Regina's Co-op refinery spending $200M to recycle its own water

Regina's Co-op Refinery Complex spent $200 million on what it's calling an "environmental mega-project."

Its 'Wastewater Improvement Project' plans to clean and recycle all of its wastewater for the purpose of steam production. Co-op said, according to industry experts, it is the first project of its kind in North America.

"Federated Co-operatives Limited has invested more than $200 million in ensuring the sustainability of our water resources for both the refinery and the City of Regina," said Scott Banda, CEO of Federated Co-operatives Limited in a news release.

"This is a significant investment that helps us realize our long term vision focussed on sustainability and environmental stewardship," Banda said. 

• Regina Co-op Refinery shows off new expansion

Co-op said its Section V expansion in 2013, which produced 30,000 more barrels a day, increased its water usage. This prompted the refinery to draw on more water from the city, which it said was not sustainable.

Co-op said by recycling its wastewater, Regina's water supply will be positively affected. Reducing its freshwater use by an estimated 28 per cent or the equivalent of about 3,100 Regina households on annual basis.

Co-op says emissions from ponds will be reduced

The refinery said it will clean 100 per cent of wastewater on site. Doing so will decrease Volatile Organic Compound (VOCs) emissions from its wastewater ponds, reducing nuisance odours.

"We know what the ponds were before. Now that we're sending clean water out to the ponds, then we'll re-test the ponds and we'll actually be able to give very quantified numbers of how we've reduced our VOCs," said Gil Le Dressay, Vice- President of Refinery Operations. 

Last June, according to data the company provided to the federal government, the Co-op Refinery Complex released far more VOCs and hydrogen sulphide (H2S or sour gas) into the air than any other refinery in Canada.

• SPECIAL REPORT: Co-op Refinery VOC emissions 10x higher than average of other refineries

​​Some VOCs are harmless, while others, according to Environment Canada's website, are toxic air pollutants that can cause cancer and other serious health problems at high levels.

Le Dressay said the refinery has plans to reduce its emissions further and the Ministry of Environment is aware of those plans but he would not elaborate.

Project not complete

Co-op said up to three-quarters of its wastewater is moving through the new system. It will commission the final phase, which is recycling the water, but will not go ahead with that until its new system can manage 100 per cent of the water.   

"We're removing all of the volatile organic compounds from the water," said Le Dressay. "The other things that have to be removed are the brine and the salts to get it ready. That part of the project hasn't been commissioned yet, so that's the recycle portion."

The refinery hopes to have the project operational by this fall.