Alternative Wastewater Treatment Technologies for Southern Labrador

Type of initiative FCM Green Municipal Fund - Plans, Studies, Pilots
Sector Water
Project value$7,100
Project Type Feasibility Study
Sub Sector Watershed Management
Grant amount$3,550
Program type GMF
Municipality Town of Cartwright, NL
Status Fully Disbursed
Population 439
Project timeline 2002 - 2009
Project number 3138

Description

Cartwright and other communities on the south coast of Labrador have problems with leaking and unmanaged septicsystems. The study seeks affordable solutions to these problems by using an alternative wastewater treatmenttechnology, the peat filter/constructed wetland treatment system. The system connects to an existing septic tank,replacing the absorption field. It uses peat to disinfect and a constructed wetland to further polish wastewater. Thissystem prevents the contamination of local drinking water sources by ensuring that all pathogens and most nutrients inthe wastewater are removed before it returns to the surface or groundwater. Such a system could improve thewastewater treatment over current septic systems or ocean outfalls.

Applicant

Quebec-Labrador Foundation, NL