Polymer Addition to Increase Trunk Sewer Flow Capacity at the Resort Municipality of Whistler during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games

In 2008, Kerr Wood Leidal Associates Ltd. developed a model of the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) trunk sewer and ran several scenarios using the forecasted trunk sewer flows of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. This simulation found that there was a risk of trunk sewer overflow resulting from the inflow and infiltration associated with a rain on snow event. Upon consideration of many options, the RMOW wisely proceeded with the innovative and cost effective option of dosing polymer into the trunk sewer to increase its capacity. Polymer dosing trials conducted during February 2010 found that polymer dosing increased the capacity of the trunk sewer by 20–30%. Testing showed a significant increase in flow velocity and reduction in flow level in the monitored manholes, suggesting that the polymer dosing would provide considerable additional capacity to the trunk sewer if used when sewer flows and levels reached critical capacity.