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Wastewater Sources
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Nutrifor
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Research & Projects 
Since 1990, Metro Vancouver has recycled more than 750,000 tonnes of biosolids produced at Lower Mainland wastewater treatment plants.

Today, Metro Vancouver biosolids are being used in southern British Columbia to reclaim land and enhance plant growth. Recycling activities and initiatives are underway in two main areas:

Land reclamation (mines and landfills)
Human activities such as mining for metals and gravel, as well as creating landfills, have often left sites barren and unable to support plant life. The application of Metro Vancouver biosolids to such sites has fertilized and added organic matter, helping to establish vegetation at many sites in southern British Columbia.

Landscaping
Metro Vancouver uses the nutrients and organic matter in its biosolids to supplement nutrient-poor soils and develop landscaping soil. Blending biosolids with carbon (e.g. woodchips) and mineral (e.g. sand) products creates a high quality landscaping soil. Metro Vancouver and its member municipalities use this soil in projects such as:
- East Hoy Habitat Restoration, Coquitlam, B.C.
- Highway 99 Green Gateways, Delta, B.C.
- Vancouver Landfill Naturescaped Garden, Delta, B.C.
- Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve, North Vancouver, B.C.
- City of White Rock Gold LEED Operations Works Yard, White Rock, B.C.
- City of Vancouver Gold LEED Works Yard, Vancouver, B.C.




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Resources

 Nutrifor Glossary
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Aerobic
An organism, a biological process, or a chemical reaction that requires oxygen.
Alkalinity
The opposite of acidity, which is a chemical measure of hydrogen-ion activity; having a pH above 7.
Anaerobic
An organism, a biological process, or a chemical reaction that does not require oxygen.
Bacteria
Single-celled microorganisms that can affect humans, plants, and animals; some bacteria cause disease, some are beneficial.
Best management practices
Recommended methods for managing a resource or process.
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)
The result of a standard test used to assess the biodegradable organic matter in water. BOD values indicate the amount of oxygen used in the biochemical oxidation of organic matter by organisms under specified conditions.
Biosolids
Treated sewage sludge that has been processed to reduce its vector-attracting ability and concentrations of pathogens and some contaminants. See also Nutrifor.
Centrifuge
A rapidly rotating cylindrical drum or bowl used in the biosolids dewatering process to separate liquids from solids.
Chemical fertilizer
A manufactured, granulated product containing guaranteed amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (N-P-K). Nitrogen is made from ammonia that is synthesized from hydrogen gas and atmospheric nitrogen. Phosphorus is mined from apatite rock and potassium usually comes from salt deposits. May also contain trace elements or micronutrients.
Contaminant
An undesirable substance; contaminants found in biosolids may include mercury and petroleum products.
Cryophilic
Low-temperature conditions (minus 2-30oC) for normal development of cryophilic bacteria. These conditions are used to stabilize sewage sludge.
Dewatered biosolids
Treated sewage sludge that has had water removed. Biosolids can be dewatered using centrifuges, filters, or rotary presses. Dewatered biosolids tend to contain more nutrients than land-dried biosolids.
Digester
A large vessel used to process sludge at a wastewater treatment plant; air, heat, lime, and bacteria may be added to the digester to speed the breakdown of organic matter and kill pathogens.
Dry weight
The weight of a product or material less the weight of the moisture it contained. Biosolids samples are oven- or heat-dried to obtain a dry weight. Because water content in biosolids samples varies, data is commonly reported on a dry weight basis so that the results from different studies can be compared.
Effluent
A discharged fluid; often used to refer to the processed water that is released into a river, lake, or ocean from a wastewater treatment plant.
Fecal coliform
Bacteria that inhabit the large intestine of warm-blooded animals. The amount of fecal coliforms present in biosolids is used as an indicator of the presence of pathogens.
Incorporation
Mixing or tilling a material into soil.
Lagoon
A contained area for storing sludge while it decomposes and dries for up to two years; used to produce land-dried biosolids.
Land Application Plan (LAP)
A plan describing how the application of biosolids will be completed and monitored; LAP requirements are outlined in Schedule 7 of the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation.
Land-dried biosolids
Biosolids that have been stored, usually in lagoons to begin with, to decompose and dry.
Landfill
An area used for the disposal of solid waste (garbage); layers of waste are periodically covered with layers of earth.
Leaching
The movement of water and any soluble matter it might contain through soil.
Mesophilic
Mid-temperature conditions (20-45⁰C) for normal development of mesophilic bacteria. These conditions are used to stabilize sewage sludge and kill some pathogens.
Mineralization
The conversion of an element from an organic form to an inorganic state as a result of microbial decomposition.
Nitrogen
An essential nutrient required by growing plants; occurs naturally in the air and soil, where it is converted into forms plants can use by bacterial and other processes.
Nutrient
A substance that nourishes a plant or animal.
Nutrifor
Nutrifor is a registered trademark for Metro Vancouver biosolids products and services.
Organic matter
Matter found in or produced by living animals and plants; contains carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and often nitrogen and sulphur.
Organic Matter Recycling Regulation (OMRR)
Legislation in British Columbia governing the application of organic materials, including biosolids; operates under the Waste Management Act and the Health Act.
Pathogen
An organism capable of producing disease or infection. Most pathogens are eliminated by high temperatures.
Primary treatment
A basic level in the treatment of wastewater; involves the separation of solid and liquid wastes. Methods used include screening, settling, and filtering. Primary treatment reduces biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) by approximately 30-40% and removes 50% of the total suspended solids (TSS).
Quality control
A process that ensures all regulatory standards are met; for biosolids this involves reducing the amount of contaminants that enter the wastewater stream, killing pathogens,  and meeting the requirements of  the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation.
Reclamation
The process of returning land disturbed by industry (e.g., mining) to its natural state.
Regulatory standards
The requirements established by law regarding allowable concentrations of elements and contaminants in water, air, and soil.
Rehabilitation
The process of enhancing the soil quality on land that has been altered by human activities and natural processes such as erosion.
Secondary treatment
A level in the treatment of wastewater; involves further processing of the solids removed from wastewater during primary treatment. Methods used include digestion of sludge by bacteria, composting, and drying in lagoons or land beds. Secondary treatment reduces biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) by 90% and removes up to 90% of the total suspended solids (TSS).
Sewer Use Bylaw No. 164
Regulations in effect in Metro Vancouver that restrict the amount of industrial and commercial liquid waste that can be discharged into the sewer system; designed to keep potentially dangerous contaminants out of wastewater.
Sludge
The solid material produced during primary and secondary treatment of wastewater. Biosolids are made only from sludge that has been processed to reduce its vector-attracting ability and concentrations of pathogens and some contaminants.
Soil amendment
Any substance used to alter the properties of a soil to make it more productive for plant growth; includes lime, fertilizer, and soil conditioners.
Soil conditioner
A material that improves the texture and physical structure of soil, makes it more resistant to erosion, increases its permeability to air or water, reduces surface crusting, and makes cultivation easier.
Soil products
Materials added to soil to improve plant growth. Topsoil (a growing medium) and soil conditioners are made from blending different soil amendments; fertilizers are produced by value-added processing.
Source control
A process that prevents potentially dangerous contaminants from entering the sewer system; in Metro Vancouver, Sewer Use Bylaw No. 164 is a major component of source control.
Tailings
Finely crushed rock, the size of sand grains; a by-product of mining activity.
Thermophilic
High-temperature conditions (45-75⁰C) for normal development of thermophilic bacteria. These conditions are used to stabilize sewage sludge and kill some pathogens.
Total suspended solids (TSS)
The mass of solids that can be separated from wastewater through filtration; includes all sediment and other constituents suspended in fluid (e.g., sand, silt, algae, plant fibres, rust). High TSS concentrations can harm aquatic plants and animals by limiting light and altering habitat.
Trace elements
Chemical elements needed in minute quantities for the growth and development of plants and animals; also called micronutrients.
Trickling filter solids contact
Is a treatment process where wastewater is trickled over a bed of plastic media covered with biological growth.  The trickling filter effluent is treated in an aerated tank where biological floc is grown.  This floc attaches to the biological growth particles which are constantly sloughed off the trickling filter.  The biological floc is settled in a clarifier leaving behind an effluent that is low in BOD and suspended solids.
Vector attraction reduction (VAR)
Biological, chemical, and physical processes that reduce the ability of biosolids to attract vectors (carriers of disease-causing organisms) such as insects, birds, and rodents, which can transfer pathogens to humans. VAR includes the use of high temperatures, radiation, chemical disinfectants, and moisture removal.
Volatile suspended solids
Solids that are lost on ignition (heating to 500°C), which provide wastewater treatment plant operators an estimate of the amount of organic matter present in the solid fraction of wastewater, activated sludge, and industrial wastes.
Wasterock
Crushed rock of various sizes; a by-product of mining.
Wastewater
Water discarded from industrial, commercial, and residential sites that is collected in municipal sewer systems and processed in wastewater treatment plants.
Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP)
A facility that protects public health and the environment by processing wastewater collected in municipal sewer systems; levels of treatment may include primary, secondary, and tertiary (advanced) processing.

Fast Facts