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History

1893 – 1960s

• 1893 – Construction of collection, conveyance and treatment systems in

Kingston

• 1960s – Start of construction of housing schemes needing centralized

sewage services

Kingston – one of the earliest cities in the New World to have constructed a

centralized, municipal collection, conveyance, treatment and disposal system.

This system served the Municipality of Kingston (demarcation) and sections of this

system are still in use.

The remaining sections of the City of Kingston were served by pit latrines and

soak-away pits.

The expansion of the City of Kingston create a demand for sewage capacity

leading to expansion of the system with the construction of the

1. Western Treatment Works in the 1930s

2. Greenwich Treatment Works in the 1960s

These facilities treatment modules consist of:

• Grit Chamber

• Primary Sedimentation Systems

• Sludge Digester

• Septage Collection

The level of treatment attained was primary.

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In other parts of the island during this time there was no other municipal sewerage

system and package treatment systems could only be found in some of the hotels

dotting the coast.

Towards the end of the period a STP was built to serve a small section of the city

of Montego Bay. This was a Trickling Filter type Secondary Treatment Plant with

facility to receive septage.

1960s - 1997

1997 – Implementation of the new Sewage Regulation governing the construction,

operations and maintenance of sewage collection conveyance treatment and

disposal.

Policies and Regulations

• Regulation

• Town & Country Act (1958) • NRCA Act (1996)

• Government Policies

Sewage Discharge Standards

• BOD 30 mg/l

• TSS 30 mg/l

• Faecal Coliform 1000 MPM

Main Players

1. Approval and Monitoring Agencies

• EHU/MOH • NWC

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• WRA

• NRCA

• Parish Councils

2. Developers

• NHT

• NWC

• NHDC (HAJ)

• Private Home Developers

• Hotel Developers

• MOH (Hospitals)

3. Engineering Services

• NWC • Carib Engineering Ltd.

• Private Engineers and Engineering Companies

4. Contractors

• Private Entities

5. Operators

• NWC • Hotel Owners and Operators

• MOH

Special Role of NWC

• Involved in all aspects of process except construction

• Set Policies, Regulation and Guidelines

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• Only operator of domestic sewage systems

• Only operator/owner/constructors of large sewage treatment systems

• Only owner/operator of facilities for handling septage

• In the process of building /commissioning into service major urban

municipal systems

1. Negril

2. Montego Bay

3. Ocho Rios

The National Water Commission (NWC) operates some 50 sewage (wastewater)

treatment plants island wide. The types of sewage treatment facilities used include

oxidation ditch, activated sludge, waste stabilization pond and primary treatment.

Central sewerage facilities are located in Kingston and St. Andrew, South-east St.

Catherine (Portmore), Montego Bay in St. James, Ocho Rios in St. Ann, and Negril

in Westmoreland.

In addition, the NWC has assumed responsibility for several small sewerage

systems, which are associated with housing developments in various parts of the

country. Packaged sewage treatment plants are used to provide treatment of the

sewage collected in these small systems.

Of all the 50 sewage treatment facilities, only Greenwich (built in the 1960’s),

Western (built in the 1930’s) and the trickling filter systems were built by the

NWC or its forerunners. All the other facilities were built by various housing

developers and subsequently handed-over to the National Water Commission for

operation and maintenance.

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Types and Location of facilities

(Please see attached map for locations)

Mechanised or ponding systems were the order of the day

1. Primary Sedimentation/Chlorination systems

2. Waste Stabilization Ponds

3. Aerated lagoon System

4. Trickling Filter System

5. Package Plants

6. Oxidation Ditches

7. Extended Aeration Systems

8. Contact Stabilization Systems

9. Proprietorial Package Plant Systems

Challenges

1. Lack of Governmental will in the implementation of policies or understanding of the problem of sewage management

2. Monopoly of NWC in domestic sewage operation stifled the development of sector

3. Lack of interest in O&M by NWC resulted in the deterioration/abandonment of systems without replacement

4. Lack of investment within the system 5. Lack of proper and frequent monitoring of systems effluent allowed for the

deterioration of standards 6. Inability to force action from the NWC regarding O&M and Effluent

Discharge 7. Little or no agitation from Civil Society for changes

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Status: 1997 – Present

1997 – Implementation of the new Sewage Regulation governing the construction, operations and maintenance of sewage collection conveyance treatment and disposal.

Policies and Regulations

• Regulation

No changes excepts for Sewage Regulations

• Government Policies***

o Provision of services for Industrial Needs

o Expansion/provision of services into high density areas

o Improvement in services to protect the environment

o Control industrial discharge

Sewage Discharge Standards

• BOD 20 mg/l

• TSS 20 mg/l

• Total nitrate 10 mg/l

• Total Phoshate 4 mg/l

• Faecal Coliform 100 MPM

Main Players

1. Approval and Monitoring Agencies

• EHU/MOH • NEPA

• WRA

• Parish Councils

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2. Developers

• NHT • NWC

• MOH

• NHDC (HAJ)

• Private Home Developers

• Hotel Developers

• MOH (Hospitals)

3. Engineering Services

• NWC • Carib Engineering Ltd. • Private Engineers and Engineering Companies

4. Contractors

• Private Entities

5. Operators

• NWC • Private Operators

o Rose Hall o DNM Ltd o White water

• Hotel Owners and Operators

• MOH

6. Others

• Environmentalist

• NGOs

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• Community Based Organisations

• End Users

Type of Systems

1. Primary Sedimentation/Chlorination systems

2. Waste Stabilization Ponds

3. Reed Beds in various combinations

4. Biogas Digesters in combination with other treatment modules

5. Aerated lagoon System

6. Trickling Filter System

7. Package Plants

8. Oxidation Ditches

9. Extended Aeration Systems

10. Contact Stabilization Systems

11. Proprietorial Package Plant Systems

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Maps & Locations

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KINGSTON & ST ANDREW

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ST CATHERINE

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PORT & SPANISH TOWN

SR

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ST ANN & ST MARY

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ST JAMES (MONTEGO BAY) ST JA

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WESTMORELAND (NEGRIL)

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Changes from 1997 - Present

1. Tighter Environmental Laws, Standards & Regulation

2. Greater interest and scrutiny by interested parties (Environmentalist, end

users, etc,)

3. Breaking of monopoly

4. Introduction of new technologies and process especially aimed at reduction in energy usage and small to medium systems (EHU, SRC)

o Special mention of Biogas Digester usage:

� Industrial � Agricultural � Domestic

5. Increase in the pool of engineers, designers and equipment suppliers

6. Greater awareness of role to be played by NWC

7. Attempt at introduction of new energy sources for sewage treatment

8. Increase in the number of small systems constructed and in operation

9. Trend towards sewering of major urban centres by the NWC/GOJ

Role of NWC

1. Still the main player in the industry

2. Agitates for tariff increase

3. In the process of replacing/constructing sewage systems in major urban

centres

4. Plans to sewer major urban centre

5. Is inefficient in O&M with the resultant problems

6. Constructed the Soap Berry Waste Stabilization and Wetlands

7. Closed the Greenwich and Western Treatment Works

8. Increase sewerage within the Kingston Metropolis

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9. Commissioned into service major systems in:

i. Mo Bay

ii. Ocho Rios

iii. Negril

10. Plans the redirection of sewage from Portmore to Soapberry and

decommissioning of three major STPs in Portmore

11. Construction of sewerage system for Port Antonio

Role of other Operators

• Rose Hall

• DML

Role of other Players

1. NEPA

2. EHU

3. SRC

4. Developers

5. Environmentalist et al.

6. End Users

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The Way Forward

The vision of Sewage management as an Industry, capable of being

a major driver in the economic wellbeing of the nation.

How?

Viewing each component of the industry as being able to produce a

profit or at least be self-sustaining.

NB

• Except for in the cases of sewering Urban Centres, the capital costs for the systems are borne by the end users and are paid at the front end of the deal.

• Users in urban centres with existing dwellings would be expected to pay the capital costs via the tariffs.

• The tariff being charged is payable by all end users, even those who paid the Capital Cost in the home purchase

• There are no provisions for Replacement Cost which would become the responsibility of the Owner who in the majority of cases is the NWC i.e. Government of Jamaica i.e. the Taxpayer

• Utilization of by-products of the treatment process does not affect tariff but will improve revenue

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UTILIZATION OF PRODUCTS/BYPRODUCTS OF SEWAGE TREATMENT FACILITY

Economic viability of:

• Collection • Conveyance • Treatment • Reuse/Disposal

o Sale of products and by-products

Activated Sludge Process

Primary Treatment

Equalization Tank – Optional depending on size

Pump Station – Optional depending on topography and powered by RENEWABLE ENERGY

Bar Screen

Grit Chamber - Grit to be washed with treated effluent, disinfected and used for landfill cover or base material for roads, etc.

Primary Clarifier - Inorganic material to be washed with treated effluent, disinfected and used in the Construction Industry

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Secondary Treatment

` Aeration Basin

Secondary Clarifier Sludge Digester

Tertiary Treatment

Multiple methods of tertiary treatment

1. Lagoons with water lily (reaped and used in animal feeds or manure)

2. Reed Beds with various types of utile reeds: a. Nativa b. Sorghum

Effluent Discharge

Multiple uses for end product:

1. Reuse for washing of by-products during Primary Treatment

2. Cooling liquid in industries 3. Aquifer Recharge 4. Agricultural Irrigation

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Sludge Digestion

Sludge Digester – Various manner of digestion with different end products:

Drying Beds – After drying will be used as manure in agriculture

Energy Conversion – Decreasing the water content using hydraulic presses to remove the water, burning the sludge in a kiln and converting the heat energy to electrical energy for:

1. Use in the treatment process 2. Sale of excess to National Grid 3. The inorganic slag which remains after

burning is to be used in landfills and road base.

Utile Gas (methane) is produced and is also usable as an energy source for the treatment process and for sale

`

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Earthen System

1. Reed Beds

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2. Tile Fields

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3. Polishing Ponds & Lagoons

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4. Biogas Digesters

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Advantages

1. Used singularly as the secondary/tertiary module 2. Produce utile crops (Sativa Grass, Sorghum, etc.) 3. Gas production 4. Produce effluent of standards acceptable to the monitoring

agencies 5. Minimum O & M costs 6. Minimum replacement costs

Targeting energy efficiency

Who?

Driven by Investors, Engineers, Designers and Inventers of new technologies

Main Problem

Cost of energy supply

Solutions

1. Design system without mechanised component a. More applicable for small systems

2. Use energy efficient mechanical components 3. Use renewable energy sources

a. Wind b. Solar c. Biogas d. Sludge to electricity conversion

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WIND ENERGY

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SOLAR ENERGY FOR INDUSTRIAL USAGE

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The Economics of Sewage Management

Who Pays?

Capital Costs

• Housing Development (new)

o Capital Cost of system incorporated in the cost to home

buyers

• Existing Housing Scheme (Urban Sewering)

o NWC/GOJ

• Industrial and Trade Waste

o New Development

� Developers/GOJ

o Existing Development

� End Users/GOJ

Tariff

• Purpose of tariff

o O & M

Replacement of System after usefulness

• Who pays for replacement of systems when the tariff does not

include this component?

o NWC adds a cess for the replacement/repair of systems

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o Is this extended to other service providers and if not, how

will the replacement of their system be financed?

Operation and Maintenance

Personnel and Training

• Adequate Personnel and training levels

O&M and equipment

• Modern, easily operated and safe equipment, PPE

Fines and Penalties

• Enforceable

Methodology of changing the paradigm shift

• Buy-in of all members of the sector including Developers, Design

Engineers, Operators, End Users and Environmentalists

• Education of the End Users

• Agitation of the Environmentalist

• Inspiration of Design Engineers

o Developing cheaper, more easily operated systems

• Investment of the Developers

• Increase in the pool of Designers and Engineers

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