Abbotsford Project Announcement (Upcoming Project, 2025)

​

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION NOTICE

 

Application for a Permit under the provisions of the Environmental Management Act

 

We, AWRS (Abbotsford Wastewater Reuse Station) with BC Registration Number: A0133042, are an established cleantech company and we intend to submit this application (tracking # 444910) to the Director to authorize discharge of treated municipal wastewater (effluent) to be used for irrigation. The standardized equipment module is called a Wastewater Reuse Station (or “WRS”) and carries warranty & performance guarantees.  It uses a certified membrane and this type of model is replicating systems currently operating in Canada with over 10 years of audited data & awarded success (treated water that has been permitted to irrigate golf courses). The source of wastewater will be from a membership of certified wastewater hauler companies (trucks) that normally use the Abbotsford or Vancouver wastewater stations. This project will help provide a sustainable solution for agriculture that helps to save costs, stop pollution and support flexible community planning & economic development.

 

The location of the WRS and irrigation is Lot 4, Plan NWP54278 (or 1582 Bradner Rd, Abbotsford, BC, V4X 1H8).  The land parcel is 10 acres and is zoned Agriculture (A1) and operates as a large-scale poultry farm. The farm is 5 minutes West of Abbotsford airport and surrounding neighbours include: A1 & A3 zoned parcels (mostly poultry farms), one government P2/Educational Institute parcel and large-scale industrial gravel pits.

 

The WRS does not produce odour, has automated monitoring and creates clean water that is formally classified as “Class A effluent”. Class A effluent is the highest recognized quality of treatment and has the most stringent defined parameters which include: < 10 mg/L Biochemical Oxygen Demand 5 day (BOD5), < 10 mg/L Total Suspended Solids (TSS), < 400 Fecal Coliforms CFU/100 ml and < 2 NTU Turbidity. The WRS will not be in continuous operations, it is semi-batch treatment based on how many trucks come to the WRS each day. The number of trucks will range from 0 to 6 per day. During equipment maintenance shut-downs trucks are re-directed back to their normal routes (Abbotsford or Vancouver). The average discharge volume = 50 m3/day, with a surge protection maximum of 80 m3/day and minimum of 0 m3/day. The normal operating period for this facility will be 5 days a week (Monday to Friday) from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. The membrane carries a California Title 22 certification for water recycling and reuse (Note: membrane nominal pore size = 0.03 microns and is manufactured by a global leading company since 1970).

 

Any person who may be adversely affected by the proposed discharge and wishes to provide relevant information or has questions may, within 30 days after the last date of posting, publishing, service or display, send written comments to the applicant, with a copy to the Director, Environmental Protection at (see ENV email address options below).  The identity of any respondents and the contents of anything submitted in relation to this application will become part of the public record. Please contact us anytime, thank you for your interest.

 

Dated Aug.11, 2025                                                    

Contact: Jason Tratch                   

Email: jason.tratch@galexgroup.com

Phone: (306)270-2989

 

ENV Authorization Email Address Options:

• Communities, IPM & AgriFood envCIA@gov.bc.ca

• Industrial Waste Industrial.Waste.Authorizations@gov.bc.ca

• Mining ENV.MiningAuthorizations@gov.bc.ca

• SE Coal ENVSECoal@gov.bc.ca

​

​

​

SAMPLE PAST PROJECTS

​

​

The Proteus Waters team carries a level of expertise in regulatory, engineering, design, manufacturing/construction, delivery, commissioning and operations/maintenance. This team enables projects to be delivered in a consistent, structured approach that ensures value.  Our team has also been recognized and awarded in relation to these projects plus others at national and international levels. Proteus also has years of experience working closely with local engineering and construction companies that are awarded and recognized experts in their fields.

​

 

A sample list of recent projects completed by the Proteus team includes:

​

• NW Saskatoon, Saskatoon SK – a Municipal wastewater treatment drop off station for treatment capacity of 360 m3/d for mixture of septic hauling trucks and a future residential/commercial development. Challenges include random toxic sewage loads that range from 100 - 1,000 mg/L BOD5 and TSS in the raw wastewater. Plant was designed in MBR technology and was commissioned in summer of 2018 and has been working without any major problems and without breakdowns. The project has produced treated effluent parameters much, much better than required by regulatory requirements. Located in Saskatoon, SK. This project was recognized by the province of SK and has become an educational tour site for government officials, regulators, engineers, academics, end-use customers, etc. It was also recognized at the APEGS Annual dinner as a runner-up for an Innovation Project Award. NW Saskatoon Regulatory Testing Data was conducted by professional engineers, processed by independent labs, with oversight from independent 3rd party consultants and over-achieved the level of quality (recognized & awarded)

​​

• Ochapowace Urban Reserve, Regina SK – a Municipal wastewater treatment plant for treatment capacity of 360 m3/d for a mixture of septic hauling trucks and a 300 unit residential and commercial development. Multiple challenges were addressed (e.g. fit within the greater development plan and design, integrate with a Potable Water Plant, odour control, extremely strict and consistent regulation requirements, automated monitoring, automation in operations and maintenance, and ability to evolve and optimize as new regulations and advanced technologies become available). Plant was designed in MBR technology and has been water commissioned and ready to receive sewage in early summer 2021.

​​

• Jonkowo, Poland - This project was recognized and awarded as a Leading Engineered Wastewater project of the year. Municipal WWTP for treatment capacity of 1200 m3/d for mixture of sewer raw WW as well as WW from septic tanks. Challenge was very high N content reaching 120 mg/l in raw WW. Plant was designed in MBR technology and build from green field. Plant was commissioned in Oct 2010 and has been working without any major problems and without breakdowns. The project has been giving effluent of parameters much better than required by EU requirements. Required/achieved effluent parameters being met are: BOD5  < 25/5 mg/l, COD < 125/10 mg/l, TSS < 35/3 mg/l, Total N < 10/1 mg/l. 

​​

• Kedzierzyn, Poland - industrial UF water plant producing water for professional  boiler use.  Treatment capacity of the plant is 900 m3/h giving roughly 21,600 m3/d. UF prepares water for further treatment- demineralization. Plant was commissioned in 2011 and has been working without any major problems and without breakdowns. This is the biggest water UF preparation membrane  plant in Poland. Basic parameter which is reflecting plant’s performance is SDI, which is constantly lower than 3.

​​

• Lagisza, Poland - replace existing membranes in Industrial WW Treatment Plant with UF filtration of capacity of 5000 m3/d. that had reached their life span. Łagisza is a Power Plant and replaced membranes have been working without any major problems and without breakdowns. Replacement was concerning 1 train of three on IWWTP. The reliability of this project was critical since it is also located in the center of one of the biggest industrial complexes in Poland called Upper Silesia.

​​

• Olszana, Poland - a plant producing apple juice concentrate using an IWWTP MBR  for capacity 600 m3/d. They work seasonally when fruits are available and shut down the plant for winter. Plant has been working without any major problems and without breakdowns. Client reuses effluent as industrial water for unloading fruits and primer washing.

​

Membrane Manufacturer Note:

Puron is our standard membrane due to successful implementations for decades and the strong warrantied support form the manufacturer (an internationally certified company with over 25 years of awarded experience).  The most prestigious North American Certification has been achieved with these membranes, called CDPH Title 22 (California Department of Public Health, 2006). Proteus is a strategic partner and deals directly with their leadership team for strategy, service, support, growth and advancement. ​

​

Regulatory Requirements and Water Quality Results Note:

Over the past 7 years the Saskatoon and Regina Plants have consistently achieved high quality results. Audited regulatory data is available upon request. A sample quality report was published that included 81 separate testing packages over a period of 4 years. The testing packages were completed by professional engineers with signed management and oversight from 3rd party (independent) Certified Operators approved by Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment. The test packages were routinely submitted to one of the leading certified independent labs in Saskatchewan (Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC)) which in-turn immediately posts all results directly into a government regulatory data base. The average treated results include:

- Carbonaceous Biochemical Oxygen Demand 5 day (CBOD5) < 3 mg/L,

- Total Suspended Solids (TSS) < 1 mg/L

​

The consistent quality and results has enabled the treated water to be approved for application to pasture land for rangeland management & irrigation (where cattle actively feed off forage crops) or golf course irrigation. Due to consistent, Class A level of quality and reliability, Proteus is honoured to have also received customized regulations related to regulatory permit requirements (working with regulators to create new policy and standards).  

​

​

​

​