Next Level Watershed Protection by Combining Advanced Wastewater Treatment with Phosphorus Offset Program

The next level of watershed protection will require new approaches to address comparatively significant phosphorus loads from sources other than the point discharge of wastewater treatment facilities. The challenge is that control of these other sources may be outside the traditional regulatory framework. The Town of New Tecumseth addressed these challenges using an integrated watershed approach for wastewater servicing that combines a new limit of technology advanced tertiary treatment facility with a phosphorus offset program including stormwater management and rural non-point source controls. By entering into partnership with the local Conservation Authority, the Town leveraged the CA’s directive to address the unregulated watershed loading sources with measures as needed to provide wastewater servicing based on an advanced tertiary treatment facility.