The Lansdowne Wastewater Treatment Centre (WWTC) in Prince George, BC treats municipal wastewater from approximately 65,000 residents of Prince George. The WWTC currently discharges tertiary treated water via an outfall to the Fraser River as regulated by permit through the Environmental Management Act. The permit regulates discharge concentrations of 5-day Biochemical Oxygen Demand and Total Suspended Solids.

The City of Prince George must prepare and implement a Receiving Environment Monitoring Plan and Program in consultation with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (MOE). The Program must be carried out to determine the following parameters: i) extend of influence zone; ii) water quality; and iii) effect upon biological community.

The City is seeking proposals from an experienced environmental professional to develop and implement a WWTC Receiving Environment Monitoring Plan and Program to ensure the City of Prince George is compliant with permit requirements and to ensure the Fraser River’s water quality is not negatively impacted by the discharge.

The scope of work for this Project includes the following tasks:

• Confirm dispersion of outfall by performing a dye test and obtaining aerial drone footage of the event prior to development of monitoring program.
• Develop a water monitoring program that determines the following parameters:
  • i) extend of influence;
  • ii) water quality, and,
  • iii) effect upon biological community.
• Consult with MOE to confirm selection of sampling stations, parameters, frequency, methods and analysis.
• Perform monitoring program over three-year period, including collecting physical samples from river environment.
• Annual analysis of results from water quality monitoring program.
• Prepare and submit annual monitoring reports to MOE over the three-year period. Summary of results, including interpretation of the effects upon the receiving waters to MOE, must be in a form that is suitable for MOE reporting and for release to the public.
• Compare results to previous years to identify trends and provide recommendations to the City regarding if upgrades or changes are needed.

The development of the Plan is expected prior to freshet in 2021, and monitoring will occur through this contract over three years (2021-2024).This solicitation may lead to sequential or concurrent negotiations with one or more Proponents offering the most advantageous proposal(s), or to the creation of a Contract without negotiations.