Airdrie City Council was asked to approve an update to the City’s Sewer Bylaw, which had not been updated since 1989, at its meeting on March 16.
Municipal Engineering Technologist Adam Carroll told council the update was required to ensure the bylaw fits within current provincial legislation and meets system performance requirements.
“The size and complexity of the City’s wastewater system has increased exponentially and environmental requirements, system performance requirements and Codes of Practice have significantly evolved,” Carroll said.
According to Carroll, one of the key areas in which the bylaw required updating was in relation to the types of materials that are banned from being disposed of through household and commercial wastewater systems.
Some of those materials include oils and grease, gasoline or petroleum derivatives and waste residue.
Another issue that Carroll said required clarity in the updated bylaw was access by City staff to private and commercial property so they could ensure compliance with the bylaw.
“We don’t have a lot of access to commercial and industrial sites to see what they’re actually dumping down the sewer system,” he said.
“That’s a number one priority. We need to protect our current infrastructure and make sure our tax-base dollars in the future are actually spent where necessary, not cleaning up after irresponsible people.”
Under the new bylaw, crews from the City’s Public Works department would be able to go onto private and commercial property to take samples for testing to ensure what is being dumped meets the requirements.
Fines will be issued to those in non-compliance. According to Carroll, these fines will align with those issued by the City of Calgary for similar offenses because Airdrie’s system is an extension of Calgary’s sewer system.
Alderman Allan Hunter asked if grease interceptors would be mandatory for all businesses.
“Depending on the type of business, mandatory grease interceptors are required,” Carroll said.
“Not by the City but more through the National Plumbing Code. We do, however, have on commercial sites that are bigger than two hectares, a required oil grid separator.”
Stormwater Drainage Plan
Council also approved an amendment to the Master Stormwater Drainage Plan (MSDP) that would ensure developers adhere to targets for release rates of stormwater and runoff control rates established in the Nose Creek Watershed Water Management Plan (NCWWMP).
The MSDP was developed by staff and endorsed by council in 2013 and provides developers with direction in terms of stormwater management in new developments.
The aims of the MSDP are to prevent flooding and to protect the water quality in the receiving streams/creeks - including Nose Creek.
It was developed in part because staff were concerned that stormwater management in developments within the newly annexed lands (annexed in 2012) be done in a logical manner that protects the riparian environment and unique characteristics of the Nose Creek watershed.
The NCWWMP, developed in 2008, aims to protect riparian areas and improve water quality within Nose Creek.
