Low phosphates for cleaner water

Times Contributor 

 

From the Bearspaw dam to the Bassano dam experts are looking at how phosphorous gets into the water system. Telltale signs of exploding aquatic growth, low oxygen levels and occasional fish kills are signs that high phosphorous levels were affecting local ecology. The Bow River Phosphorous Plan was developed to investigate where the load points of phosphorous enter and possibly determine some measures to manage the amounts entering the water system.

“The study came about from an appeal from the Siksika nation about the quality of the treated waste water going into the Bow River,” said Luella Cronkite, project lead from Environment and Sustainable Resource Development. 

Cronkite updated Wheatland County council on the details of the study on June 9. Cronkite said the results indicated some interesting factors.

Phosphorus was being used by water and sewer treatment plants, but there were also many areas that it enters the water system that are not so easily determined. Phosphorus and other chemicals are present in shampoo, cleaning detergents, in road and house building products and are found in high urban populations like Calgary. With increasing population growth, the use of phosphates will continue to be a problem in the future.

In the country, phosphorous comes down in rain, is a major component of fertilizer and present in animal and human urea. Concentrations are often found near cattle feeding operations, running off into nearby water streams or irrigation ditches. Councillor Brenda Knight said the use of berms and best practises has been put into practise by many of the local cattle feeding operations, so runoff doesn’t run into irrigation ditches. 

There are over 200 stakeholders signed on to the Bow River Phosphorous plan and steering committees have met to determine strategic plans to help reduce the phosphorous entering the water system. Cronkite was asking Wheatland County to voluntarily endorse the plan along with endorsements from the other members. When all 17 organizations involved with the plan sign off, the implementation of strategies can begin. 

Cronkite said that since the 1980’s, phosphorous levels have doubled, with a slight decrease in the last five years. She said the decrease is likely due to government regulations that put new water and wastewater treatment guidelines in place for treatment plants

 “We want to keep it as it is, so it doesn’t become problem overtime,” said Cronkite. “It is not bad now, but we want to keep it that way.”

Monitoring, reduction of phosphorus use, reclamation processes and education programs are just a few of the strategies being proposed for implementation. Cronkite said if there is success through voluntary partnerships and compliance in strategies, there will be no need for government to legislate compliance. 

The plan lists stewardship and cooperation as one of their first goals: “Desired Environmental outcomes for air, land, water and biodiversity are achieved through stewardship; a shared responsibility among citizens, communities, governments and industries, is key to achieving an outcomes … developing a stewardship culture rests on increasing knowledge, motivation and capacity through collaboration, voluntary action and clear rules.”

Wheatland County has just signed on for a floating island pilot project, which will utilize plant growth islands floating on sewage effluent lagoons to enhance filtration. The project will cost about $100,000 and is funded through grants, with Wheatland County providing the facility.

Wheatland council voted to endorse the Bow River Phosphorous plan.