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