Session #13: Harnessing Wastewater Biology: Lessons from the Ponoka Lagoon Optimization

ON DEMAND RECORDING

Expires Wed Dec. 3 2025.

Overview:

What if your lagoon could achieve results that people assume require a mechanical plant, without the tens of millions in capital expenditure? From 2021 to 2024, the Town of Ponoka and ACC utilized strategic biological management to achieve measured gains: effluent cBOD decreasedfrom 56.5 to 13.0 mg/L and annual average ammonia decreased from 29.5 to 7.5 mg/L, resulting in a net 12.3% reduction in sludge volume that delayed dredging. The work held up even as influent loads rose from industrial sources and regulatory expectations stayed tight. This session focuses on what operators can copy: probiotics, biocatalysts, and micronutrient support, all sequenced with routine monitoring and seasonal adjustments. You get the playbook and the data, not just theory.

 

At the completion of this one-hour OJT session, participants will be able to demonstrate the following:

• • • • • Understand how targeted use of probiotics, biocatalysts, and micronutrient support can lift lagoon performance within the existing footprint.
          • Recognize seasonal biological dosing strategies that hold in cold climates, including winter support and shoulder season adjustments.
          • Apply biocatalyst-driven hydrolysis upstream to manage complex, hard-to-degrade influent substrates such as fats, grease, and proteins.
          • Interpret effluent data to make timely dosing changes, using a simple monitoring cadence.
          • Sequence sludge reduction with nutrient stabilization so spring turnover does not cause temporary setbacks.
          • Identify algal bloom drivers and evaluate mitigation options
          • Explain how upstream pretreatment reduces downstream operator burden and stabilizes lagoon biology.

 

Our facilitators are Michael Vasquez, Professional Engineer and Sales Representative at Uponor and Glen Steele, key leader at Georg Fisher Piping Systems.

Facilitator : Ray Menard

 

Our facilitator is Ray Menard, Managing Partner at ACC Wastewater Solutions.  Raymond specializes in applying wastewater microbiology to solve real-world operational challenges in lagoon systems. His passion is bridging laboratory science with practical field applications—translating how probiotics, biocatalysts, and micronutrient supplementation can optimize existing infrastructure and extend system life. Ray is deeply committed to learning from and sharing operational lessons, particularly through case studies like Ponoka’s 2021–2024 biological optimization program. He works with operators, engineers, and municipalities to integrate biological management strategies that deliver regulatory compliance and cost-effective performance improvements without requiring major capital investment.

 

 

Logistics:
These 1-hour virtual sessions are offered every alternate Thursday starting at 2:00 pm.  Sessions are complimentary to all OMWA members and the fee for non-members is $30.00 CAD plus HST per person per session.

Questions:
If you have any specific questions regarding this OJT session, please feel free to submit them when you register and we will provide them to the workshop facilitator.

The OMWA will provide a certificate recognizing participation in these On the Job Training sessions. Attendance may also qualify as a Continuing Knowledge Activity for the PEO PEAK program