IFAS Demonstration for Cost-Efficient Wastewater Treatment

Type of initiative FCM Green Municipal Fund - Plans, Studies, Pilots
Sector Water
Project value$1,213,000
Project Type Pilot Project
Sub Sector Wastewater Management and Treatment
Grant amount$100,000
Program type GMF
Municipality Region of Peel, ON
Status Fully Disbursed
Population 1,451,022
Project timeline 2002 - 2011
Project number 3276

Description

The Region of Peel operates two wastewater treatment plants that discharge into Lake Ontario. The region plans toexpand both plants by 2006. Enhanced treatment will be required to discharge a non–toxic effluent using the process ofnitrification. The pilot project will evaluate using nitrification through an innovative technology called integrated fixedfilm/suspended growth (IFAS). Existing aeration tanks will be retrofitted to provide both suspended and fixed filmmicroorganism growth. The IFAS process can operate at a much higher rate, meaning that no capacity would be lost toachieve nitrification. A cost–benefit analysis will be completed to compare the IFAS approach to conventional methods.Pending a favourable financial analysis, the IFAS approach will be implemented at full scale for the plant expansions.

Applicant

Region of Peel, ON