Development of a wastewater module as a sustainable evaluation tool

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As organizations struggle to incorporate a triple-bottom-line approach - the economic, social and environmental dimensions of a decision - a Canadian-developed tool named GoldSET© (Golder Sustainability Evaluation Tool) has emerged as a leading solution. It is a sustainability decision support tool for engineering projects created by Golder Associates. The objective of this project is to develop a wastewater sustainable-development module based upon Golder Associate's GoldSET© framework. In 2010, Golder developed a beta Wastewater module in order to explore how sustainability can be accounted for in wastewater and stormwater management. Golder Associates (Golder) will work in a research partnership with Concordia University to develop a definitive wastewater treatment (WT) module to be integrated in GoldSET©. The proposed GoldSET©-WT will be designed to streamline the evaluation process of wastewater treatment technologies. The current list of indicators is incomplete when describing most wastewater projects in detail. Thus, it is in this area the partnership is to be focused. Development of the wastewater module will significantly expand the sustainability consulting service that Golder Associates can deliver within an existing core business unit (wastewater engineering). In addition, many of Golder's existing sustainability service clients have already indicated interest in additional wastewater sustainability services. Through this partnership, this project will help find and implement sustainable and effective solutions in wastewater treatments that will benefit the local communities and on a broader perspective; the nation's economy and productivity as a whole. The application of the tool is starting to get momentum in the Canadian industry as seen by the adoption of customized versions of the GoldSET© application developed for leading North American public and private companies to help them in their remediation operation management across Canada.