Wet Weather Management Strategies for Clover Point Wet Weather Facility
(035-DP-1)
Discussion Paper Summary
With the selection of Option One as a wastewater management strategy for the CRD's Core Area, Clover Point was chosen as the site of one of the planned wastewater treatment facilities. Currently, Clover Point houses a pump station and a long outfall, where screened wastewater exits into the Juan de Fuca Strait.
Under the proposed strategy for the Clover Point Wet Weather Facility, the site operations will change but the appearance will remain the same. Clover Point will function as a wet weather facility only. The site will be in operation only during wet weather events, when the flow exceeds the pumping capacity to the nearby Macaulay/McLoughlin Point facility. Flows below four times the annual dry weather flow will receive some form of treatment and be discharged out the Clover Point outfall. Flows above this amount would go through fine screening only and be blended with the treated effluent.
Wet Weather Flows
Wet weather flow management is one of the key elements of the Core Area Wastewater Management Strategy. The majority of the CRD wastewater collection system is composed of a separated sanitary and stormwater system. Rainwater inflow and groundwater infiltration can overwhelm the collection system during storm events, resulting in sanitary sewer overflows at various points in the system. Thus, wet weather flows normally do not include flows from the sanitary sewer, except during storm events. Treatment of wet weather flows is a prevention measure in the case of overflows.
What type of treatment is being considered at Clover Point?
This paper summarizes the options for effluent quality for the Clover Point facility. For flows greater than two times the annual dry weather flow and up to flow equal to four times, there are three options:
- Continue to use a 6 mm screen (the current approach)
- Install microscreens
- Implement high rate enhanced primary treatment
Screening provides the lowest level of treatment, with microscreens offering a slightly higher level and enhanced primary treatment, with the use of sand as a filter, offering the highest. The CRD is working with engineering consultants to determine the best treatment option for Clover Point.
© Image courtesy of Evan Leeson