Define the assignment scope with the client — confirm the production process, expected capacity, site, budget and schedule constraints.
Gather process and site data — process flow, expected water use, comparable-industry waste characterization data (this being a new facility with no on-site history), site topography, soil/groundwater conditions, and available land.
Determine the applicable regulatory requirements — the receiving municipal sewer-use bylaw limits, or a provincial direct-discharge permit's effluent quality requirements, whichever disposal route is under consideration.
Estimate wastewater flow and pollutant loading from the process and water-use data using comparable-industry unit-loading factors.
Identify and screen management alternatives — municipal sewer discharge (with or without pretreatment), on-site treatment and direct discharge, source reduction/recycling, and off-site hauling.
Evaluate the alternatives on treatment performance, capital and operating cost, land area, reliability and regulatory compliance.
Recommend a preferred strategy and develop a preliminary design/cost estimate for it.
Prepare and present the report to the client, including the index and content set out in 12.2/12.3 below.
12.2 / 12.3 – Report index and one-sentence content per heading.
1.0 Executive Summary. A concise, non-technical statement of the recommended wastewater management strategy and its basis, for a reader who will not read the full report.
2.0 Introduction and Project Description. Describes the proposed widget-manufacturing process, expected production capacity, and the purpose and scope of this engagement.
3.0 Basis of Design – Flow and Waste Characterization. Presents the estimated wastewater flow, BOD5/COD, suspended solids, pH and any process-specific constituents, derived from comparable-industry data since the plant has not yet been built.
4.0 Regulatory Requirements. Summarizes the applicable sewer-use bylaw limits or direct-discharge permit conditions the treated effluent must meet.
5.0 Site Assessment. Documents the available land, topography, soil and groundwater conditions, and proximity to the sewer or receiving watercourse that constrain feasible technologies.
6.0 Alternatives Analysis. Compares the screened management options (sewer discharge, on-site treatment, source reduction, off-site hauling) on technical, cost and reliability grounds.
7.0 Recommended Strategy and Preliminary Design. Presents the selected alternative with a preliminary process schematic, sizing basis, and expected effluent quality.
8.0 Cost Estimate. Provides capital and annual operating/maintenance cost estimates for the recommended strategy.
9.0 Implementation Schedule. Outlines the permitting, design, construction and start-up timeline needed to have the system operating for plant start-up.
10.0 Conclusions and Recommendations. Summarizes the key findings and the specific actions the client should take next.
