Development of a Solar Powered Wastewater Treatment System for Small, Remote Communities

Domestic wastewater treatment in rural and remote regions of Canada presents significant challenges.Conventional mechanical wastewater treatment plants are typically not an appropriate technology in theseregions. Environment Canada recently implemented new regulations for municipal wastewater systems and it isanticipated that remote, Northern communities will be challenged to meet these new effluent quality guidelineswith the systems currently in place. Further effluent polishing will most likely be required in order to achievecompliance with proposed guidelines. The primary goal of this research project is to develop design andoperational guidelines for Island Water Technologies REGENTM wastewater treatment system for providingsecondary treatment of municipal wastewater effluent in remote, northern communities. The experimentalbiological wastewater treatment system is designed to be powered by renewable energy, making it ideal foroff-the-grid locations in the Canadian Arctic. The research project will focus on developing a betterunderstanding on biofilm growth kinetics within the system, and identification of operating conditions thatoptimize biofilm growth and treatment performance.