Challenge

The Grey Eagle Casino was a new commercial venture by the Tsuu T’ina Nation, in partnership with Sonco Gaming (Alberta) Ltd. This casino and future hotel/entertainment project is located on Tsuu T’ina lands in southwest Calgary.  The location had no water and sewer services, and had tight standards for discharging the wastewater that ultimately goes into Pine Creek. Any discharge at this location required advanced treatment, including a highly filtered effluent, with nitrogen removal to levels below 10 mg/L total nitrogen, and phosphorus removal to levels less than 0.5 mg/L.

In addition to advanced treatment, the site layout required a compact system that would allow both the wastewater treatment and water treatment systems to be housed in the same building.  The close proximity of the equipment to the casino made stringent odour control necessary. A very tight project schedule, as well as the short supply of
construction labour during a period of heavy oilfield development, created a preference for a simple, prefabricated system that could be installed quickly and inexpensively.

Solution

After looking at several options, Sonco Gaming’s engineer selected the Xpress MBR package plant. With an estimated average flow rate of 200,000 L/day, this plant addressed all of the casino’s specified needs. The advanced treatment unit easily met the casino’s stringent effluent requirements. The system was designed with a completely enclosed biological reactor and covered membrane tanks. A simple carbon adsorption odour control system ensured nuisance-free operation. 

The compressed schedule meant that the building for the water and wastewater equipment had to be constructed well before equipment delivery. When the MBR skid arrived, it was conveniently lifted through removable roof panels, set in place, and quickly installed.

Results

The complete wastewater system includes an in-ground equalization and sludge storage basin, lift pumps, and MBR package system (fine-screen, anoxic and aerobic biological treatment reactors, and a two-cell membrane system followed by disinfection). Effluent is discharged to a subsurface disposal system and ultimately drains into Pine Creek. The system has been meeting all discharge requirements since it became operational in October 2007.

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