Ontario is investing in innovative solutions to help protect Great Lakes water quality. The Keswick Water Pollution Control Plant is testing an advanced oxidation process to reduce the amount of phosphorus and micro pollutants such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products entering Lake Simcoe.
Advanced oxidation processes have been demonstrated to remove pharmaceutical and personal care products from water and wastewater and several municipalities have initiated treatment systems based on this technology already.
The Keswick project is part of Showcasing Water Innovation, a program that supports projects that demonstrate innovative and cost effective approaches to improve drinking water, wastewater treatment, and storm water systems that can be used by communities across the province.
The program is helping communities find innovative wastewater treatment solutions to keep Great Lakes healthy. 80 percent of Ontarians get their drinking water from the Great Lakes. Water and wastewater is the largest sub-sector of Ontario’s environment industry employing 22,000 people and generating and $1.8 billion in sales.