A new option for foot-print constrained wastewater treatment plants
The Salmon Arm Water Pollution Control Centre in British Columbia is piloting Aerobic Granular Sludge technology (AGS) in partnership with WSP.
Controlling odour from wastewater lift stations with oxygen and ozone
There are technologies that can break up a grease cap and/or remove hydrogen sulfide gas in the air space of wastewater lift stations.
An overview of thermoplastic valves and their performance
Thermoplastic valves offer a dependable and economical way to handle corrosive chemicals in some of the harshest environments.
Replacing solar drying beds reduces time and labour costs for sludge dewatering
The Municipality of Clare, Nova Scotia, realized faster sludge dewatering times and dramatic savings in time and costs after replacing sand drying beds with...
Calgary commissions 5 MW biogas cogeneration facility
Calgary’s Bonnybrook Wastewater Treatment Plant will soon be using all of its biogas as the primary fuel source to meet its electrical power and steam needs.
BEAST system ‘shocking’ wastewater in remote Canadian communities
For tiny, remote communities unable to have a full-scale wastewater treatment plant, or that are located in frigid climates that make sewage lagoons unfeasible,...
Vancouver hires firms to design new infrastructure plan for sewer, rainwater
Engineering consultant company Brown and Caldwell has been engaged to develop a sewage and rainwater management plan for the City of Vancouver.
The two-part plan,...
BC’s Squamish WWTP set for new secondary clarifier during $10M upgrade
British Columbia’s near-capacity Squamish Wastewater Treatment Plant is getting a $10-million overhaul that includes a new secondary clarifier and concentric ring bioreactor, as well...
Researchers see sustainable alternative in extracting ammonia from wastewater
A new study led by Rice University researchers has taken steps toward producing fertilizer in a more sustainable way through the electrochemical conversion of...
Quebec researchers look to alter wastewater testing for endocrine disruptors
A pair of researchers at Quebec’s Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) are developing a new effluent analysis tool to track and understand...
McGill researchers call for action on urban runoff impacts
New research from McGill University suggests that urban runoff’s toxicity for aquatic organisms may be underestimated and unmonitored, as detergents, pesticides, heavy metals, and...
Ontario extends funding for COVID-19 wastewater surveillance in Guelph
As subvariants of COVID-19 persist, the Ontario government has extended funding for the University of Guelph’s wastewater community surveillance program to keep tabs on...
Feds to fund creation of Canada Water Agency and Atlantic First Nations Water Authority
The federal government has earmarked funding to create a Canada Water Agency that will centralize work with communities on freshwater issues, as well as...
Manitoba mining company fined again for releasing radioactive material into lake
A Manitoba mining company has been fined a second time for depositing radioactive effluent into the fish-bearing waters of Bucko Lake, according to a...
Cleaning industrial wastewater collection systems requires specialized equipment
The task of industrial pipe cleaning typically falls to third party cleaning companies, who come to facilities with a vacuum truck and perform the work periodically, unless emergency debris removal is required. Industrial plants cannot afford production downtime, so contractors rely on high-performance nozzles to get the job done quickly and reliably. Using the right nozzle and technique can be the difference between cleaning out a pipe within 20 minutes or having it take hours, days, or even fail completely.
Choosing the right heat exchanger for wastewater applications
The challenging nature of wastewater and sludge, such as its high viscosity and high fouling potential, means that it is important to choose the right type of heat exchanger to reduce costs, maximize energy efficiency, and maintain heat exchanger operational performance.
Using an early oil spill influent warning system can prevent WWTP fouling
Although treatment plants are meant to handle all sorts of wastewater, incoming oil contamination still poses a considerable threat to a facility’s operations. These oil spill incidents can occur any time and without warning. If not handled properly, they can lead to contaminated wastewater flowing into natural environments.
Optimizing wastewater utility operations, asset management with custom applications
When a large, privately-owned sewer utility company wanted to improve service for their 16,500+ customers, they realized that digitizing their business processes would be the key to increasing efficiency and maximizing asset life cycles.
Pumping long chain polymers in wastewater applications without damaging them
Flocculant and coagulation polymers are used in the removal of solid particles. Flocculants separate solid content in the wastewater from the liquid content. A coagulant combines small particles to form larger chain particles. These polymers change the charge of the particles, so that they will combine rather than repel other particles.
Alberta hamlet conducts bioaugmentation optimization study for wastewater lagoons
Treating a lagoon with Waste Go bioaugmentation can restore its health, mitigate costs, and postpone dredging for lengthy periods of time. However, eventually, even the healthiest of wastewater lagoons will require dredging as their capacity for biodegraded sludge will be reached. Sludge that has been properly treated with Waste Go will meet or exceed all environmental standards, thus making it readily available for disposal without further treatment or penalties, saving the treatment facility substantial costs.
Mushroom farms fined $650K for polluting BC creeks
Two British Columbia mushroom farms with a history of contraventions have been fined for piping waste effluent into fish-bearing waters, after ignoring multiple warnings...
Fired contractor for North Shore WWTP sues Metro Vancouver over ‘impossible’ project
Spain-based contractor Acciona — fired from the North Shore Wastewater Treatment project in January — is now suing Metro Vancouver for nearly $300 million...
PEI dairy farm fined for hose rupture that killed trout
The federal government has fined a Prince Edward Island-based dairy farm that failed to properly install and inspect a liquid manure hose that ruptured...
Metro Vancouver finds new contractor for delayed North Shore WWTP
After terminating its contract with Acciona Wastewater Solutions LP last fall, following the stalled construction of the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant, Metro Vancouver...
Quebec funded for eight green, wastewater, sustainability upgrades
The federal government is investing $12.6 million through the Green Municipal Fund to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and waste while improving the quality...
New funding upgrades WWTPs in three Saskatchewan communities
Three Saskatchewan municipalities are upgrading wastewater infrastructure with a combined investment of more than $2.1 million through the federal Green Municipal Fund (GMF).
The investments,...
Canada opens new funding for recruitment of First Nations water operators
The federal government has launched a call for proposals that will provide up to $500,000 per project that addresses the retention, recruitment and availability...
Longueuil, Quebec strives towards better water future with new projects
Despite recent challenges with sewage overflows, the Quebec city of Longueuil has two significant projects in the works that officials hope will change the...
Winnipeg weighs push for diverse workforce on massive sewage plant upgrade
The City of Winnipeg is considering signaling to bidders that it wants to see Indigenous workers and other under-represented groups as a key part...
EPA unveils cybersecurity action plan for water utilities
As the U.S. formulates a national plan to increase the resilience of its critical infrastructure against cyberattacks, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has laid...
Helping Canadian water firms reach new markets and succeed abroad
By the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service and Global Affairs Canada
Canada is a key player when it comes to clean technology and climate solutions, and...
Havelock WWTP uses biological larvicide to control midge flies
By Catherine Flannery
Midge flies commonly occur in wastewater treatment plants and pond systems. Managing them can be challenging, but a local Ontario Clean Water...
Treatment option inventory will help remote, Indigenous communities improve effluent quality
Many small, remote and Indigenous communities face challenges to meet established treated wastewater effluent quality standards. These communities require significant support to implement or upgrade their wastewater treatment systems to improve their wastewater effluent quality.
Rotary lobe pumps help solve difficult biosolids pumping application requirements
Operations staff at one wastewater treatment plant were initially using a reciprocating pump to move raw sludge and biosolids from primary clarifiers to the anaerobic digesters. The percentage of solids was approximately 4% by volume and, in some cases, could get as high as 6% by volume. Due to the lack of a screen, the size of the solids could not be controlled, which often caused the pump to jam.
Open channel flow radar measurements keep working, even when temperature drops
Most instrumentation struggles to properly monitor or control outdoor processes when temperatures drop to extreme cold conditions. Open channel flow measurements at wastewater treatment plants are no exception.
Weyburn, Sask. implements automated bioaugmentation tech to reduces lagoon sludge
Seeking solutions to effectively remove its wastewater treatment lagoon sludge and reduce the associated costs, the City of Weyburn, Saskatchewan opted to implement a new automated bioaugmentation service.
Ontario launches storm, wastewater consultation with new $25M boost for reporting, infrastructure
Ontario is investing $15 million to help 18 municipalities optimize stormwater and wastewater infrastructure, plus another $10 million to upgrade sewage monitoring and public...
UWaterloo study says wetlands provide water filtration services worth billions
A new study from the University of Waterloo uses economic valuation to illustrate the importance of water filtration in Southern Ontario’s wetlands, estimating that...
Inventory of treatment options will help remote and Indigenous communities improve effluent quality
Many small, remote and Indigenous communities face challenges to meet established treated wastewater effluent quality standards.
Wastewater data filling void as Canada’s PCR tests decline for COVID-19
While many Canadians continue to check daily case counts for COVID-19, some experts suggest that keeping tighter tabs on wastewater surveillance trends could paint...
Saint John Water operations manager named Silent Hero by ACWWA
The Atlantic Canada Water Works Association (ACWWA) has given its 2021 Silent Hero Award to an operations manager with Saint John Water for his...
Brantford WWTP earns perfect score in Grand River program
The Ontario City of Brantford earned a perfect score at a recent workshop because the effluent from its wastewater treatment system was consistently meeting...
Canada invests in PEI wastewater tech for microbial health
A Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) investment of $1.9 million in Charlottetown-based SENTRY Water Monitoring will help the company enhance its bioelectrode sensors that...
Washing machine filters proving effective in reducing microfibre pollution, study shows
Wastewater treatment plants are not designed to catch and dispose of microfibre pollution, but a new collaboration is exploring the use of washing machine...
Kelowna water workers help bring wastewater system online in flood-ravaged Merritt
As the City of Merritt remains under yet another flood watch, emergency repairs to the flooded wastewater treatment plant have allowed some evacuated residents...
Regina’s polluted Wascana Creek showing signs of recovery after WWTP upgrades
After Regina’s Wascana Creek was found to be one of the most polluted streams in Canada, the city spent $175 million on wastewater treatment...
The passion to save our water ecosystems can positively impact those around us
An Ontario student shares her story on becoming environmentally aware and learning to appreciate our water ecosystems and wastewater infrastructure.
Using a camera nozzle and chain cutter to efficiently handle blocked sewers
The skillful use of high-powered nozzles with forward penetrating jets can sometimes dislodge partial obstructions in smaller sewer pipes.
Dauphin meets its cold weather ammonia level requirements using a new technology
During the winter months, the City of Dauphin, Manitoba's wastewater treatment lagoon is typically covered in a thick layer of ice. That posed a problem, as extremely low lagoon temperatures affect ammonia levels, which are regulated, when effluent is released into the Vermillion River
Using air-operated double-diaphragm pumps to optimize filter press operation
For those looking to optimize their filter-press operations, no matter the industry or product, air-operated double-diaphragm pumps offer a number of operational advantages.
Using augmented reality tools to inspect wastewater plants
Due to pandemic-related travel restrictions, Veolia North America was not able to provide on-site support for a wastewater plant condition assessment project. The evaluation required the use of specialized tools and on-site staff were not familiar with the operation of these tools. The team ultimately decided to use an augmented reality tool to remotely conduct the evaluation of the condition of the equipment at the plant.
Small town chooses prefabricated wastewater lift stations
The town of Herbert hired Stantec Consulting to identify the best replacement solution for its two aging wastewater lift stations. However, the town no longer had the design parameters for the existing stations, which originally went online sometime in the late 20th century.
Tragic week of flooding causes havoc in BC, Merritt WWTP fails
Over the course of just more than a week, several British Columbia communities have been ravaged by more than a month’s worth of rainfall,...
SAIT unveils $1M water, wastewater learning lab in Alberta
The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) has unveiled a new $1-million water and wastewater treatment lab with state-of-the-art equipment scaled down for student...
World’s largest wastewater energy transfer project underway for Toronto hospital
With a major investment now secured through the Canada Infrastructure Bank, approximately 90% of heating and cooling requirements for the Toronto Western Hospital will...
Canadian researchers enhancing wetland microbes to clean oilsands wastewater
A Canada-wide team of researchers is looking to harness the power of ecosystem services in the natural environment to clean up process-affected water from...
Dalhousie wastewater testing device gains international interest for low cost
Researchers at Halifax’s Dalhousie University have developed a remarkably inexpensive 3D-printed device for wastewater analysis that is gaining traction as a way to mainstream...
North Shore WWTP builder silent on news of layoffs around delayed build in Metro...
Metro Vancouver officials say the construction company building the new North Shore WWTP has laid off a significant amount of staff and halted the project.
Saskatoon wastewater surveillance measures drugs, chemicals, dyes in WWTP and river
A research partnership between the University of Saskatchewan and the City of Saskatoon has identified recreational drugs and industrial chemicals in both Saskatoon’s Wastewater...
UWaterloo researchers map worldwide mining disasters as a new tool
Researchers at the University of Waterloo have used historical satellite imagery to map a database showing 63 tailings flow incidents that have occurred worldwide...
Improving ammonia removal at a petrochemical plant’s lagoon
A petrochemical manufacturing plant in Western Canada was experiencing difficulty in meeting the required ammonia discharge limit from its on-site wastewater lagoon system during cold-weather conditions.
The detrimental effects of combined sewer overflows and COVID-19
Researchers have found that even low levels of RNA from COVID-19, and other coronaviruses, can be detected in raw sewage before full-fledged outbreaks occur, thus allowing governments and health authorities more time to respond to protect public health and safety.
Wastewater treatment plant modernized to prepare for growing population
Midland, Ont. partnered with Schneider Electric to implement its EcoStruxure solution within its existing infrastructure. Equipping staff with easy access to data and information supports smarter energy management and enables decision-making grounded in real-time insights.
Two Alberta towns unveil WWTP upgrades totalling $35M
Albertans in the towns of St. Paul and Vermilion last week celebrated the opening of a new wastewater treatment plant and the completion of...
B.C. water infrastructure set for $110M in upgrades
British Columbia and the federal government are investing $110 million in a series of drinking water, stormwater and wastewater upgrades that range from filtration...
Ontario infrastructure has $52B repair backlog, FAO report finds
Forty-five percent of Ontario’s municipal infrastructure is not in a state of good repair, suggests a new report from the Financial Accountability Office of...
Four water treatment plant upgrades funded across Canada
Water treatment plant upgrades have received funding for projects in New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, and the Northwest Territories.
The biggest ticket item among them includes $5.9...
Regulator disciplines engineers for Mount Polley Mine tailings pond disaster
A disciplinary hearing panel led by Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia (EGBC) has issued unprofessional conduct notices against two engineers for their role in...
Winnipeg secures funding for first phase of North End sewage treatment plant overhaul
The North End Sewage Treatment Plant — the City of Winnipeg's oldest and largest — has secured some $213 million for the first of...
New wastewater data reveals surge in drug use as pandemic led to lockdowns
New municipal wastewater analysis released by Statistics Canada shows that the recreational use of cannabis, fentanyl and methamphetamine increased significantly in five major Canadian...
The unexplored toxic effects of COVID-19 disinfectants on water and wastewater
The increased use of disinfectants, including chlorine-based disinfectants, during the COVID-19 pandemic is concerning for several reasons.
The consequences of incorrectly operating wastewater evaporation ponds
The consequences of incorrectly applying the operation and methodology of evaporation to wastewater can be very real and very expensive.
Different ways to transfer essential data to water and wastewater treatment facilities
Transferring data in the water and wastewater industry is essential and vital to facility operation, with critical decisions made based on simple data.
Niagara Region works to control unnecessary inflow and infiltration
Inflow and infiltration (I/I) enters wastewater systems through cracked and broken sewer pipes and improperly connected roof and foundation drains.
WWTP begins testing rare earth coagulant to cope with rising phosphorus loading
To address increasing phosphorus loadings to its wastewater plant, Kingsville, Ontario, began working with the Ontario Clean Water Agency and Bishop Water to evaluate...
Pipe restraint resilience plays an essential role in safe water system operations
It is worth examining what criteria should be followed for restraining pipe connections and which techniques to use within particular water systems.
WEF see positivity in wipes settlement, issues guidance to class members
The Water Environment Federation (WEF) has released a new guidance document to assist water utilities in knowing their rights and understanding how they are...
Downtown Halifax redevelopment to boast eastern Canada’s first WWTP energy system
The Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) of Cogswell will host the first district energy system in eastern Canada to supply renewable energy generated by a...
Alberta wastewater innovation and energy use projects highlighted through new pilot funding
Seven Alberta communities will soon be receiving money through the Green Municipal Fund to improve water and wastewater services that range from new lagoon...
Hamilton considers new report of cleanup options for Chedoke Creek
Implementing dozens of recommendations to clean up sewage contamination of Hamilton’s Chedoke Creek could cost the Ontario city more than $150 million over 14...
Montreal researchers using willow tree chemistry to treat wastewater
Researchers at the Université de Montréal are experimenting with using the roots of willow trees in plantations to filter untreated wastewater.
Results of the project...
Ontario advances COVID variant testing with wastewater investment
New funding is helping researchers across Canada use wastewater surveillance to learn more about how the virus that causes COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) is changing over...
Saskatoon wastewater surveillance partnership earns spot on Smart 50 list
Saskatoon’s wastewater surveillance practices for COVID-19 and marine pollution have placed it on a list of 50 international projects named to the 2021 Smart...
Communities in central N.L. funded for major water, wastewater projects
A series of critical water infrastructure upgrades have been announced for central Newfoundland, including a new ultraviolet disinfection building for Grand-Falls Windsor.
In all, 12...
Repairing and protecting a 1950s era wastewater digester tank
Wastewater treatment plant maintenance and upgrading programs can sometimes unearth issues that may not be apparent during regular operation. Such an occurrence happened at a WWTP consisting of eight digesters constructed at various times between 1955 and 2010.
Bridge prevention is key to successful sewage sludge handling applications
Solids content of sludge cake in sewage sludge handling operations is a persistent problem. Traditional bridge-breaking technology fails to adequately address bridging in the resulting difficult-to-convey sludge applications. More recently, improved technology, such as NETZSCH Pumps & Systems’ aBP-Module®, has proven to be highly effective in ensuring bridge prevention.
Water, wastewater tech can improve supply, reduce energy use, increase sustainability
Heat recovery enables a resource that would otherwise go to waste to be used for purposes such as pre-heating items, including process water, feedstock, digesters or evaporators to improve energy efficiency. Heat exchangers are a good way to recapture heat from thermal processes, as a well-designed system can recover and reuse 40% of the heat produced by a wastewater anaerobic digestion plant.
Feds introduce new ammonia discharge regulation for metal and diamond mines
To limit the risks of the negative effects of mines on fish and fish habitat, the latest criteria under Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations impose a limit on ammonia release for end-of-pipe discharges.
Hamilton’s ‘Sewergate’ shows there will be future wastewater spills
Hamilton is home to one of the oldest and most complex level IV sewage collection systems anywhere and is situated in the centre of a highly eco-sensitive area. It could be the model of how a highly industrialized city handles their sewage, but environmental horror stories just keep occurring in the area year after year, decade after decade.
Kelowna deploys high-tech sewer monitoring system
All of Kelowna, B.C.’s wastewater operations need to be managed as efficiently as possible with relatively limited staff resources. At the same time, operations need to accommodate a rapidly growing population and address new challenges, such as monitoring.
Novel aeration system can improve the performance of wastewater treatment lagoons
The system uses novel aeration technology with a high-efficiency wastewater effluent pump and air aspirator-mixer to lower lagoon installation and operating costs.
Dealing with the challenges of cleaning municipal sewer and stormwater lines
Operators cleaning municipal sewer and stormwater lines face a host of challenges. These include having to clean kilometres of line in the most efficient...
A simple approach to improve the quality of rice paddy processing wastewater
Wastewater coming from rice mill operations contains high concentrations of organic and inorganic substances, causing significant pollution.
New bill aims to revert law and charge communities for raw sewage dumps
Critics of a new Private Member’s Bill say that its attempt to revert the law to its previous status and once again criminalize the...
Northern Pulp pulls environmental assessment as it promises new ‘modernized’ plan for effluent
Northern Pulp Nova Scotia says it is withdrawing its application for an environmental assessment review and will soon reveal a new design for an...
New funding means sewer upgrades planned for southeast Labrador
A series of wastewater upgrades continue in southeast Labrador, where the federal government has recently allocated more than $1.5 million for modern water infrastructure.
In...
Landmark settlement may lead to better flushability, labelling for wipes
Wipes manufacturer Kimberly-Clark Corp. has settled a lawsuit with Charleston, South Carolina’s public works commissioners, vowing to improve the “flushability” of its Cottonelle Flushable...
Ontario shipping company fined by U.S. over wastewater discharge
An Ontario-based shipping company in St. Catharines — one of the largest dry and liquid bulk carriers operating on the Great Lakes — has...
WWTP biosolids upgrade tops list of major infrastructure funding for Saskatoon
Residents of Saskatoon will soon benefit from $102 million in joint funding for 11 green infrastructure projects, including upgrades to drinking water and wastewater...
RCCAO says Ontario needs dedicated water infrastructure fund
Ontario needs a new dedicated fund to help municipalities “fix their leaky pipes and crumbling sewers”, states a call to action from the Residential...
Latest Articles
EPA issues first-of-its-kind enforcement over chemical maker’s PFAS Ohio River contamination
In its first ever Clean Water Act enforcement action, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ordered chemical maker Chemours to take corrective measures...
