Ultraviolet treatment is back on at our North End Wastewater Treatment Plant (NEWPCC) - and it’s now 75 percent more energy efficient.
UV treatment uses UV light to neutralize bacteria and viruses, like E.coli and fecal coliforms, from treated wastewater. It’s the last step before we release treated wastewater into the Red River.
Why we had to pause treatment
Last October, we temporarily shut off the UV treatment for wastewater at the North End Wastewater Treatment Plant (NEWPCC). We had to do this to complete necessary upgrade work.
Shutting off the UV treatment meant treated wastewater we released into the Red River had more bacteria and viruses than normal. At the time, we advised residents to consider safety precautions if using the Red River for recreational activities, immediately downstream of NEWPCC.
We’ve now lifted our safety warnings and removed signage on nearby trails and river access points.
All upgrades to our UV treatment facility continue and are expected to be completed in fall 2026.
NEWPCC upgrades
UV treatment is only one small part of the many upgrades happening at the Plant. Hundreds of people are working on the NEWPCC upgrade projects every day. Within the next six months, we expect to:
- Begin building the Biosolids Facilities
- Begin commissioning the Headworks Facilities
The NEWPCC upgrade projects will help us meet our licensing requirements. They will also reduce the amount of phosphorous and nitrogen entering our local waterways, including Lake Winnipeg.
Our City, Our Podcast
Engineers Linda McCusker and Lana Obach are on the team leading these upgrades. They joined Our City, Our Podcast to discuss why this massive project is critical for Winnipeg. This episode was released in February 2026.