Best Environmental Practices for Managing Energy, Water and Wastewater at Off-
grid Mountain Facilities
Karen RollinsBackcountry Energy Environmental Solutions (BEES)
Sustainable Summits July 2014
www.beeshive.org
Approach
• Assimilate information about options for managing:1. Energy 3. Grey water2. Potable water 4. Black water
• Compare the technologies using criteria:– Cost– Reliability– Installation, operation, maintenance– Environment– Cultural value– Health & Safety– Planning & permitting
• Develop recommendations- BEES philosophy:• Reduce environmental impacts• Reduce the use of fossil fuels• Foster energy efficiency
Reduce the Need for Heat Energy
Alpine Club of Canada - Des Poilus Hut
• Energy is needed in the backcountry for heating, cooking, lighting, waste management, ventilation and communications
• Energy options include:– wood burning– propane– micro-hydro– photovoltaics– wind power
1. Energy
Criteria Comments
Installation operation maintenance
Very reliable, logs readily available, easy to operate
Environment Incomplete combustion results in air quality issues.Wood burning produces greenhouse gases.
Cultural value A fire may be desirable, traditional heat source
Health and safety
Some air quality issues, may be a fire hazard
Wood Burning
Criteria Comments
Installation operation maintenance
Reliable, readily available, functions well in cold temperatures
Environment Fossil fuel = greenhouse gas emissions, but lower than wood burningSome air quality issues (CO, NO, particulates)
Cultural value None
Health and safety
Lowest flammability rating of all fossil fuels
Propane
Wood Burning Stove vs Propane Stove
• Propane is 25% less expensive than wood burning once you consider transportation costs
• Propane requires half the number of helicopter flights than wood burning
• Propane is less polluting to the indoor and outdoor air quality
• Propane produces 15% less CO2 (greenhouse gas emissions)
Criteria Comments
Installation operation maintenance
Newer models are more reliable.Installation requires site assessment.
Environment Affects stream flow and aquatic life.Considered ‘clean’ powerSome visual and noise.
Cultural value May be seen as ‘green’
Health and safety
Normal electrical safety procedures
Planning and permitting
Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Parks Canada Waterpower Initiative, Dominion Water Power Act and Regulations
Micro-hydro
Criteria Comments
Installation operation maintenance
Reliable.Weak link = batteries
Environment No issues with soils, air quality, odour, noise, flora & fauna.Some visual impact, some issues with end of life recycling.
Cultural value May be seen as ‘green’
Health and safety
Normal electrical safety procedures
Photovoltaics
Criteria Comments
Installation operation maintenance
Choose harsh cold model Steps prior to installationAnnual maintenance
Environment No impact to soils, odour, air quality.Some visual impact, noise, birds & bats.No fossil fuel.
Cultural value May be seen as ‘green’ May be inappropriate invasion of natural surroundings
Health and safety
Normal electrical safety procedures, ice shedding, shadow flicker, helicopter flight path
Planning and permitting
Environment Canada
Wind Turbine
Recommendations: - Choose a wind turbine with proven success in harsh
cold climates
• Potable water = drinking water• Sources: snowmelt, streams, springs, glacial melt water• Treatment is required to kill or remove disease-causing
microorganisms: bacteria, protozoa, worms, viruses• Other issues: turbidity, heavy metals
2. Potable Water
Method Advantages Disadvantages
Boiling SimpleDoes not alter taste
Takes timeConsumes energyHepatitis not completely inactivated
Chemical treatment
Used anywhereDoes not consume energy
Takes timeTaste may be alteredCold water takes longer to disinfectTurbidity decreases effectiveness
Filtration(ceramic)
Simple procedureDoes not alter tasteDoes no consume energy
Equipment is fragile, needs cleaningDoes not remove viruses
UV treatment
Not as much energy as boilingDoes not alter taste
Reliable power source requiredInactivated micros not removedTurbidity decreases effectiveness
Potable Water Treatment Methods
• Grey water = kitchen waste water• Contains: soap, food particles, oil, grease, nutrients,
bacteria, viruses, chemicals• Objectives of grey water treatment are to:
– Control odours– Not provide an attraction for wildlife– Prevent contamination of groundwater and surface water– Prevent eutrophication of surface waters
3. Grey Water
Grey Water Grease Trap
Grey Water Dispersion Field
• Sieve under the sink to filter out large food particles
• Bucket carried out to drainage field• Mechanical processing: sand and gravel• Biological processing: bacteria on sand
and gravel decompose organic material
• Black water = sewage = urine, fecal waste, toilet paper• Objectives of black water management:
– control pollution on site– prevent disease through human contact
• Options for black water management in use in Canada’s alpine include:– barrel fly-out– incineration– composting– tertiary waste treatment– carry-out
4. Black Water
Criteria Comments
Installation operation maintenance
Simple method
Environment Requires sufficient soil, will not decompose under freezing T, can pollute ground and surface water, odours
Cultural value May be seen as having low environmental protection standards
Health and safety
No issues if operating properly
Planning and permitting
1 meter above ground water, 30 m from surface water
Pit Toilet
Criteria Comments
Installation operation maintenance
Reliable, requires access to helicopters and trained staff
Environment Functions in any environment.No local environmental impact to soil and water. Environmental impact from odours, noise, fossil fuel, risk of spill
Cultural value All waste removed is positive, helicopter use is negative
Health and safety
Maintenance staff may come into contact with barrel contents.
Planning and permitting
A permit is required to fly in the National Parks
Barrel Fly-out
Criteria Comments
Installation operation maintenance
Reliability depends on manufacturer, requires a custodian, propane and electric, alpine requires a longer burning time
Environment Odour and air quality depend on the manufacturer, no impact on local water or soils
Cultural value All waste removed - positive, odours and fossil fuels - negative
Health and safety
No issues
Planning and permitting
Permit may be required to deposit ash on site
Incinerating Toilet
Criteria Comments
Installation operation maintenance
Reliability is unpredictable: final product requires further treatment
Environment Requires a heat source, fossil fuels, leachate may pose a risk to ground and surface waters
Cultural value May be seen as ‘green’, warm seat, no odour
Health and safety
Risk to maintenance (respirator)
Planning and permitting
No regulations
Composting Toilet
Recommendations: - vertical chamber (first in – first out), bigger is better- source of heat – fossil fuels- electrical energy source to run the ventilation fan- knowledgeable staff to operate- end product (hazardous waste) needs further treatment
Vermicomposting
• Process of composting that uses worms and bacteria to convert solid waste into a stabilized and safe end product
Criteria Comments
Installation operation maintenance
Reliability varies, requires qualified technician
Environment Requires warm conditions, effluent may contain pharmaceuticals and synthetic hormones
Cultural value May be seen as responsible management, flush toilet is possible
Health and safety
No issues provided effluent is of high quality
Planning and permitting
Regular monitoring of effluent
Tertiary Waste Treatment
Criteria Comments
Installation operation maintenance
Purchase bags, education program and checking action to ensure compliance
Environment Requires 100% compliance, end disposal may have global environmental issues
Cultural value Individuals may feel good about carrying out their own waste and leaving no footprint or they may feel it is a burden
Health and safety
Some risk to the user
Planning and permitting
Regulations for disposal need to be developed
Carry Out
Urine Diversion (Source Separation)
• Involves separating urine from feces before they are allowed to mix (urine is sterile, feces contain pathogens)
• Urine may be dispersed on site in constructed leach field
• Evaporation of urine is a promising alternative to on site disposal
• May reduce the amount of remaining waste by 80-90%
Dehydrating Toilets
• Urine source separation combined with dehydration of the solids can reduce the amount of waste by 90%
• Pathogen elimination cannot be totally achieved with this method
• Dehydration will cease if the pile freezes• Urine Diversion dehydrating Toilets (UDDT)
– Ecosphere Technologies (France)
• When choosing a black water option consider:– Access– Environmental conditions (soils, temperature, proximity to
surface and ground water)– Amount of use (seasonal, number of visitors)– Energy requirements vs energy availability– Budget– Availability of resources (custodian, access to transportation,
level of skill required to operate the technology)– Health and safety codes– Land manager requirements
Black Water Option Selection
Decision Tree – Black Water
BEES B a c k c o u n t r y E n e r g y E n v i r o n m e n t a l S o l u t i o n s
www.beeshive.org