Client
District of Invermere
Year
2024
Location
Invermere, BC
Project Summary
In 2024, our team was tasked with addressing significant odour concerns at the District of Invermere sewage lagoons, where low oxygen levels and seasonal volume fluctuations were causing persistent and troubling smells for the community. To tackle this issue, we upgraded the aeration system by installing a custom fine bubble aeration solution featuring 120 Can-Air Mega X2 diffusers—90 in Cell 1 and 30 in Cell 2. In a cost-effective approach, we integrated these new diffusers around the existing old ones, leveraging the current blowers and headers to minimize expenses. We continue to work with the District to monitor the system's performance.
Invermere Multi-Cell Wastewater Lagoon Aeration System Upgrade
Project Objective & Goals
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Upgrade the aeration within the first and second cell to improve oxygen levels and reduce odours.
Methods
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Design an aeration system that will provide enough oxygen to account for seasonal flow fluctuations and retrofit with the district's existing equipment
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Install 120 Can-Air Mega X2 diffusers into cell 1 and 2
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90 diffusers into cell 1
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30 diffusers into cell 2
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Install custom air distribution manifolds onto the existing steel header
Challenges
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Tight project timeline due to increasing community backlash
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Installing the system into full and functional lagoons
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Installing diffusers around old equipment at the bottom of the lagoons
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Designing an effective system to retrofit existing equipment and infrastructure
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The existing blowers and VFDs were not modified in time for the installation
Timeline
Design: Summer- Winter 2023
System Installation: Spring 2024
Planned Solutions
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To accommodate to a tight schedule and prevent further delays, our team worked proactively to pre-order material to avoid shortages.
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Use of boats, drones and GPS to position diffusers
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Work closely with our wastewater engineers to calculate the required oxygen demand of the system
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Work with the district's operational staff and engineers to confirm existing equipment specs to ensure the integration of the new equipment
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The system could not be tested at design specifications upon installation completion, but it was tested and ran at significantly reduced flow rates.
Results
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Even at significantly lower air flow rates (compared to design specs) odors were not an issue during the summer of 2024. We continue to work with the District to monitor the system's performance.
