Spill Management for the Toronto AOC:

The Town of Richmond HillStudy

Sponsored by

Ministry of Environment and Energy

Introduction

One of the water pollution sources in the Toronto Area of Concern (AOC) is spills. Between 1988 and 2000, there were 2475 oil spills (estimated 830,600 L) and 1584 chemical spills (estimated 1,125,000 L) in Toronto, Richmond Hill, Markham, and Vaughan. Spills negatively affect air, water, and soil and their associated terrestrial and aquatic species. Recognizing the Toronto AOC’s restoration targets and priorities, Government of Canada’s Canada’s Great Lakes Sustainability Fund (GLSF), the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), the Town of Richmond Hill, and the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Energy’s Spills Action Centre (SAC) sponsored this study to evaluate spill characteristics and management options for southern York Region and the City of Toronto. The specific objectives of this study are to:

  • Review spill legislation
  • Compile a spill database
  • Analyze spill event characteristics
  • Evaluate preventive and control options for municipalities

This factsheet focuses on the study for the Town of Richmond Hill. Similar factsheetsfor the Town of Markham, City of Vaughan, and the City of Toronto are published separately.

Phase 1: Spill legislation

The legislative framework behind spill management of materials (including oil) in Canada spans through all levels of government, all the way to individual responsibility of the dischargers themselves. Regulations for prevention planning, notification to the proper authorities, clean-up and restoration of the natural environment, manifest themselves in many Federal Acts including the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, the Canada Shipping Act, the Emergency Plans Act; in the Federal Pnd Provincial Acts such as governments including the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, the Canada Shipping Act, the Emergency Plans Act, the Environmental Protection Act (Ontario) and the Ontario Water Resources Act; and municipal by-laws. The main focus of the regulations prescribed by these acts and others is to maintainkeep the integrity of the natural environment and to prevent any adverse effects to the natural environment by spills.

of substances that have the potential to do so.

Municipal sewer use by-laws can be areeffective ways to promote pollution prevention since they canand regulate activities that prevent to prevent spilled materials from entering sewers. However, there are not many cases where this is being done. The Town of Richmond Hill has currently no sewer use bylaws adopted particularly for spills. The Fire Department provides fire prevention, suppression and other emergency services to the Town of Richmond Hill and responds to a variety of calls including fires, medical assistance, rescue, auto extrication, public assistance, spills and release of materials hazardous to the environment. The Engineering and Public Works Department is responsible for over 90 activities that sustain the quality of life for the residents of Richmond Hill and it supports the Fire Department during a spill event.Liquids such as engine oil, paint, and cooking oil, contaminate and clog sewers creating expensive maintenance costs. The Town of Richmond Hilladvises residents not to pour down these materials into drains and recommends that these materials be taken to the hazardous waste depot at Toronto’s Keele Valley Landfill site.

Phase 2: Compilation of spill database

SAC records the majority of its spill events through a province wide toll-free number on a 24 hour-per-day basis. All occurrences reported to SAC are recorded on a computerized database management system called the Occurrence Report Information System (ORIS). Each occurrence is classified into one of four different types of occurrences: Spills, Notifications, Complaints and Other. The spill database includes date, municipality, owner name, address where a spill occurs, material type, estimated volume, description of the event, source, sector, reason, cause, estimated cleanup percentage, and impact. This database was developed primarily for the Ministry. In order to use the spill data for the purpose of municipal spill management, additional works are necessary. A general methodology to compile a spill database for municipal spill management is listed below:

  1. Request spill data from SAC and compare with municipal spill records such as occurrence, volume, material types, cause and reason, cleanup, and impact.
  2. Scrutinize spill data in terms of consistency and eliminate erroneous information.
  3. Create new fields to describe spill records such as location (roads, parking lots, storage yards, etc), material properties (density, boiling point, hazardous material classification, etc.) and so on.
  4. Assemble digital municipal infrastructure information such as sewershed, outfall locations, drainage system types, local environmental sensitive areas, etc.
  5. Geocode municipal addresses where spills occur.
  6. Compile all information into a database where updating, importing, exporting of data can be performed easily.

Phase 3: Characterization of spills

Over the period from 1988 to 2000, the annual number of oil spills in the Town of Richmond Hill (released to waterways)with water impacts)ranged fluctuates from 4 to 12 while the annual oil spill volume varieds between 450 to 26,800 L.. The following spill statistics are derived from the SAC’sspill data between 1988 and 2000. On the average, tThe average annual number of oil spills was isabout9 and the average spill event volume was is approximatelybout 450 L. However, the range of oil spill event volume can variedy between almost minimal to 13,500 L. The top four frequent spill locations werearroads (38 spills), hydro related facilities (23 spills), service stations (17 spills), and parking lots (8 spills). Local roads hadvea high frequency of oil spills. Diesel fuel (30 spills), gasoline (23 spills), hydraulic oil (17 spills), and mineral oil (12 spills)weare the most frequent frequent oil types. In terms of spill event volume, diesel oil wasis the largest spill material. The larger oil spill events occurred at CN railways (15,000 Land 10,000 L events), industrial plants (5,000 L event) and local hydro company (1,000 L event). Oil spills at other locations wearre generally less than 500 L. Soil contamination and water pollution wereare the primary environmental impacts of oil spills in the Town of Richmond Hill. However, soil contamination due to oil spills is likely to impact on the local environment while water pollution associated with oil spills may be transported downstream resulting in greater environmental damages. The primary reasons causes of oil spills weare related to human errors and equipment failure. About two-thirds of the oil spills in Richmond Hill were cleaned up after their occurrence. In order t

To evaluate the spatial distribution of oil spills in Richmond Hill, oil spills with municipal addresses (about 38%) were geo-coded and mapped using ArcView GIS. As shown in Figure 1, Tmost oil spills werecan be found in the existing urban core within the Don Riverwatershed. One Environmental Sensitive Area (ESA), near Carrville Road and Bathurst Street, is close to these spills. A few oil spills are also found near the JeffersonForest area and LakeWilcox. It is noted that many of the original SAC’s spill records do not have good descriptions of locations and addresses. Thus, the spatial analysis in this study is only a preliminary evaluation. Additional works such as geocoding spill locations manuallyusing Global Position System should be conducted to improve the quality of spill analysis.

For the Don River watershed in Richmond Hill, two existing stormwater ponds (i.e. Ponds 1.0 and 146-1) may be susceptible to oil spills (Fig. 2). Pond 146.1 (DonheadVillage – West Pond near Major Mackenzie Road and Bathurst Road) has also been identified by TRCA to possess retrofit potential for stormwater quality improvement. There were also a few oil spills that might discharge to the Little Don River near Weldrick Road West and Carrville Road. Potential locations for retrofitting oil interceptors may be available at the WoodsPark and the Webster Park. These locations are determined by identifying public lands downstream of the spill prone outfalls. Further site investigations are necessary to screen the most appropriate locations for retrofitting oil interceptors. For the RougeRiver watershed, one stormwater pond (i.e. Pond 37-2) is also susceptible to oil spills (Fig. 3). Depending upon further site investigations, retrofitting these ponds for oil spill control may provide some protection against oil spills at the tributaries of Don and RougeRiver.

Figure 1 Selected spill locations in the Town of Richmond Hill

Figure 2 Oil spills which enter the stormwater drainage systems in the Don Riverwatershed

Figure 3 Oil spills which enter the stormwater drainage systems in the RougeRiver watershed

In the Region of York (all 9 municipalities),there were 432 chemical spills between 1988 and 2000. The frequency of chemical spills reaches reached the highest level in 1993 and occurs occuredoccurred mostly in summer months. The following spill statistics are derived from the SAC’s spill data between 1988 and 2000. Among all these chemical spills, the more frequent chemical types were used motor oil, smoke, waste oil, oily water, and mineral acids.are were the more frequent chemical types In terms of volume, natural gas, Chlorinated fluorocarbons (CFC) and Refrigerant Hp-80 arewere the largest, because of their gaseous form, while waste oil and oily water arewere the second largest. Most of the spills are originatedd from industrial plants, storage facilities, and transportation vehicles. However, pPipelines, industrial plants, and storage- related spills producedare the larger volumes. General manufacturing and food processing sectors hadve frequent spills while the petroleum sector produceds the largest spill event volume. Parking areas, storm sewers, roads, and water bodies were frequent spill locations. Water pollution (e.g., watercourses, surface and ground water) and soil contamination were the most frequent impacts of chemical spills while the larger chemical spill event volumes were associated with air pollution. Leakages at containers, fuel tanks, and valve fittings were the frequent causes of chemical spills while while leakages at valve fittings resulted in the largest chemical spill event volumes.

Phase 4: Management options for spills

Municipalities,such as the Town of Richmond Hill,should adopt sewer use by-laws that regulate industrial discharges to sewers and require industries to prepare pollution prevention plans. Additionally, municipalities should coordinate with provincial and federal agencies and industrial associations to promote spill education and training. Employee training and preventive maintenance should be emphasized in training programs of for spill- prone sectors (e.g., petroleum and transportation). Last but not least, sSpill prevention should also be promoted to residents in older residential areas and institutions where heating oil is still used.

For the control of oil spills at individual facilities, containment structures and oil/water interceptors can be conceivably used. However, However, sizing of oil separatorse devices is currentlycurrently not based upon oil spill characteristics, as derived from studies described in this fact sheet. Based upon the statistical properties of oil spill event volumes, this study has developed sizing criteria for these control measures.

Installation of large oil spill control devices may be required at spill- prone sewer outfalls to prevent spilled oil from discharging directly to watercourses. Another control option is to retrofit stormwater ponds which that are susceptible to oil spills. However, these spill control options (at either stormwater ponds or outfalls) are untested and needed to be developed and demonstrated. should be used. Further investigations are needed to determine recommendations for any outfall control options.

For chemical spills, the management options should focus primarily on pollution preventionprevention, as control measures generally require expensive wastewater treatment techniques.

There is no doubt that spills in the Toronto AOC are significant water pollution sources and have significant environment consequences. These spills are more associated with short-term toxicity effects and the fact that spills occur in certain watercourses is also a concern. Spills in the Toronto AOC are frequent and the total cumulative volumes are enormous. Effective spills management will contribute to the restoration of the Toronto and Region AOC. Given the random nature of the frequency and quantity of spills, both government and private industries should cooperate in spill managementIn the City of Vaughan, two stormwater ponds (i.e. pond 26 and 43) in the Don River watershed are susceptible to oil spills and may be retrofitted for oil spill control. Seven potential spill control locations that are susceptible to oil spills have been identified near storm outfalls which are susceptible to oil spills. Further investigations are needed to decide determine recommendations for any outfall control options.

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made.

  1. The spill reporting and recording system can be further improved by compiling detailed and consistent reports. For instance, spill event volumes should be reported in consistent units and detailed description of cause and reason should be given. Additionally, spill characteristics such as locations, road types, and occurrence of rainfall should be reported, as this information can be used to develop sizing criteria for spill control devices. To facilitate spatial analysis of spill characteristics, addresses of spills should be geo-coded by inspectors using Global Position System.
  2. Public education of spills should be part of spill management planning by all levels of government. This will improve public awareness of spills and assist the reporting of spills.
  3. As human error and equipment related failure are the primary reasons of spills, spill prone industries should emphasize preventive maintenance and improved employee training.
  4. Municipalities such as the Town of Richmond Hillcan take a lead role in spill prevention. By establishing a municipal sewer use by-law, a municipality can require industries to prepare pollution prevention plans as well as regulate the discharge of toxic chemicals to sewers.
  5. A comprehensive spill control strategy should be developed for each spill prone watershed. Both on-site and off-site facilities should be considered for spill control. On-site oil/water separators should be installed in spill- prone commercial and industrial facilities. At the downstream end of a spill- prone sewershed, either a stormwater pond retrofitted for spill containment or an outfall oil-water separator should be considered. This strategy should be integrated with land use approval and municipal capital programs.
  6. Stormwater management criteria for spill prone commercial and industrial sites should include a spill control volume that reflects the statistical properties of spill event volume at these facilities.
  7. Stormwater ponds and outfalls which that are prone to spills should be investigated further for retrofit potentials.

For additional information, please contact

James Li, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Email:
Phone: (416) 979-5000 Ext. 6470
Fax: (416) 979-5122.

References

Li, J. 2000a. Sizing criteria for oil separators in urbanized areas. Proc. 6th Environmental Specialty Conference, CSCE, 496-503.

Li, J. 2000b. A GIS planning model for urban oil spill management. Proc. 1st World Water Congress of the International Water Association, Paris, France.

Li, J. and P. McAteer. 2000. Urban oil spills as a non-point pollution source in the Golden Horseshoe of Southern Ontario, Water Quality Research Journal of Canada, 35:331-340.

Li, J. 2002. Spill Management for the Toronto AOC: The City of Toronto Study. Report and factsheet prepared for the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund, Burlington, Ontario, Canada.

Li, J. 2002. Spill Management for the Toronto AOC: The City of Vaughan Study. Report and factsheet prepared for the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund, Burlington, Ontario, Canada.

Li, J. 2002 Spill Control Study for the Humber Creek subwatershed. Report and factsheet prepared for the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund, Burlington, Ontario, Canada.

Li, J. 2002. Spill Management for the Toronto AOC: The Town of Markham Study. Report and factsheet prepared for the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund, Burlington, Ontario, Canada.

Li, J. 2002. Spill Management for the Toronto AOC: The Town of Richmond Hill Study. Report and factsheet prepared for the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund, Burlington, Ontario, Canada.

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). 2000. Town of Richmond Hill Stormwater Retrofit Study.

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