Winnipeg, MB – Today, the City of Winnipeg’s Interim Chemical Phosphorous Removal Project came online. It will reduce the amount of phosphorous that leaves the North End Sewage Treatment Plant by up to 38 percent.
We will spend the next year optimizing the system. This will allow us to maximize phosphorous removal in changing sewage conditions, while we complete the remaining upgrades at the plant.
“Using a chemical process allows us to make an immediate impact on the health of Lake Winnipeg in a cost-effective way while we continue to have discussions with the provincial and federal governments about funding more extensive solutions,” said Mayor Scott Gillingham.
The project cost $19.3 million and is not part of the North End Sewage Treatment Plant upgrades. While this does not bring the plant into compliance, it does significantly reduce the amount we contribute to Lake Winnipeg during the upgrades.
Since 2006, we have reduced our phosphorous loads to Lake Winnipeg by approximately 45 percent.
“We care about Lake Winnipeg. This is why Council directed the Public Service to explore opportunities to safely speed up the North End Sewage Treatment Plant upgrades,” said Brian Mayes, Chairperson of the Standing Policy Committee on Water, Waste and Environment. “We want to do our part to protect Lake Winnipeg.”
The North End Sewage Treatment Plant Upgrade project has a budget of over $1.8 billion.