Ecological risk assessment of flocculants for the construction industry in British Columbia

Stormwater consists of a complex mixture of chemicals that is minimally regulated but can be a major source of pollution. Stormwater discharge from construction sites must comply with temperature, turbidity and pH requirements set by local governments in British Columbia. In order to achieve these limits, a treatment process, typically involving the use of chemical flocculants and/or filtration is put in place. The chemicals used in this process are often not strictly regulated and their impacts on receiving water bodies may be poorly understood. This project aims to examine the environmental impacts of one such chemical flocculant, LBP-2101, on microbial communities, invertebrates and fish present in streams in the Metro Vancouver area. The project also aims to work towards the development of an evaluation process for chemicals used in stormwater treatment in the construction industry in the City of Burnaby to minimize the environmental impacts of stormwater discharge on receiving streams in the lower mainland.

Faculty Supervisor:

Jane Fowler;Vicki Marlatt;Vicki Marlatt;Jane Fowler

Student:

Partner:

City of Burnaby

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Public administration

University:

Simon Fraser University

Program: