron quality water is essential!
Filtration: 101… Or
… What is the Best Method to Obtain 5 Micron Water?
–Media Filtration – Or depth filtration is the process of
pit water being sucked from the reclaim tanks by a
pump and pushed through a filter media. The most
common media are activated carbon, diatomaceous
earth, silica sand and glass.
•Consistency can be a major problem with these systems as
well as bacteria growth in the filter bed.
•expensive to operate and produces a inconsistent quality of
water.
Filtration: 101… Or
… What is the Best Method to Obtain 5 Micron Water?
 Bag Filtration –reclaim water is forced through a filter bag,
This is an extremely labor intensive process, most often, bags
need to be changed on a daily basis.
 Cyclonic separators –Hydro cyclones separate solids from
water through a vortex that spins the solids and separate
them from the water. This can be the most effective form of
filtration. Not all cyclone separators are created equal. Many
systems on the market are unable to achieve 25 microns or
less. Make sure the manufacturer will ensure engineer
certified 5 micron quality water.
Last, but Certainly Not Least…Odor
Control
If you as a distributor or as a
consumer, have been to one or more
wash locations that utilize an old
reclaim
you can appreciate anything that
would
mitigate, minimize or eliminate the
offensive odor…
In fact, it really isn’t the water that
smells, it’s a microorganism called
anaerobic bacteria that is the source
of the offensive odor…
Eliminating Odor at it’s Source!
The 6 Most Popular Methods Utilized to Eliminate Odor are…
 Chlorine: Benefit - Works, but only for a short period of time, the odor will
return in a day or two.
 Chlorine: Disadvantage - Chlorine is a reactive chemical, it starts attacking the
metal and seals in pumps causing premature failure.
 Pit Odor Deodorizers: Benefit - Deodorizers can temporarily mask the odor
with a chemically formulated scent such as cherry or lemon.
 Pit Odor Deodorizers: Disadvantage - Do not kill the bacteria, in fact, they can
compound the odor problem by adding additional contaminants to the waste
water.
 Ultra-Violet: Benefit – Can be effective to eliminate anaerobic bacteria by
passing reclaim water over a UV
light which kills the bacteria.
 Ultra-Violet: Disadvantage - Reclaim water is dirty which creates a film over
the UV lamps impairing their ability to eliminate the bacteria.
 Enzymes: Benefit – Enzymes consume the organic material that provides a food
source to anaerobic bacteria, by eliminating the source of food, the bacteria can
not survive.
 Enzymes: Disadvantage – It is imperative to utilize the right enzyme, one that is
formulated for the chemistry used and your vehicle washing application.
The 6 Most Popular Methods Utilized to Eliminate Odor are…(cont.)
Biological Systems: Benefit - Similar to enzymes as both are organic and
designed to consume the bacteria.
Biological Systems: Disadvantage – Requires a active, healthy specific
population, oxygen and a balanced pH environment to survive. Very labor
intensive, requires daily monitoring by a trained technician and is sensitive
to changes in temperature and chemistry.
Ozone: Benefit – Ozone or O³ is a reactive gas that will kill odor causing
bacteria and will effectively remove color such as dyes in chemistry.
Ozone: Disadvantage – Ozone is very aggressive and can prematurely
degrade rubber, pumps and gaskets. A Ozone gas generator should be
carefully sized specifically for the tank design and vehicle washing application.
The Ozone system utilized should have a documented ETL approval by the
manufacturer of the reclaim system to assure the Operator that ALL
necessary control and safeguards measures have been followed to provide
safe operation.
WHERE CAN RECLAIM WATER BE
USED?
• UNDERCARRIAGE
• SIDE PANELS
• HIGH PRESSURE RINSE
• FLOODER ARCHES
• MITTERS
• LAWN / SHRUB WATERING
RETRO-FITTING RECLAIM
 #1, most important thing – Get the manufacturer involved!
 Key things to determine:
– Site needs to have access to sewer, leach field, or holding tanks.
– Sites needs to have or install reclaim tanks (above ground tanks can
be used)
– Reclaim tanks need to have a minimum of one 2” suction line and
one 1” return line
 At most locations, a reclaim lease at $475 month will be less
then the your water and sewer bills.
ABOVE GROUND STORAGE TANKS
How does reclaim effect wash
quality?
• A properly designed reclaim system will have
no adverse effect on wash quality…
• In order to have no adverse effect it must:
• Clean the water well enough for high
pressure pumps
• Have no odor
• Have minimal maintenance
What to look for in Reclaim:
•Achieves 5 micron quality water
•Eliminates the maintenance typically
associated with reclaim systems
•Uses ozone in a controlled manner to
manage odor causing bacteria and
remove dyes from chemicals
•Operates 24 hours a day 7 days a
week to ensure the delivery of a quality
carwash
What to look for in Reclaim:
•A system that costs between $20,000
and $30,000
•More expensive systems are
typically overkill and difficult for an
operator to maintain
•Like with any equipment, a certain
amount of maintenance is required, a
typical ozone system requires
refurbishment in about 2 years
What should be considered with
Reclaim systems:
A few last points...
– Avoid silicone and oil based chemical products. Silicone
will clog filters, oil based products will create a slime in the
recycled water.
– There are several ways to build without a sewer but there
is no such thing as a true zero discharge system.
Somewhere, sometime water must be discharged whether
it is periodically pumping your storage tanks, irrigation or a
leach field; used water has to go somewhere.
– Fresh water or spot free water should always be used for
chemical application and a RO/spot free rinse is highly
recommended.
Claire Darmanin
Chief Operating Officer, International Carwash
Association
WaterSavers
• Recognition program of professional car washing’s
good environmental practices
– Focused around water practices at this time
• Who will benefit?
– Car wash operators
– Car wash customers
– Water regulators (or employees of municipal
governments with responsibilities for preserving
water)
Why Green?
• Revenue – Customers appreciate “green” practices
and therefore will utilize “green” car washes.
• Expense – Water costs continue to increase –
reclaiming water saves money.
• Regulator pressure - Need to remind regulators that
car washes as environmentally friendly in times of
drought.
• Altruism - Right thing to do for the environment.
Program Benefits
• Car wash operators have an easy to implement,
professional way to promote their environmental
stewardship practices and differentiate their
businesses from other car washes.
www.WashWithWaterSavers.com
Why is this an exciting time to join
WaterSavers?
• Consumer recognition of the WaterSavers brand and mark.
• Increased investment in public relations activities in both the
U.S. and Canada
• Unprecedented alignment with the industry associations
• Increased visibility from local and North American media