MAPLETON – Mapleton’s wastewater treatment plant was recognized by the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) on Nov. 13.
The GRCA held its annual workshop for municipal participants of its Watershed-wide Wastewater Optimization Program (WWOP) at its administration centre in Cambridge on that date.
The goal of the WWOP is to improve the water quality of the Grand River by reducing phosphorus and ammonia levels from wastewater treatment plants.
The workshop aims to share knowledge within the Grand River watershed community of wastewater practitioners, celebrate accomplishments of the WWOP, and recognize municipal wastewater treatment plants that performed exceptionally, officials say.
This includes going above and beyond regulatory requirements and achieving the GRCA’s voluntary effluent targets for phosphorus and ammonia levels, they add.
These targets are established by the Water Managers Working Group as a part of its collaborative water management plan. To be eligible, plants must meet all their Environmental Compliance Approval limits and each plant is quantitatively scored based on the established recognition program criteria.
This year, 17 municipal wastewater treatment plants in the Grand River watershed were recognized, which is the highest number since the program’s inception in 2012.
Since 2012, the total loadings from wastewater treatment plants to the Grand River have decreased by 38 per cent for total phosphorus and 93% for total ammonia nitrogen.
The following municipal wastewater treatment plants were recognized this year for their exceptional performance:
– Brantford and Conestogo with gold recognition;
– Mapleton, Ayr, Caledonia, Cayuga, Dunnville, Elmira, Grand Valley, Guelph, New Hamburg and Wellesley with silver; and
– Kitchener, Paris, Preston, St. Jacobs and Waterloo with bronze.
For more information visit the GRCA website.
