Presentation to Sustainable Summits 2014.

1. Best Environmental Practices
for Managing Energy, Water and Wastewater
at Off-grid Mountain Facilities
Karen Rollins
Backcountry Energy Environmental Solutions (BEES)
Sustainable Summits July 2014
www.beeshive.org

3. Approach
• Assimilate information about options for managing:
1. Energy 3. Grey water
2. 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

4. Reduce the Need for Heat Energy
!
$
4
7
,
1
5
0
TRIPLE PANE
LOW-e HIGH
PERFORMANCE
WINDOWS
SUPER
INSULATION
AIR TIGHT WALL
CONSTRUCTION
WITH NO
THERMAL
BRIDGING
HEAT RECOVERY
VENTILATION TO
PREHEAT FRESH
AIR
BUILDING
ORIENTED FOR
MAXIMUM SUN
EXPOSURE
BUILDING SHAPE
FOR MAXIMUM
ENERGY
EFFICIENCY

5. Alpine Club of Canada - Des Poilus Hut

6. • 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

7. 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

8. Criteria Comments
Installation
operation
maintenance
Reliable, readily
available, functions well
in cold temperatures
Environment Fossil fuel = greenhouse
gas emissions, but lower
than wood burning
Some air quality issues
(CO, NO, particulates)
Cultural value None
Health and
safety
Lowest flammability
rating of all fossil fuels
Propane

9. 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)

10. Criteria Comments
Installation
operation
maintenance
Newer models are more
reliable.
Installation requires site
assessment.
Environment Affects stream flow and
aquatic life.
Considered ‘clean’ power
Some 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

11. 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

12. Criteria Comments
Installation
operation
maintenance
Choose harsh cold model
Steps prior to installation
Annual 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

13. • 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

14. Method Advantages Disadvantages
Boiling Simple
Does not alter taste
Takes time
Consumes energy
Hepatitis not completely inactivated
Chemical
treatment
Used anywhere
Does not consume energy
Takes time
Taste may be altered
Cold water takes longer to disinfect
Turbidity decreases effectiveness
Filtration
(ceramic)
Simple procedure
Does not alter taste
Does no consume energy
Equipment is fragile, needs cleaning
Does not remove viruses
UV
treatment
Not as much energy as boiling
Does not alter taste
Reliable power source required
Inactivated micros not removed
Turbidity decreases effectiveness
Potable Water Treatment Methods

15. • 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

16. Grey Water Grease Trap

17. 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
$
4
7
,
1
5
0
150mm PVC PIPE
Greywater Drainage Field
19mm CRUSHED
GRAVEL
SAND
50mm
600mm

18. • 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

19. 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
VENT%
BOTTOM%OF%PIT%AT%
LEAST%ONE%METER%
ABOVE%GROUND%
WATER%TABLE%
1000%
LOCATE%PIT%AT%LEAST%
30%METERS%FROM%
SURFACE%WATER%
RAISE%THE%
STRUCTURE%OR%
MOUND%UP%SOIL%
TO%PREVENT%
FLOODING%OF%PIT%
SOLIDS%
ACCUMULATE%
AND%
DECOMPOSE,%
LIQUIDS%
PERCOLATE%INTO%
THE%SOIL%

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. Vermicomposting
• Process of composting that uses worms
and bacteria to convert solid waste into a
stabilized and safe end product

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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%

27. 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)

28. • 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

29. Decision Tree – Black Water
Decision Tree for Choosing a Waste Treatment System
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Low Use High Use
!
!
!
No Soil Sufficient Soil ! ! Custodian No Custodian
!
Carry&out! ! Pit!Toilet! !
!
!
Energy No Energy! !!!!!!!!! ! !!!!!!Barrel fly-out!
Source Source Urine!Diversion!
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
!
!
Barrel!fly&out! ! ! ! ! Barrel!fly&out! ! No Centralized Facility!
Urine!Diversion! ! ! ! Urine!Diversion!
Dehydrating!(UDDT)! ! ! ! ! !
Tertiary! ! ! ! ! ! !
Composting! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Carry&out!
Incinerating!
Vermicomposting!

30. 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