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Watermark > Winter 2000

Winter 2000 Watermark—BCWWA

Volume 9 * Number 3 Winter 2000/2001

Contents

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Masthead

Publisher:

David Lewis

Naylor Editors:

Robert Simpson, Matthew Hannay

BCWWA Editor:

Robert Wridgway

Sales Manager:

Frank Robinson

Sales Representatives:

Ron Ciecko, Jim Hamilton, George Kamstra, Walter Niekamp, Robert Sommerville, David Tetlock

 

British Columbia Water and Waste Association 2000/2001 Executive

President:

Kevin Ramsay

President Elect:

Rick Corbett

Vice-President:

Inder Singh

Treasurer:

Don Degen

Past President:

Bob Jones

Secretary:

Harlan Kelly

AWWA Director:

Dennis Mitchell

AWWA Trustee:

Jim Levin

WEF Director:

Neal Carley

WEF Trustee:

Phil Wong

Operation Education Director:

Terry Davis

Southern Interior Director:

Mike Nolan

Yukon Director:

Don McCallum

CWWA Director

Frank Belfry

Manufacturers, Suppliers & Consultants Chair and Director:

Murray McLeod

Water Supply Association of BC Liaison:

Bruce Wilson

Cross Connection Chair and Director:

Doug Dolan

Executive Director:

Del Haylock

Submission guidelines: Watermark encourages unsolicited articles and cover photos. Articles should be submitted by electronic format with a hardcopy backup and a brief biography of the author(s). Articles should be up to 1500 words and illustrated with photos (glossy colour preferred), maps or schematic drawings. All illustrations must be properly captioned and credit should be given to photographer, where applicable.

Watermark reserves the right to edit manuscripts with respect to length, clarity and conformity with the editorial guidelines. Inquires should be sent to:

Robert Wridgway-Editor
Attn: BCWWA
c/o Aplin & Martin Consultants Ltd.
Suite 201-12448-82 Avenue
Surrey, BC V3W 3E9
Phone: (604) 572-5407
Fax: (604) 597-9061

Changes of address, annual dues, new members and Cross Connection application enquiries about BCWWA registration for all events, please contact the office of the BCWWA at:

BCWWA
Suite 221– 8678 Greenall Avenue
Burnaby, BC V5J 3M4
Tel 604-433-4389
Fax 604-433-9859

Message from the President

It's time to change the WATERMARK! BCWWA's quarterly publication has gone through a number of changes over the years, and we are all proud of the work that our illustrious editors, Rob Wridgway and Inder Singh, have done. But the feedback we have been getting from members suggests we need more articles on topical subjects of importance to our industry. To this end, we have committed to changing the focus of our publication. In coming issues, there will be leading edge news clips, guest editorials, information on changes in our industry, up-to-date reports on provincial activities, summaries of seminars, as well as a strong focus on BCWWA activities and much more. I look forward to the Watermark becoming a publication that we all look forward to reading. With this in mind, I encourage you to send us your views on any subject you wish to comment on:

Attention: Letters To The Editor: c/o Del Haylock, Executive Director
E-mail: dhaylock@bcwwa.org
Fax: (604) 540-4077

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From the BCWWA Website: www.bcwwa.org

If you have not visited our web-site recently, we encourage you to do so now. There are many new updates, including individual committee web pages (see button on front page) as well as a useful link to topical legislation and regulations. And stand by for more to come, including:

Our goal is to make the BCWWA web-site an information source you can rely on for news and views on the Association and the BC water & wastewater sector in general. A vote of thanks and appreciation to Doug MacQuarrie and the many volunteers who are making our web-site a story worth telling.

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BCWWA Gets Yukon Director

Don McCallum has agreed to serve as BCWWA's first Yukon director. A reformed chemical engineer, Don has been practicing environmental engineering for nine years and manages the Whitehorse office of Gartner Lee.

Prior to moving to Yukon last summer, Don worked for the GVRD for five years as part of the team producing a Liquid Waste Management Plan for the District and member municipalities.

McCallum is interested in raising the profile of the BCWWA in the Yukon, particularly in relation to operator education and dealing with the unique water and wastewater challenges faced by small northern communities.

"We are fortunate that Don will be joining the BCWWA Board," says Bob Jones, past president BCWWA. " We plan to meet and work out a strategy for reaching interested parties in the Yukon."

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Serving Northeast BC

The North East Public Works Association (NEPA) was recently invited by BCWWA to make a presentation to address their training needs. Neal Carley, acting as the BCWWA ambassador, met with engineering service personnel, public works officials and operator directors from Ft. Nelson, Chetwynd, Dawson Creek, Taylor, Tumbler Ridge, Hudson Hope, and Fort St John. The NEPA asked BCWWA to bundle a series of courses in water and wastewater for delivery to the northeast Region. As a result, BCWWA plans to modify existing courses, incorporating issues and material specific to northern conditions. A mini-symposium of these courses will be offered in Fort. St. John next June, to coincide with the NEPA's Annual Conference.

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Davies to Chair Operator Education

Terry Davies has the "on hands" experience and appreciation of the water and wastewater industry. He has worked his way up the ladder, starting out as a laborer with the Sewers Operations Branch of the City of Vancouver (COV), operated dump trucks, cranes, backhoes, and excavators as well as served as a pump mechanic. In 1996, he became the COV's first pump station foreman and two years later graduated to the position of Sewers Maintenance Superintendent responsible for the cleaning and maintenance of the City's sewer system, including its pump stations.

As chairperson of the Operators Education Committee, Terry plans to continue the work started by his predecessors and intends to ensure the Committee offers interesting and relevant courses in Water and Wastewater to an ever expanding group of operators in BC and the Yukon. "Our goals for this year include offering a course curriculum calendar that allows operators to plan a year in advance for the courses that they would like to attend," said Davies, "and the continued updating of the courses that we are offering."

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New Youth Education Chair

BCWWA is pleased to welcome Nancy Grenier as its new Youth Education Chairperson. Nancy has been working in communications -- in both the private and the public sectors -- for the past ten years. The majority of her experience has been in strategic communications planning and education material development. Nancy has worked on many projects involving BC teachers in the development of materials for use in the classroom. The most recent education component she led was in support of the Temperature Rising poster about climate change and its potential impacts on the southwestern BC region. Nancy is now the community relations coordinator for the GVRD. In this capacity, she works on regionally and provincially driven initiatives to raise awareness about various environmental and social issues so as to contribute to the GVRD's momentum in becoming a livable region.

Nancy would like to see the Youth Education committee define and implement a strategy to capitalize on partnerships and opportunities to reach BC youth with relevant BCWWA messages through formal and informal education channels. One key deliverable could feature a "H2O in the classroom" section of the BCWWA Web site where teachers can go for information about learning tools and activities.

If you are interested in joining the committee, please contact Nancy Grenier at (604) 436-6862 or nancy.grenier@gvrd.bc.ca.

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Membership Needs Assessment Study

The Technical Planning Committee (TPC), with the financial support of Environment Canada, is engaging a professional consulting firm to conduct a needs assessment survey. Selected BCWWA members, including First Nations, from seven regions including North Vancouver Island and Sunshine Coast, Northern BC and the Yukon, South Coast, Lower Mainland/South Vancouver Island, Kootenays, Northern Interior and Southern Interior Regions will be invited to participate in a series of focus groups and/or telephone surveys to gather meaningful information around the concept of "source water to customer tap."

The intent of this initiative is to gain the best possible feedback and input from BCWWA and potential partner membership as well as industry decision-makers on technical and training needs and topics of interest that will better assist those within the water and waste industry. The study is intended to gauge what is currently in place and ask questions to determine what specific training and workshop topics of interest would be most beneficial in the future. The level of satisfaction of members will also be measured on subjects such as Annual Conference, technical seminars, operator education and training, Watermark publication, web site peer recognition, costs for services, and opportunities for professional development and committee involvement. Information gained from the survey will be used by the TPC and other potential partners to assist in planning training seminars and workshops that adequately reflect the range of topics and issues identified. "We expect the study to be completed by next March," says Phil Wong, co-chairperson of the TPC, "and the results should be published shortly thereafter." STAY TUNED.

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Operator Education in the Forefront

The Operator Education Committee (OEC) is an integral part of the BCWWA. Its role is to provide education to all who are providing water and wastewater services within BC and Yukon and to prepare them for eventual certification.

Year 2000 is looking to be the most successful for many reasons:

Year 2001 is shaping up to be even more exciting as many new areas will be offering courses, such as Yukon and Northeast BC. We continue to offer courses in Prince George, Kamloops, Vernon, Lower Mainland, Victoria Island, and UBC.

This year will also see many updates:

"Our goal is to have every water and wastewater operator, whether it's in a large or a small system, a certified professional. Wrong decisions are often made with wrong information. With the correct information, the correct decision will follow," says Bob Keefe, OEC Secretary.

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BCWWA Delivers Automated Systems Technology Via Satellite

In early November, more than 200 BCWWA members throughout the province participated in an AWWA-initiated satellite teleconference to enhance their knowledge and understanding of leading edge automation and instrumentation solutions available to water utilities. The Drinking Water Committee of BCWWA identified regional venues

(Vancouver, Kelowna, Prince George, Kamloops, Nanaimo, Port Alberni) and teleconference hookups were initiated so that interested parties could listen to a panel of experts. The program included five leading presenters on a full range of topics including:

This was the second year that BCWWA had organized this cost-effective teleconference for members and the feedback was positive.

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Successful Membrane Filtration Seminar

The BCWWA Drinking Water Quality Committee and BC Hydro Water and Wastewater Center teamed together to host a highly successful Membrane Filtration Seminar in mid-October . The one day seminar attracted some 40 participants. Featured presentations by recognized experts included:

"We are pleased to have had the opportunity to partner with B.C. Water and Waste on this time initiative," said Grad Ilic of BC Hydro, "and we look forward to working together in the future on similar courses."

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Underground Pipe and Cable Locating Seminar

Radiodetection Canada will offer a course on the basic principles involved in locating underground facilities and techniques for solving difficult location problems. Included in the day long course:

The course schedule:

For more information contact: Radiodetection at 1-800-665-7953.

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AWWA Capacity Assistance Program (CAP)-Establishing a Best Practice Model for Capacity Development

Don't look now, but there's a hole in capacity development. But don't worry about it. AWWA is developing a new program to fill it and is focusing on systems that are presently not in any trouble or jeopardy. Ron Green, a consultant with Watertrax, serves on the AWWA Small Water Systems Committee, and is involved in coordinating the development and implementation of the CAP program. The plan is to train volunteers from the membership to assist systems in applying the business plan approach during a series of site visits. This involves a four-step process:

  1. Assessment—assess the technical and managerial challenges.
  2. Prioritization and research—prioritize and research critical challenges and unresolved issues.
  3. Planning and budgeting—estimate resources needed challenges and examined budget and reached impacts.
  4. Implementation— provide support for implementation of needed facilities improvements; operational and managerial changes; and budget/rate revisions

The CAP program is being piloted in Michigan this fall and a total of four pilot programs are expected to be completed by the end of the 2000. CAP materials are being developed by a contractor team and will be available free of charge to all AWWA Sections.

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Ministry of Health and BCWWA Partnership on Small Water Systems Course

In many instances, quality problems with purveyed water supplies relate to private operators not having the necessary knowledge and expertise to maintain and operate waterworks systems. This is of particular concern to small service water systems, especially those in remote areas of the province, that often do not have the means to support ongoing training of their waterworks operators due to economies of scale. The absence of this type of knowledge and training can lead to waterborne disease outbreaks, illness and perhaps deaths in certain communities and to particular individuals.

BCWWA, in concert with the Ministries of Health, Environment, Lands and Parks, and Municipal Affairs is developing training material and an instructional interactive CD-ROM on water treatment. This will be followed by specific seminars across the province.

The Ministry of Health has now entered into an Agreement whereby it will provide BCWWA with $50,000 in start up funding and a projected $25,000 per year over the next three years to develop and deliver a Small Water Systems course throughout the province. Besides offsetting costs associated with course development, this funding will also go towards partially subsidizing some of the waterworks operator's costs to attend training sessions. This will allow purveyors of small waterworks systems to receive the necessary training for their particular type of water system. This training will help reduce the potential for waterborne disease outbreaks attributable to improperly operated and maintained systems. There are approximately 1,000 systems that would benefit/qualify for this funding assistance.

"We are very pleased that the Ministry of Health has shown this confidence in BC Water and Waste to develop and deliver its Small Water Systems course," says Kevin Ramsay, "and we are committed to fulfilling this objective."

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Win! Win! Win!—BCWWA Presents an Exciting New Membership Incentive Program

Encourage your friends and colleagues to join the BCWWA as new members, and everyone wins! New members win the benefits of belonging to a professional organization that can contribute to their professional growth. Sponsoring members will be eligible to win the following prizes:

This is how the draw works: every time you sign up a new member, your name will be entered in the draw. Sign up 5 members and receive 5 chances to win prizes. The Draw will be made on April 1st, 2001.

This new Membership incentive program is designed to broaden the network of individual and corporate memberships. A larger membership means BCWWA will have a stronger voice when crucial decisions affecting the environment are being made.

The 2001 membership incentive program runs from now until April 1st, 2001. Do your part to build the membership of BCWWA -- and win an exciting prize!

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Annual Conference/AGM Penticton

It's time to start making plans to attend the Annual Conference April 8 to 11, 2001 in Penticton. The theme is Western Days and the AGM Organizing Committee has saddled up and is galloping ahead with preparations. "We have a superb Convention Center which has lots of space to accommodate industry exhibits as well as adjoining facilities for the technical sessions," says Bill Muir, 2001 Conference Chairman.

There will be first-class technical sessions on topical subjects and an enhanced operator education program. The following are the Penticton area Conference hotels and you are encouraged to book early for best selection:

Penticton Lakeside Resort & Casino
21 Lakeshore Dr. W.
Rates: $83 park view/ $93 lake view
Tel: (250) 492-8926 Fax: (250) 493-0607
Toll Free: 1-800-663-9400

Ramada Courtyard Inn
1050 Eckhardt Ave. W
Rates: $84 standard plus $15 increments for higher room levels
Tel: (250) 492-8926 Fax: (250)492-2778

Sandman Hotel
939 Burnaby Ave.
Rates: $62 - 1 bed, $69 - 2 beds
Tel: (250) 493-7151 Fax: (250) 493-3767
Toll Free: 1-800-726-3626

Days Inn
152 Riverside Dr.
Rates: $65 - 1 bed, $69 - 2 beds
Tel: (250) 493-6616 Fax: (250) 493-6615

Travelodge
950 Westminster Ave. W
Rates: $56 - 1 bed, $62 - 2 beds
Tel. (250) 492-0225 Fax: (250) 493-8340

A shotgun Texas scramble golf tournament is being teed up at the Penticton Golf and Country Club (seven minutes from the Convention Center) for Saturday, April 7th starting at 1:00 PM. The cost is only $55 including prizes.

For the first time ever you can register for the Conference on-line; visit www.bcwwa.org for more details.

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CALL FOR PAPERS—29TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND TRADE SHOW

PENTICTION CONVENTION CENTER - APRIL 7 to 11, 2001

The 2001 Technical Program Committee invites submission of papers for the Penticton Conference. The selection committee will be seeking papers, which will be of interest to BC Water and Waste members on these topics:

Abstracts of papers should be 250 words or less and submitted to the attention of Del Haylock, Executive Director, BCWWA, # 342 - 17 Fawcett Road, Coquitlam, V3K 6V2, Fax 604 540-4077, e-mail dhaylock@bcwwa.org. The Selection Committee will select papers from the abstracts submitted in developing its final Conference program. Deadline for submission of abstracts is January 31, 2001.

For further information, please contact Mike Nolan, Technical Program Chair, at Tel. 250 503-0841.

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Demand Side Management—Innovation Based Planning and Development for Municipal Water Systems

BCWWA has agreed to participate in an academically launched initiative, to study water demand management within the municipal context. The primary goal of the project is to facilitate a shift from our historic supply driven orientation of municipal water systems to one that matches demand and promotes conservation of water resources.

The proposed study has three objectives: 1) a focus on legal and institutional issues with the aim of promoting response governance, 2) an economic component dealing with the adequacy of utilities costing, investing and pricing practices, and 3) technological innovation including new technologies and innovations in engineering.

The research team will include experts in law and governance, economics, biology, engineering, the health sciences and business. The intention is to network with governmental representatives and work closely with innovative industrial leaders and a variety of experts from private consulting companies.

It's anticipated the legal component of the research will result in the following: a) development of a comprehensive analysis of "best practices" in other jurisdictions, with a detailed application to reforms in British Columbia and selected municipalities; b) consolidation of a national network of expertise in all sectors of urban water DSM; c) utilization of the results of the primary study area to develop a template for other jurisdictions and application of this research to other provincial and interested jurisdictions in Canada.

The economic research results are expected to yield: a) statistical models of the cost of water supply that incorporate the impacts of variations quality of raw water supplies; b) statistical models of residential, commercial and industrial water and sewage treatment demands; c) estimates of water and sewage rates that reflect the full social marginal cost of supply and are differentiated by season, user group and distance; and d) software that will allow utilities to develop their own efficient prices and to forecast the impacts of alternative demand side management policies on demands, revenues and system requirements.

The DSM Committee intends to fund two postdoctoral fellows for two years each at the University of Victoria and Brock University to support the core legal and economic research and twelve graduate students for two years each. BCWWA has agreed to provide in kind support for this important and timely initiative.

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Thank you for Making the 3rd Annual Silent Auction A Success.

All Donations and Bids were greatly appreciated

Proceeds from the auction are helping WATER For PEOPLE Canada fund drinking water and sanitation projects in developing countries.

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Backflow Prevention Management Software

BPMS provides one of the most comprehensive software solutions to assist water purveyors in the protection of potable water through backflow prevention. By providing the tools to reduce the office workload, we enhance the ability to implement effective cross-connection control programs at a reduced cost. Highly customizable and easy to use, BPMS is packed with productivity tools designed to capture all the information needed in a minimum of time, while meeting the requirements for community water systems.

Contact us for more information, references or a free working demonstration of BPMS!

BCWWA
Cross Connection Control Program
Toll Free: (877) 250-2698
bcwwa@bcwwa.org
www.bpms.net

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BCWWA WATER For PEOPLE Committee presents the: 4th Annual SILENT AUCTION—CALL FOR DONATIONS

To be held at the 2001 BCWWA Conference and AGM in Penticton.

All proceeds go to WATER For PEOPLE Canada to fund drinking water and sanitation projects in developing countries.

In order to help us better organize the 2001 Silent Auction, we are asking donors to consider pre-registering.

If you plan to donate an item to the Silent Auction, please return this form before March 1, 2001, to:

BCWWA
Attention: WFP Committee, Silent Auction
Suite 342-17 Fawcett Road
Coquitlam, BC V3K 6V2
Fax: (604) 540-4077

(note: Please use one form per item. If you plan to donate more than one item, please photocopy this form as necessary.)

Silent Auction Contact:
Donor Name (if different from above):
Company Name
Mailing Address:
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
Brief description of donated item:
Approximate value of item:

Pre-registering is preferred, however items will be accepted at the WFP display at the conference.

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