Phosphorus Precipitation and Recovery for Beneficial Reuse in the RM of Taché

The Rural Municipality of Taché has a population of about 11,568 and is located 25 minutes southeast of Winnipeg. The municipality has seen significant population growth over the past decades and anticipates growth of 12.5% by 2021 and of 30% by 2036. Eutrophication is a major concern in the overall health of Lake Winnipeg and high phosphorus levels from municipal wastewater and agricultural sources are the major contributors to the problem. Manitoba currently has a regulation that permits a maximum of one milligram per litre of total phosphorous for discharged wastewater for all municipalities. This limit that is often extremely challenging for municipalities to meet. There are a number of tested and known methods for lowering the concentration of phosphorous in wastewater; however, for small municipalities in Manitoba (less than 20,000 people), most developed technologies are either ineffective or too expensive. The purpose of this initiative is to remove and recover phosphorus from the municipal wastewater in the Town of Landmark’s lagoon, located within the municipality, using a coagulant, flocculant and filtering media. This system effectively removes the phosphorus and then it is composted with other municipal organics in a closed vessel. Through this process, phosphorus will be permanently removed from the waste stream and will be made available for reuse. Phosphorous removal in the vast majority of wastewater lagoons in Manitoba is done by adding ferric chloride (FeCl3) or alum as a coagulant directly to the lagoon. The process of coagulation results in the formation of a large volume of sludge and reduces the hydraulic capacity and lifespan of lagoons. The municipality is looking for a system that will increase the lifespan of lagoons and reduce maintenance costs. This pilot will be used to refine parameters and obtain the necessary data to design and implement a permanent full-scale phosphorous removal and recovery system in the future. The proposed system would be easily scalable to meet the needs of most lagoons in Manitoba, which are predominantly smaller in capacity. Innovative aspect(s): Turning a sewage system waste product into an asset is very much beyond business as usual, especially for a small rural municipality in a region not known for innovation in this regard. Replicability: If successful, the pilot study could offer an affordable and sustainable solution to other municipalities facing similar challenges not only in Manitoba but throughout all of Canada. Environmental benefits: · Phosphorus removal to below the required 1mg/L · Reduction of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and total suspended solids (TSS) by more than 50% Economic benefits: · Reduced costs of long-term sludge handling · Decrease in facility operating and maintenance costs related to the removal of sludge · Extended lifespan of lagoons Social benefits: · Reduction of algal blooms will improve the quality of life for recreation and fishing in Lake Winnipeg · Increased civic pride and participation as this will be a first in the Manitoba municipal sector (Project description from original funding application)