Tone Set for Collaboration and Co-operation on Wastewater Infrastructure Projects: Klein
Representatives from the Manitoba government and the City of Winnipeg held the first meeting of the City of Winnipeg Wastewater Infrastructure Task Force on June 1 to lay the groundwork for a collaborative approach to addressing Winnipeg’s wastewater infrastructure needs, Environment and Climate Minister Kevin Klein said today.
“The meeting with task force member Brian Mayes, City of Winnipeg councillor, Michael Paterson, a senior research scientist for the Experimental Lakes Area, and Jan Oleszkiewicz, a professor of wastewater treatment, as well as technical and scientific staff and field experts from the City of Winnipeg and Manitoba government provided everyone with the opportunity to discuss the current status of wastewater infrastructure projects and to share ideas and solutions to wastewater infrastructure challenges and concerns,” said Klein. “The City of Winnipeg’s update made it clear that it is working to remove as much phosphorus as possible in the short term and that over the medium term, biological nutrient removal provides the best approach to wastewater treatment for a number of reasons including cost and environmental sustainability.”
Task force members discussed phosphorus removal using both chemical and biological methods, sustainability and capacity, nutrient recovery and costs.
“It was some real moving forward and clearing the air about what we are going to do about wastewater treatment including phosphorous removal and building capacity for development over the long term. Staff were clear that we are committed to our approach and to making progress,” said Mayes.
The next meeting of the task force is scheduled for July.
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