The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and the Government of Canada announce funding through the Green Municipal Fund for three projects in Waterloo.
Delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Green Municipal Fund (GMF) is a $1.65 billion endowment from the Government of Canada.
GMF supports local innovation that can be replicated and scaled up across the country to tackle Canada’s climate challenges. Since 2000, GMF has helped bring over 1,360 projects to life which have cut 2.7 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions—the equivalent of taking 608,000 cars off the road and created over 11,650 jobs across the country.
Reducing costs and supporting growth with a membrane aerated bioreactor (MABR) at Waterloo’s Hespeler wastewater treatment plant
Lead applicant: Regional Municipality of Waterloo
Sector: Energy
Project type: Capital project
Approved funding through the Green Municipal Fund: $1,935,100
Loan: $1,684,000
Grant: $251,100
An upgrade to the Regional Municipality of Waterloo’s Hespeler wastewater treatment plant with a membrane aerated bioreactor (MABR) will result in reduced operational costs and support future growth in the municipality.
In line with numerous municipal strategic and environmental plans, the upgrade, which will diffuse oxygen through membranes, will significantly improve water quality, reduce energy consumption, and cut down on treatment waste.
Innovative aspect:
- The knowledge value of this initiative lies in the innovative technical solution (MABR) chosen
Replicability:
- This project could be a case study for market transformation, guiding similar projects elsewhere in Canada
Environmental benefits:
- Significant impact on levels of total ammonia nitrogen and total nitrogen, reducing each by 93% and 44%, respectively
- Reduction in electricity consumption from the grid by 40%
Economic benefits:
- Expected annual capital costs and operating/maintenance costs savings estimated at $580,000 and $151,000, respectively
- An MABR offers long-term capital cost avoidance compared to conventional technologies, reducing future capital spending and the corresponding burden on both the Reserve Fund and Development Charge budget requirements
Social benefits:
- Opportunity to highlight a greenhouse gas reduction technology to the broader wastewater treatment community and encourage further uptake and implementation through research, site tours, operator training and extension, etc.
Signature - Developing smart traffic solutions for a more sustainable Waterloo
Lead applicant: Regional Municipality of Waterloo
Sector: Transportation
Project type: Capital project
Approved funding through the Green Municipal Fund: $2,400,799
Loan: $2,087,652
Grant: $313,147
The Regional Municipality of Waterloo, in collaboration with Miovision Technologies, will implement a new traffic system at 275 intersections, integrating the entire region’s traffic network. The collected data will inform improvements on traffic flow and better integration of pedestrians, cars, cyclists, transit vehicles, emergency vehicles and rapid transit operations. Miovision’s TrafficLink technology links real-time monitoring and information to a central traffic management centre with 360-degree video cameras and cloud-based data storage. The ability to anticipate and resolve traffic issues along with improved safety and better flow of the transportation network should significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions.
Innovative aspect:
- In addition to lowering GHG emissions, this project may offer operational cost savings with improved traffic infrastructure
Replicability:
- High potential for replication in medium to large urban centers across Canada
Environmental benefits:
- Anticipated 10% reduction in carbon monoxide (CO), nitric oxide (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) levels
- Supported by the municipality’s Climate Action Plan and Regional Transportation Master Plan, this project will help the municipality achieve its target of 6% overall GHG emission reductions from 2010 levels, reducing absolute emissions by 842,000 tons by 2020
- The project is anticipated to achieve a reduction of 3,350 tonnes/year of CO2e
Economic benefits:
- Potential to reduce data collection costs by 89% and resolve traffic issues/complaints within 24 hours, compared to the current wait of two to four weeks
- Re-timing of intersections will be more frequent, less costly and more effective (275 intersections can be re-timed every two years rather than every five years). This could increase traffic capacity at <0.2% of the cost with no additional road construction
- Expected payback period calculated at 3.8 years and internal rate of return at 24%
Social benefits:
- Reduction in number of stops and number of vehicle collisions due to smoother traffic flow
- Improvement to public health due to less traffic congestion and vehicle idling
- Anticipated reduction in average vehicle travel time by 12%, with an increase in average speed by 9%, a decrease in number of stops by 31% and a decrease in fuel consumption by 4%
Assessing the risk of sodium chloride contamination to a potable water source in Waterloo
Lead applicant: City of Waterloo
Sector: Water
Project type: Feasibility study
Approved funding through the Green Municipal Fund: $175,000
The City of Waterloo wishes to conduct a feasibility study to determine the risk-level of sodium chloride infiltration to a potable groundwater source within the Laurel Creek subwatershed. The infiltration risk is related to stormwater management facilities (SWMFs) and low impact developments (LIDs). SWMFs and LIDs are used to infiltrate a large portion of stormwater flows and to help reduce peak flows as well as capture suspended solids and contaminants. Despite these positive impacts, SWMFs and LIDs also have the potential to increase the risk of groundwater contamination in well head protection areas from a number of substances, including sodium chloride from road salt.
Waterloo plans to evaluate sodium chloride infiltration by assessing scenarios using an integrated surface (CANWET) and groundwater (MODFLOW) modelling approach when retrofitting SWMF and LID features. This approach will be validated through a field-monitoring program. In doing so, the city hopes to demonstrate the potential removal of 80% of total sodium chloride infiltrating groundwater.
This project aligns with the regional Grand River Source Protection Plan and the City of Waterloo Stormwater Master Plan. It will help the city preserve a potable water source for the community.
Innovative aspect(s):
- This project is the first in Canada to combine CANWET surface and MODFLOW groundwater modelling to evaluate stormwater facility retrofitting for the risk of groundwater contamination
- This model will also allow for the evaluation of cumulative effects in the watershed decision-making process, rather than assessing proposed changes in isolation
Replicability:
- This project will be completed in partnership with the University of Guelph, who developed the model. The replicability of the findings will be increased through this knowledge-sharing partnership. Many municipalities in Ontario, and across Canada, rely on groundwater for potable water. Testing this model in Waterloo and verifying it through field monitoring will be useful for the many communities that need to preserve potable water sources from sodium chloride contamination.
(Project descriptions from original funding application)