Multi-System DWQMS Operational Plan Manual (QMS SYS-OP PLAN)
Drinking Water Quality Management System
Operational Plan Manual
The Township of North Glengarry
90 Main Street South, Alexandria, ON K0C 1A0
www.northglengarry.ca
Table of Contents
1. Quality Management System 3
2. QMS System Policy 4
3. Commitment and Endorsement 5
4. QMS Representative 6
5. Document and Records Control 8
6. Drinking Water System 9
7. Risk Assessment 18
8. Risk Assessment Outcomes 19
9. Organizational Structure, Roles, Responsibilities and Authorities 25
10. Competencies 31
11. Personnel Coverage 35
12. Communications 36
13. Essential Supplies and Services 37
14. Review and Provision of Infrastructure 39
15. Infrastructure Maintenance, Rehabilitation and Renewal 40
16. Sampling, Testing and Monitoring 43
17. Measurement and Recording Equipment Calibration and Maintenance 44
18. Emergency Management 45
19. Internal Audits 46
20. Management Review 47
21. Continual Improvement 48
List of Appendices 49
1. Quality Management System
The Township of North Glengarry has developed this QMS Operational Plan Manual in response to the requirements of the Municipal Drinking Water Licensing Program under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
This manual, along with the procedures and other documents to which it refers, forms the basis of North Glengarry’s Drinking Water Quality Management System (QMS). The scope of the operations covered by this Plan includes the following operational subsystems:
1. The Alexandria Drinking Water System, and
2. The Glen Robertson Drinking Water System.
Even though the facilities listed above are distinct operational subsystems as defined by the DWQMS, the Township of North Glengarry has included these facilities in a single Plan because they share common:
o Top Management,
o Operations Management,
o Operations Staff, and
o Ownership.
Where appropriate, this Operational Plan and its associated procedures make explicitly clear those areas where facility-specific information is being provided.
2. QMS System Policy
The following policy is recognized by the Township of North Glengarry as being an important
foundational element of its Quality Management System. It will be communicated to the Owner
(represented by the Mayor and Council of North Glengarry), operating authority personnel,
goods and services providers and the public according to the QMS Communications Procedure
(QMS SYS-P9) found in the Appendices of this document.
Drinking Water Quality Management System Policy
The Township of North Glengarry is committed to:
· Providing a safe and reliable supply of drinking water to all of its customers,
· Meeting or exceeding the requirements of all legislation and regulations applicable to drinking water, and
· Maintaining and continually improving its Quality Management System.
3. Commitment and Endorsement
This Operational Plan is endorsed by the system Owner and Operating Authority, the Township of North Glengarry.
The Mayor and Councillors of North Glengarry, representing the Owner, acknowledge their responsibility to ensure the provision of all necessary resources for the maintenance of:
· The waterworks infrastructure, and
· The Quality Management System.
Top Management of the Operating Authority, represented by the Township’s senior management team comprised of the Public Works Manager, the Treasurer, and the Clerk Administrator, commits to:
· Ensure a Quality Management System is in place that meets the requirements of the Drinking Water Quality Management Standard,
· Ensure that the Operating Authority is aware of all applicable legislative and regulatory requirements,
· Effectively communicate the Quality Management System according to the communications procedure in this Operational Plan, and
· Determine, obtain or provide the resources needed to maintain and continually improve the Quality Management System.
The DWQMS Representative, appointed by Top Management of the Operating Authority, understands and acknowledges the responsibilities inherent to the role, and commits to:
· Administer the Quality Management System by ensuring that processes and procedures needed for the Quality Management System are established and maintained,
· Report to Top Management on the performance of the Quality Management System and any need for improvement,
· Ensure that current versions of documents required by the Quality Management System are being used at all times,
· Ensure that personnel are aware of all applicable legislative and regulatory requirements that pertain to their duties for the operation of the subject system, and
· Promote awareness of the Quality Management System throughout the Operating Authority.
Signed, on behalf of the OwnerDate / Mayor
Grant Crack
Date / Clerk Administrator
Terry Hart (QMS Top Management)
Signed, on behalf of the Operating Authority
Date / Public Works Manager
Andre Bachand (QMS Top Management)
Date / Treasurer
Johanna Levac (QMS Top Management)
Date / Water Works Manager
Dean McDonald (QMS Representative)
Date / Water Works Foreman
Guy Girard
For signed copy, please visit the North Glengarry Township Office located at 90 Main Street South, Alexandria, Ontario.
QMS Representative
Top Management of the Township of North Glengarry has appointed and authorized its Waterworks Manager, Dean McDonald, as QMS Representative.
In addition to the commitment made in Element 3, Commitment and Endorsement, and the responsibilities detailed in Element 9, Organizational Structure, Roles, Responsibilities and Authorities, the Waterworks Manager acknowledges that the role of QMS Representative requires him to:
o Be familiar with the drinking-water system of the Township of North Glengarry,
o Have knowledge of best practices for drinking-water systems,
o Have a thorough understanding of the DWQMS,
o Demonstrate his understanding of the importance of management commitment,
o Be familiar with audit principles and what is needed to demonstrate that DWQMS requirements have been met to an auditor,
o Be familiar with applicable legislative and regulatory requirements, and
o Understand the importance of developing and maintaining good, open communication with Top Management.
4. Document and Records Control
The Township of North Glengarry recognizes effective document and records control as being a key element in the successful implementation and maintenance of its drinking water quality management system. With this in mind, comprehensive procedures for control of both documents (QMS SYS-P1) and records (QMS SYS-P2) have been developed and are included in the Appendices of this Plan.
The acknowledged benefits of the implementation of these procedures include:
o The integrity of the information contained in the Operational Plan is ensured.
o Training of new personnel is facilitated.
o Procedures are consistent in content, format, and currency, and are more likely to be correctly followed.
o The most up-to-date versions of documents are easily retrievable by the people who need them.
o Conformance audits and compliance inspections are facilitated.
o Due diligence is demonstrated.
o Owner and consumer confidence is promoted.
o Internal and external communications are facilitated.
o Decision making is made more focused and consistent.
Over time, the QMS Operational Plan and its associated procedures will change. Recognizing this, the QMS Representative will ensure that training of existing personnel and new hires includes these fundamental instructions to staff with respect to document control:
o Documents can be changed (by following the appropriate process) but records cannot,
o Always check that the version of the document you are using is the most current, and
o Always communicate changes that affect your drinking water system to the QMS Representative so that timely updates to the QMS can be made.
Document: includes a sound recording, video tape, film, photograph, chart, graph, map, plan, survey, book of account, and information recorded or stored by means of any device.
Record: a document stating results achieved or providing proof of activities performed.
5. Drinking Water System
As introduced earlier in this Operational Plan, the portfolio of drinking water assets owned and operated by the Township of North Glengarry and applicable under the Municipal Drinking Water Licensing Program includes two distinct operational subsystems:
1. The Alexandria Drinking Water System, and
2. The Glen Robertson Drinking Water System.
5.1 The Alexandria Drinking Water System
The Alexandria Drinking Water System is comprised of a Class 3 Water Treatment Facility and a Class 1 Distribution System.
Facility description: / Surface water supply/conventionalCapacity: / 5640 m3/day
Service area: / Alexandria, ON
Service population: / 3500
In-service date: / 1952
Raw water source: / Mill Pond
Disinfection method: / Chlorine
5.1.1 Owner and Operating Authority
o Owner: The Township of North Glengarry.
o Operating Authority: The Township of North Glengarry.
5.1.2 Description of Raw Water Source
The plant draws water from the Alexandria Mill Pond, which is supplied by the Garry River System. Raw water temperatures fluctuate from near freezing in winter to near 30oC in summer months. Raw water turbidity generally ranges between 1 and 4 NTU.
In winter months manganese becomes a problem. To reduce manganese levels in treated water, potassium permanganate is added in the raw well.
Raw Water Characteristics (2008 Data)Temperature / pH / Colour / Turbidity
Average / 11.55oC / 7.10 / 93 / 2.21 NTU
Range / 1.5 - 26.7oC / 6.64 - 7.51 / 32 - 211 / 0.58 - 9.99 NTU
5.1.3 System Description
Intake
The raw water intake works consists of the intake structure located in the Alexandria Mill Pond approximately 425m southwest of the water treatment plant comprising a vertical 1.5m diameter, 760mm high precast concrete pipe placed on a concrete slab housed in a 2.4 by 2.4 m timber crib including screening. The intake pipe is approximately 425 m of 350 mm diameter asbestos cement pipe from the intake crib to the low lift chamber well.
Low Lift Chamber (Raw Well)
The raw water is conveyed by gravity through the intake pipe to the low lift chamber/raw well, including two coarse screens, raw water well with powdered activated carbon feeding system and low lift pump compartments. The two coarse screen units separate the raw well and low lift pump compartments. The raw well is gravity fed, and the level in the well fluctuates with the level in the Alexandria Mill Pond. The water level in the well is monitored with a Grey Line sensing unit with an alarm to warn of a low raw water level.
Two 14.9 KW vertical turbine low lift pumps are located in the low lift chamber/raw well. Each pump is rated at 6200 m3/day.
Flash Mixing and Coagulation/Flocculation
The low lift pumps lift raw water from the low lift chamber past the coagulation injection point, through a flash mixer, magmeter and an actuated butterfly valve, then discharge the water into the flocculating chambers.
The water treatment plant uses PAX XL-6 as a coagulant, which is supplied by Kemira in bulk shipments and is stored on-site in two storage tanks. The coagulant is pumped via a prominent sigma pump from the storage tank to the injection point which is located just before the flash mixer.
After the raw water passes through the flash mixer it goes through a magmeter, which records the volume of water used in cubic meters and the velocity in litres per second. This information is recorded electronically on a computer at the water treatment plant and on a 7 day recording chart. The water is then directed through a butterfly valve and then into the flocculating chamber. The butterfly valve is controlled by an air-powered actuator and the rate at which the water flows is dependent on the level in the flocculating chamber. The valve will open and/or close based on the demand. The level in the flocculating chamber is monitored by a grey line sensing unit.
Flocculation takes place in two concrete flocculating chambers that operate in series, each equipped with a variable speed agitator. A polymer injection system is installed at the beginning of the first chamber. The polymer used is Magnafloc LT27AG, which is made on-site and transferred to a storage tank. The polymer is then pumped by a prominent sigma pump to the injection point.
Sedimentation and Filtration
Sedimentation occurs in four concrete sedimentation tanks operating in parallel. Each sedimentation tank is baffled, equipped with tube settlers and bottom drains that control sludge build-up. The sludge is drained to a sludge tank. Settled water from the sedimentation tank then flows into a conduit leading to the filters.
Filtration is provided by four filters with mixed media operating in parallel, and each capable of filtering a maximum flow of 2003m3/d. Each filter is complete with surface wash facilities, support gravel, and a bed of mixed anthracite and sand. The under drain systems in filter 1&2 were replaced in 2002 and do not require gravel.
Water flows by gravity through the filter media and is discharged into individual channels which are equipped with on-line turbidity meters. The filter effluent is then directed to a header pipe that directs water to the clearwells.
Filter Backwash
The filtration system is equipped with an automatic filter backwash system; however manual backwashes can also be initiated if needed. The automated system consists of two backwash pumps: pump #1 rated at 114 l/s and pump #2 rated at 120l/s, a surface wash system and a wastewater drainage system. The filters are set to automatically backwash if the loss of head reaches 60%.
When a filter is backwashed the filter influent valve is shut. This valve is located in the filter. The remaining water is then filtered to the clearwell until the water level is below the overflow trough. At this point, the effluent valve closes and the surface wash begins and directs pressurized treated water to scour the top portion of he filter media. After a timed surface wash, one of the backwash pumps will start - forcing treated water up through the filter media into the overflow trough and finally into the drain.
The wastewater leaves the filter through the drain and is directed through piping to the sludge holding tank. The sludge holding tank is equipped with a supernatant overflow pipe which drains into the sanitary sewer.
Monitoring Filter Effluent
There are four on-line turbidity meters that continuously monitor the filter effluent from each filter. The turbidity is then recorded electronically on a computer at the water treatment plant and on a 7 day recording chart. These meters are also connected to the alarm system and if the turbidity reading is above 0.7 NTU for more than 15 mins, an alarm will sound in the water treatment plant and the on-call operator is notified by the alarm central.