Vanguard Magazine

E ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGY 26 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017 www.vanguardcanada.com by Nicole A. Poirier Canada's new Defence Policy In June 2017, the Government of Canada announced as part of its widely awaited new Defence Policy that it will grow de- fence spending over the next 10 years from $18.9 billion in 2016-17 to $32.7 billion in 2026-27. Following this welcome an- nouncement, a flurry of headlines emerged related to improved capabilities and to significant investments in new equipment, such as various types of ships and aircraft. Less frequently reported aspects of the new Defence Policy are focused on the en- vironment rather than acquisition of new equipment. For example, a $225 million commitment has been made to reduce De- fence carbon footprint, and there is now a requirement that all new construction and major Defence projects attain Silver Leader- ship in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standard or equivalent. (LEED green buildings must comply with environ- mental regulations and make efficient use of resources such as energy and water). In addition, the new Defence Policy commits to making investments to enhance Canada's capability and ability to operate in the Arctic in order to project force into the region. Canadian Defence Environmental Strategy Even though military operations are not typically associated with environmen- tal protection and stewardship, Canada's Department of National Defence is com- mitted to evolving as an environmentally responsible and sustainable organization. The Defence Environmental Strategy pres- ents a plan for ensuring sustainable military operations. The plan includes commitments to man- age and treat all wastewater from defence establishments before discharge to the en- vironment, manage all hazardous materials and substances through to disposal, and develop a culture that is more conscious of water use to ensure access to a continuous supply of safe water while using as little wa- ter as possible. Wastewater challenges There are disparate aspects in both the new Defence Policy and the Canadian Defence Environmental Strategy that are related to wastewater treatment. Most civilians never give a second thought to something as mundane as wastewater treatment and rely on municipal services or simple septic systems. However, these wastewater treatment options are generally not available for military activities, which poses real challenges. Ship wastewater The operation of naval vessels inevitably generates various types of wastewater such as used oils, oily bilgewater, blackwater, greywater, ballast water and more. In- creasingly the management of these waste- waters is coming under scrutiny. Many of these streams must be treated on the ship and discharged according to various stan- dards to protect ocean and inland waters; failing this, the streams must be retained onboard, which can be challenging de- pending on the voyage and the storage capacity of the ship. The discharge of oil in any form is toxic to marine life and remains in the marine en- vironment for years. Effects on marine spe- cies can include disease as well as negative impacts on development and reproduction cycles. Generally, oily bilgewater must be treated by a Type Approved oily water separator (OWS) equipped with a Type WASTEWATER TREATMENT AND CANADIAN MILITARY Water flow is directed down stone channels that act as trickling filters. The trickling filter is a treatment process where waste water flows over the porous bed of stones covered with bacteria that break down the organic waste.

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