Wastewater Characterization of Fish Processing Plant Effluents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This document describes a preliminary effluent sampling program carried out at four fish
processing plants which discharge to the Fraser River. The overall purpose of the study was
to evaluate existing data together with new, site specific data on effluent characterization.
The purpose of collecting the information was to provide an estimate of contaminant loading
from this industry into the lower Fraser River. In addition to the four plants at which
samples for effluent chemistry and toxicity were collected, four other fish processing plants
were assessed base upon existing, in-house data.
The eight fish processors included: B.C. Packers (Richmond), Bella Coola (Delta), Great
Northern (North Vancouver), Lions' Gate (Delta), Ocean Fisheries (Richmond), New West Net
(New Westminster), Shearer (Delta) and SM Products (Delta). Effluent field sampling for
wastewater characterization included the four processors: B.C. Packers, Bella Coola, LIons'
Gate and Ocean Fisheries. In addition, effluent toxicity was determined for the effluent
from three facilities.
Considerable variability was found within and among processing plants in terms of water
consumption, and effluent characteristics. Contaminant concentrations ranged from 128 to
2680 mg/L BOD, 316 to 3460 mg/L COD, 74 to 3640 mg/L TSS, and 0.7 to 70 mg/L ammonia. The
estimated annual contaminant loadings for 1993 from all fish processing facilities to the
Fraser River Estuary are 216 tonnes of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), 380 tonnes of
chemical oxygen demand (COD), 121 tonnes of total suspended solids (TSS) and 13 tonnes of
ammonia. The annual contaminant loading from these facilities is equivalent to approximately
one percent of the loading from the Annacis and Lulu Island wastewater treatment plants.
The fish processing and waste management practices encountered during the study are typical
for similar processing plants located in other parts of North America. Areas for improvement
at all facilities were identified, and a number of operating and equipment changes were
described that would lower the existing contaminant concentrations, and reduce loads to the
environment. However, in the absence of site specific receiving environment information it is
not possible to predict whether such changes would reduce potential impacts in the receiving
FREMP 03/21/1994
Fish Processing Plant Effluent i