StatsCan: snapshot of Canadian municipal wastewater systems
July 2, 2019
By
CCE
Just over 5 900 million cubic metres of sewage flowed through municipal wastewater systems that processed 100 cubic metres per day or more of sewage in 2017.
Statistics Canada has released data on municipal wastewater systems in Canada through 2017.
According to the report, just over 5 900 million cubic metres of sewage flowed through municipal wastewater systems that processed 100 cubic metres per day or more of sewage in 2017, equivalent to the volume of water that flows over Niagara Falls over a 24-day period.
In 2017, 1 535 million cubic metres were discharged from primary treatment systems, which remove a portion of suspended solids and organic matter by physical and/or chemical processes.
Secondary treatment systems, which remove biodegradable organic matter and suspended solids using biological treatment processes and secondary settlement, processed 2 827 million cubic metres.
Tertiary systems, which further remove residual suspended solids, nutrients and/or other contaminants using various physical, chemical or biological processes, released 1 442 million cubic metres.
Systems that provide no treatment discharged 106 million cubic metres of wastewater back into the environment.
Municipal wastewater discharges by treatment category, 2017 (Statistics Canada)
