Left Side: Part of the Coop Housing __ Right Side: Sand Filter and Settling Tanks

PROJECT: CONSERVATION COOP LIGHT-GREY WATER REUSE SYSTEM
LOCATION: Ottawa, Ontario
CLIENT: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
DESCRIPTION: Engineering assessment of a failed light-grey water reuse system serving 8 units of an 84 unit housing cooperative. The facility process design was intended to treat bathwater for reuse in flushing toilets. The process consisted of primary screening, followed by sand filtration, ozonation, and storage. Within one month of being placed into operation the process failed and was shut down due to complaints of black water, foul odours, and excessive scum and film development in the toilet bowls. The assessment revealed that a key biological treatment process component had been overlooked by the original designers, resulting in septic conditions and the observed problems. Recommendations were made to modify the system to incorporate a biological recirculating filter and improved disinfection.
 ROLE: Prime Consultant