Waterloo Biofilter Systems Inc.

Ontario’s Green School Pilot Initiative – Year One Sewage Treatment Results

Robin Jowett — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 12:11:07 +0000

The Green Schools Pilot Initiative (GSPI) is a joint program of the Ministry of Economic Development & Innovation and the Ministry of Education that seeks to identify, demonstrate and test innovative green technologies at Ontario schools. After a rigorous selection process, Waterloo Biofilter Systems was selected to participate in the GSPI due to their clear environmental benefits as well as reduced energy usage and operating costs. Three schools participating in the program were relying on inefficient suspended growth-extended aeration sewage treatment technologies that were either underperforming or proving too costly to operate. Baseline data such as electrical consumption, operations and maintenance costs, noise and odour pollution, and effluent quality were collected on these systems, which were then replaced with Waterloo Biofilter technology where the same data was collected. This directly comparable data highlights the treatment efficacy of the Waterloo Biofilter system, as well as its reduced noise, odour, and operating costs.

In total, ongoing operating cost savings of over $60,000 per year were achieved with the Waterloo Biofilter technology. Also demonstrated is the potential for wastewater reuse and recycling, as well as enhanced nutrient removal with the WaterNOx Biological Anoxic Filter.

Please click the following link for the full paper on the Green Schools Pilot Initiative.

Waterloo Biofilter system wins Environmental Award of Excellence

Robin Jowett — Mon, 07 May 2012 06:13:57 +0000

A Waterloo Biofilter system designed by J. R. Cousin Consultants Ltd. for Manitoba Parks has won the 2011 Environmental Award of Excellence given by the Manitoba Association of Consulting Engineering Companies.

The White Lake Campground in Whiteshell Provincial Park was in need of a new wastewater treatment system to replace the septic field, which had failed and was decommissioned in 2008. Temporary holding tanks were installed on site, with ongoing pumping and truck hauling, however a permanent and more sustainable solution for wastewater management was essential for the environmentally sensitive parkland area.

JRCC utilized the Waterloo Biofilter wastewater treatment system for biological filtration, followed by UV disinfection, to produce high quality effluent with field dispersal. The Waterloo Biofilter onsite sewage system can be remotely controlled and monitored.

The White Lake Campground now has an energy efficient, environmentally sound, sustainable, and technologically advanced effluent treatment and disposal system. This system is the largest Waterloo Biofilter installation in Manitoba and will provide a safe and long-term solution for the Parks and Natural Areas Branch.

Please click the following link to read more on this award-winning Waterloo Biofilter system.

Ontario Cottages & Sewage System Nutrients – Part III

Robin Jowett — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 23:51:49 +0000

Removing nutrients from septic systems helps to protect Ontario’s lakes and maintain lakefront cottage property values. This final installment of the three-part mini-series covers septic system options available to Ontario homeowners including holding tanks, clustered systems, septic tanks and filtration treatment units. Nitrogen and phosphorus removal techniques ranging from recirculation, chemical addition, and urine diversion are discussed. The ability to inspect and verify that a septic system is performing as intended is crucial to the sustainability and environmental protection afforded by it. By treating wastewater outside of the natural environment, removing nutrients and including proper maintenance, septic systems can become a permanent ‘environmentally benign infrastructure’ that helps to protect Ontario’s water sources.

A three part mini-series by Waterloo Biofilter focuses on septic system nutrients and their effects on Ontario cottagers. Part III was published by the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations (FOCA) in their Spring 2011 Newsletter.

Please click the following link to read Part III of this series on Ontario septic systems.

Ontario Cottages and Sewage System Nutrients – Part 2

Robin Jowett — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 23:37:42 +0000

Household sewage contains many nutrients that if left untreated can be hazardous to the natural soil environment or human health. This is of greater concern today than it was in years past with the introduction of water conservation techniques and more household chemical use and medications. Modern sewage treatment requires a two-stage ‘multiple barrier’ or ‘double filtration’ approach to attain the desired health and safety and environmental objectives.

A three part mini-series by Waterloo Biofilter focuses on septic system nutrients and their effects on Ontario cottagers. Part II was published by the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations (FOCA) in their Fall 2010 Newsletter.

Please click the following link to read Part II of this series on septic system nutrients.

Ontario Cottages and Sewage System Nutrients – Part 1

Robin Jowett — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 13:33:03 +0000

Septic systems can be designed and operated to be ‘permanent infrastructure’ equivalent to municipal wastewater treatment systems by taking the sewage treatment outside of the natural environment. High-level treatment by aerobic bio-filtration followed by polishing and disposal in the soil greatly reduces the environmental impact on natural soil and water, as well as the potential for health and safety risks. When coupled with high levels of nutrient removal, this permanent infrastructure is also ‘environmentally benign’ with little or no impact on natural water resources.

A three part mini-series by Waterloo Biofilter focuses on septic system nutrients and their effects on Ontario cottagers. Part I was published by the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations (FOCA) in their Spring/Summer 2010 Newsletter.

Please click the following link to read Part I of this series on septic system nutrients.

Sewage Treatment Key to a Healthy Environment

Robin Jowett — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 12:43:45 +0000

Waterloo Biofilter Systems Inc. was recently featured in an article by The Muskoka Sun, a weekly newspaper catering to Ontario’s cottage industry. Published under the weekly “Cottage Under Construction” series, the article discusses the need for wastewater treatment to protect the natural environment in Ontario’s prized Muskoka cottage country.

Conventional drainfield septic systems are generally not an option in the Muskoka area due to lack of suitable soils, high water table and bedrock. Where they are installed, conventional septic systems may be unknowingly polluting lakes and groundwater because there is no way to verify treatment and no maintenance contracts are required. Alternative septic solutions like the Waterloo Biofilter help protect Muskoka’s lakefront by treating sewage before disposal and allowing verification of treatment performance during routine maintenance visits.

Waterloo Biofilter’s Flat Bed and Cedar Shed Biofilters can be installed on very small lots, high water table and bedrock, making them ideal solutions for the Muskoka region. Please click on the following link to read the full article on Muskoka septic systems.

Ontario GreenFIT Strategy Showcases Waterloo Biofilter Installation at Provincial Park

Robin Jowett — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 12:24:39 +0000

The Government of Ontario’s Green Focus on Innovation and Technology (GreenFIT) strategy recently showcased a successful installation of Waterloo Biofilter technology at the Rideau River Provincial Park. Two SC-40 packaged wastewater treatment plants installed at the provincially-owned campground treat the design sewage flow of 80,000 L/day. The Waterloo Biofilter on-site wastewater treatment system was chosen because of its low energy consumption, high level of treatment, and the ability to overcome difficult site constraints of high water table and clay soil.

The GreenFIT strategy aims to make Ontario more competitive, innovative and sustainable through targeted purchasing of green technologies. Please click on the following link to read the full Waterloo Biofilter GreenFIT Showcase.

‘Multiple Barrier’ Septic Systems Increase Environmental Protection

Robin Jowett — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 00:17:25 +0000

While homeowner habits have dramatically changed over the years, the design of conventional septic systems has not kept pace. People today use much more water, disinfectants and other cleaning chemicals compared to even 10 years ago, but their conventional septic tank and drainfield disposal system have remained generally unchanged for over 50 years.

Waterloo Biofilter’s newest research article, published in the March 2010 edition of Environmental Science & Engineering Magazine, identifies the shortcomings of conventional septic systems with their ‘single barrier’ approach to wastewater treatment, and stresses the need for residential sewage treatment outside of the natural environment. Septic systems that have separate and detached sewage treatment and sewage disposal components are more easily maintained and their performance is verifiable. A Waterloo Biofilter system comprising a physical media filter followed by a fine sand or soil polishing and disposal bed, provides a preferred ‘multiple barrier’ solution that offers increased protection of soils and groundwater.

Please click the following link to read the full article on modern residential wastewater treatment (PDF, 222KB).

Waterloo Selected for Green Schools Program

Robin Jowett — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 13:32:36 +0000

Waterloo Biofilter Systems is proud to announce that a number of their onsite wastewater treatment technologies have been selected to participate in the Ontario Green Schools Pilot Initiative. This joint initiative of the Ontario Ministry of Education and Ministry of Research & Innovation seeks to “identify, demonstrate and test innovative green products.” Installations at several Ontario schools in late-2010 will feature SC-40 Shipping Container packaged wastewater treatment plants, WaterNOx biological anoxic filters for enhanced nutrient removal, as well as wastewater reuse systems to allow for non-potable water recycling.

Waterloo Biofilter’s green technologies were chosen due to their high treatment capabilities, energy efficiency, low operating costs, and ability to reuse treated wastewater directly onsite.

New site launched

Robin Jowett — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:17:32 +0000

Waterloo Biofilter is proud to announce the launch of our new website. Stay tuned to this section for news, announcements and events.