Agenda Item No.: G.1.a.
Sanitary Sewage and Pollutants Draining into Mill Creek.
Recommendation:
That the following report be received for
information.
Report Summary
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In December 2001, the City of
Edmonton and Alberta Environment
responded to a spill of hydrocarbons in
Mill Creek from the southeast industrial
area. In response to that spill, the City is
undertaking steps to winterize the
operation of the Mill Creek Oil Removal
Facility.
The City and Alberta Environment are
endeavouring to locate the source of the
spill and ensure similar spills do not
occur again.
The City is exploring other possible
pollution prevention measures that could
be employed. The City may want to
approach Alberta Environment and
Environment Canada to share in the cost
of pollution prevention for Mill Creek.
Previous Council/Committee Action
At the February 26, 2002 Transportation and
Public Works Committee meeting, the
following motions were passed:
1. That the February 4, 2002 Asset
Management and Public Works
Department report be received for
information.
2. That the Administration report back on
the feasibility of operating the Mill
Creek Spill Containment facility in the
winter, as well as the feasibility of taking
additional steps to limit pollution from
entering the main branch of Mill Creek
via Fulton Creek or the southwest branch
of Mill Creek.
Routing:
Delegation:
Written By:
May 13, 2002
File: 2002PWD053
3. That the Administration report back on
any position the City may want to
present to Alberta Environment and
Environment Canada relative to the
cleaning up on the North Saskatchewan
River and its connecting system of
streams within Edmonton.
Report
1. The following reports on the ongoing
surveillance, facility winterization, and
pollution abatement measures requested
in the first part of the motion.
 The Mill Creek Oil Removal Facility
was constructed in 1999 in response
to on-going discharges of pollutants,
and in particular hydrocarbons, into
Mill Creek. This facility is designed
to provide pollutant containment and
removal by means of a hydraulic
gate and skimmer belt. The facility
was not originally intended to
operate during the winter months.
 A monitoring and assessment
program was initiated in July 2000 to
optimize the facility’s operation and
evaluate its performance. The
facility is considered a success as it
has repeatedly intercepted oil spills
and thereby protected water quality
downstream of Outfall #196 during
the spring, summer and fall months.
During operation from July 2000 to
August 2001, the facility captured
approximately 1,400L of oil from six
events.
 The facility was shut down in early
December 2001 prior to ice
formation, and the hydraulic gate
opened. About one week following
the shutdown, approximately 1,600L
Transportation and Public Works Committee
W. D. Burn
L. Gyurek/K. Sawatzky
Asset Management and Public Works Department
(Page 1 of 3)
G
1
a
Sanitary Sewage and Pollutants Draining into Mill Creek (A. Bolstad)
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of oil was discharged into the Mill
Creek storm system. This oil passed
through the facility, and required a
$57,000 cleanup effort in Mill Creek
ravine. This event demonstrated the
need for the facility to be winterized
in order to protect Mill Creek from
oil contamination on a year-round
basis.
The City’s investigation confirmed
that the December 2001 spill
occurred in the southeast industrial
sector of the Mill Creek/Fulton
Creek Basin. During the December
2001 spill event, samples were
collected by both the City and
Alberta Environment staff and tested
for hydrocarbons. Despite extensive
chemical analyses, it has proven
difficult to characterize the chemical
composition of the oil spill, and
identify the source.
The City is conducting an on-going
investigation to locate the source of
the December 2001 spill. A number
of locations in the storm sewer trunk
system were monitored for the
presence of hydrocarbons in late
April and it is proposed to further
monitor these sites during the
summer and fall of 2002.
Concurrent with this surveillance
effort, the performance of the Mill
Creek Oil Removal Facility has been
reviewed. An early finding is that
the hydraulic gate could remain
closed throughout the winter months
without ice buildup causing damage
to the facility. The gate was
therefore closed on a trial basis for
the balance of the 2001/2002 winter.
(Page 2 of 3)
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Based on the experience gained in
the 2001/2002 winter season, steps
are being taken and an action plan
implemented to keep ice from
forming to enable the facility to
operate year-round. This action plan
includes a number of elements to
fully winterize the facility by
November 2002. No cost estimates
are available at this time. The
elements of this action plan are not
budgeted by Drainage Services in
2002.
In April 2002, two incidents
occurred in the Mill Creek basin
resulting in a total of approximately
1,800L of oil being captured at the
facility. Samples collected during
this period by the City have been
tested for hydrocarbon content.
Preliminary laboratory results
indicate that the hydrocarbon
pollutant discharged during April
2002 is similar to the previous
discharge in 2001.
The installation in late April of
temporary sampling devices at the
various upstream storm sewer
manholes has proven helpful. This
information has helped to better
define the likely area from which
these multiple spills have originated.
It is not yet clear if we are dealing
with a single release location.
In addition to facility modifications,
an effort is underway to develop
additional measures to limit pollution
from entering the main branch of the
Mill Creek storm sewer. The
concept under development is the
Sanitary Sewage and Pollutants Draining into Mill Creek (A. Bolstad)
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installation of a number of oil
separators in the Mill Creek storm
system to remove oil pollutants
under baseflow conditions. There is
currently no funding program in
place to implement these
modifications.
The potential for pollutants to enter
Mill Creek via Fulton Creek or the
southwest branch of Mill Creek was
examined. Site investigation in
December 2001 determined no
evidence of oil contaminants evident
in the southwest branch of Mill
Creek, or upstream in Fulton Creek
or Mill Creek.
2. The following reports on the relationship
with Alberta Environment and
Environment Canada, as requested in the
second part of the motion.
 The City works co-operatively to
maintain and improve water quality
with local industries, the province,
and the federal government. With
regards to the December 2001 Mill
Creek oil spill, Alberta Environment
and City staff are working together
to share results of sample analyses
and jointly conduct site inspections.
 The current relationship with Alberta
Environment is one of sharing
information and coordinating joint
studies involving water quality
issues. The role of Environment
Canada in surface water quality
generally arises from issues related
to the Fisheries Act or discharges of
CEPA-toxic compounds.
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If, in addition to the Mill Creek
facility upgrades, a number of oil/grit
separators are to be installed in the
Mill Creek storm system, the City
may consider requesting Alberta
Environment and Environment
Canada to contribute towards the
cost of providing these additional
pollution prevention measures.
Budget/Financial Implications
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The cost to winterize the Mill Creek
Spill Containment facility has not yet
been determined, but is not budgeted in
the Drainage Program for 2002.
There will be a City share required for
any additional pollution prevention
measures jointly funded with the federal
and provincial governments.
Background Information Available on
Request
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(Page 3 of 3)
Sanitary Sewage and Pollutants Draining
into Mill Creek. Memorandum of April
10, 2002 from Bill Burn, General
Manager of Asset Management and
Public Works Department.