Team

The Environmental Services Department is a multi-disciplined group that covers expertise in engineering, legislative interpretation and compliance, Risk mitigation, and hard services operation:

• Director – Perry Decola
• Water Treatment – Supervisor of Treatment, 24/7 Shift Treatment Operators (9)
• Compliance (Water, Wastewater, Storm Water and Solids) – Supervisor of Environmental Compliance, Environmental Specialist, Locates coordination, Environmental Coordination (4)
• Water Distribution & Services – Supervisors, Inspector, Locator, Distribution Operators, Casual Operator (14)
• Wastewater and Storm Water – Supervisor, Inspector, Wastewater Operators (10)
• Environmental Management (Licencing, ECA’s and Remediation) – Environmental Manager, Environmental Engineer, Project Manager, GIS/Clerk, Linear Engineer, Admin (7)

Responsibilities

Environmental Services provides operational, environmental mitigation, legislative approval and regulatory compliance for the Corporations vertical and linear infrastructure for water, wastewater, and stormwater systems.

The department functions as the Operating Authority for two drinking water systems, as the contract administration of Sewage treatment plant and as the Operating Authority for the storm water system that collects and treats storm water from the Corporations residential and commercial lands that manages and treats storm water prior it is discharged to receiving surface water sources.

• Internal stakeholders: Council, Finance, Engineering Development Services, Transportation Operation Services, and Corporate Services
• External stakeholders: Federal Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Environment Conservation and Parks, Boards, Ratepayers, and residents impacted by diminution of waste streams.

Governance

Municipal guiding documents and plans that govern the work of the Environmental Services Department:

• Environmental Protection Act (R.S.O. 1990, c. E.19) – Governs the powers, duties, and responsibilities with regards to the discharge of solids,
  liquids, or gases to the environment.
• Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act (S.O. 2016, c. 12, Sched. 1) – Provides protection to the natural environment and human health
  by reducing Greenhouse gas emissions and minimizes waste generation.
• Asset Management Plan (City of Belleville Asset Management Plan) – Utilized to effectively manage and derive value from existing and new
  assets to deliver services at expected levels to the community.
• Clean Water Act (S.O. 2006, c. 22) – Provides guidance for source water protection regarding activities and functions.
• Water Resources Act (R.S.O. 1990, c. O.40) – Regulates the taking of water.
• Safe Drinking Water Act (S.O. 2002, c. 32) – Regulates the operation and function of Drinking water facilities and outlines the duties and
  responsibilities of individuals in the Corporation.

Trends

Legislative/Governance

• Storm and wastewater sampling program creation under the Consolidated Linear Infrastructure Environmental Compliance Approval.
• O.Reg 208/19 of the Environmental Compliance Act creating entire new operational and compliance requirements for Storm and Wastewater systems that have never existed.
• Under O.Reg 453/07 of the Safe Drinking Water Act – a new 10 year financial plan will be required in 2024 for the corporation to meet its requirements to renew its Operational Licenses for the drinking water system.
• Preparation of GHG inventories and waste management audits to determine compliance with 2025 conditions in the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act.

Economic

• Wastewater system rehabilitation costs will require user rate adjustments to become sustainable.
• Inflationary impacts on materials, supplies, and services rising faster than consumer price index.
• Competitive hiring market for certified operators.
• Materials and chemicals for treatment have increased by 15% year over year.

Technology

• Many opportunities for Information Technology advancement and new technology deployment to enhance internal efficiencies and external engagement and efficiency in service delivery.
• Technological and lifecycle upgrades in Supervisory Control & Data Acquisition (SCADA) hardware and software are part of the master plan program to map out a stable replacement program for control systems.