Validating Environmental and Human Health Improvements Associated with Wastewater Treatment Upgrades in Arctic Communities

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The construction and operation of municipal water and wastewater infrastructure in northern communities is challenging due to the extreme climate, and remoteness of the communities. The majority of communities in the Canadian North therefore use passive wastewater treatment systems such as lagoons and wetlands. Passive systems have lower operational costs and maintenance requirements and are more resilient in extreme climates. However, design guidelines for passive wastewater treatment systems operating in the Canadian North need to be refined and tested at the field scale. This project will focus on a holistic assessment of a current, and upgraded, wastewater treatment system in the community of Baker Lake, Nunavut. The industrial partner, Agnico-Eagle, is partnering with the community on the development of a new wastewater treatment system. An interdisciplinary team will study key questions related to understanding and minimizing the impacts of municipal wastewater effluent discharges on aquatic environments and public health in Canadian Arctic communities. One of the primary outcomes of the project will be the validation of design and planning criteria for passive wastewater treatment systems operating in the Canadian Arctic. The project team is comprised of experts in the fields of environmental engineering, aquatic ecology, toxicology and environmental microbiology, and will capitalize on this unique opportunity to link wastewater system improvements to ecological and human health benefits. A total of 15 HQP will be trained including several students from the Nunavut Arctic College's Environmental Technology Program.