New Facility Classification Model for Water Systems in B.C. & Yukon

November 17, 2017

British Columbia and Yukon Territory have embarked upon a new classification system for water systems that promises to strengthen the oversight of operational responsibilities, recruitment, training, and the development of System Risk Management Plans.

After two years of development, the new classification system is rolling out across the province and territory, and is the first of its type in North America. The feedback has been positive and it could be expanded to other regions in Canada.

The process began following a 2015 multi-stakeholder review of the water and wastewater treatment systems in British Columbia. The review identified significant opportunities for improvement to the classification system currently used in the province. Among the considerations, the review recommended that the province:

• De-emphasize population as a factor in the classification of systems and facilities;
• Make the classification models and related business processes more open and transparent;
• Update the models to better reflect current technologies; and
• Consider the full scope of Operator responsibilities when classifying a facility or system, i.e., from watershed to tap, and drain to watershed.

With these considerations in mind, engineers at the Ministries of Health and Environment, with the support of a technical committee of the Environmental Operators Certification Program (EOCP), initiated the development of a new set of classification models from the ground up, unconstrained by existing templates. Eventually, EOCP took the lead and has continued to develop and refine the new facility/system classification models ever since by engaging teams of chief operators and experts. Now, the models are now ready for broader industry consultation.

New classification models
Jenni Green is a technical expert working with the EOCP, who works with senior operators and owners to get all water and wastewater facilities in B.C. and the Yukon classified using the new facility classification models.  Green said, “I started classifying facilities using the new model in September of this year. To date, we have reclassified 70 facilities all over the both provinces from Vancouver Island, to the Yukon, to the Kootenays.”

By: Kalpna Solanki

Image source: https://www.innovation.ca/story/rethinking-waste-water

Read the full article here: https://www.watercanada.net/feature/new-facility-classification-model-for-water-systems-in-b-c-yukon/