April 15, 2016 - The City of Thunder Bay has made improvements to its water and wastewater systems through a Showcasing Water Innovation (SWI) grant from the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change.

The SWI grants were intended for recipients to pioneer cost-effective and innovative approaches to sustainable water management solutions. The projects enabled participants to protect water resources, optimize existing infrastructure, defer capital investments, stabilize operating costs, conserve water and reduce energy use and carbon emissions. 

In Thunder Bay, the grants allowed the installation of energy-efficient turbo blowers at the City's Atlantic Avenue Water Pollution Control Plant through partnership with the Ontario Clean Water Agency and turbo blower manufacturer APG-Neuros. The funding also helped launch a pilot project to implement an innovative water treatment process at the Bare Point Water Treatment Plant.

"The provision of wastewater and water services in Thunder Bay requires a great deal of energy," said Michelle Warywoda, Director - Environment Division. "Through the SWI funds we were able to take advantage of innovative technology and equipment, which allowed us to reduce costs and increase the effectiveness of our water and wastewater systems."

The new turbo blowers at the Atlantic Avenue plant have reduced energy consumption for the aeration process by more than 25 per cent.

Meanwhile, the pilot project at Bare Point is a partnership between the City and Lakehead University to investigate the use of a bi-functional electrode, which combines light and electrical current to remove contaminants from water. Study results indicated a significant reduction in the amount of wastewater generated and chemicals used during the water treatment process (33 and 50 per cent respectively) due to this new technology.

The City of Thunder Bay was one of 32 communities supported through the Showcasing Water Innovation project, which also involved 16 partners from the university and college sector as well as seven First Nations across the province.

For the final report on the SWI initiatives and City of Thunder Bay case studies, visit thunderbay.ca/wastewater

- 30 -

Contact: Michelle Warywoda, Director - Environment Division, 625-2836