North End Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade project reaches major milestone

Released: August 26, 2026 at 1:47 p.m.
Residents in the area may notice occasional odours as systems come online

Winnipeg, MB – The first of three large upgrades to the North End Wastewater Treatment Plant (NEWPCC) is now operational.

“For too many years, the North End treatment plant was a project everyone knew had to get done, but progress was far too slow. We’ve changed that,” said Mayor Scott Gillingham. “Today, the first major component of the largest capital project in Winnipeg’s history is operational, and work is moving ahead across the rest of the plant. This is real progress on a project that is essential to protecting Lake Winnipeg, meeting our environmental obligations and supporting the future growth of our city.”

The NEWPCC Headworks Facilities started to come online this morning, marking a major milestone for the largest capital project in City of Winnipeg history.

"The NEWPCC Upgrades are so important," said Councillor Ross Eadie, Chair of the Standing Policy Committee on Water, Waste, and Environment. "The Headworks Facilities coming online today is the first step toward meeting our licence requirements and helping protect our local waterways for future generations."

The Headworks Facilities are an important component of the wastewater system. They collect all incoming wastewater from deep underground and pump it to ground level. At ground level, large debris and grit are removed to protect downstream equipment and processes.

As the facilities ramp up operation, people in the area may notice occasional odours. We expect this to be an intermittent issue through September as we introduce a new odour control system.

The system uses bacteria to break down smells before air is discharged from the Headworks Facilities.

For more information on the NEWPCC Upgrades, visit winnipeg.ca/newpccupgrades.

You can also sign up for new NEWPCC Upgrade Newsletter so you never miss an update.

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