Undertreated Sewage Contributes to Harmful Algal Blooms

The Lake Winnipeg Foundation and the International Institute for Sustainable Development argue that phosphorus from undertreated sewage is driving toxic algae blooms in Lake Winnipeg. They identify the North End Water Pollution Control Centre (NEWPCC) as the largest point source of phosphorus for the lake and the fourth largest phosphorus polluter among Canadian wastewater facilities. While a full plant upgrade is planned, it is estimated to cost $1.8 billion and will not begin for at least 10 years. The authors propose a $5 million interim retrofit that could be implemented quickly to reduce the plant's phosphorus contribution by 70%.

• Phosphorus is identified as the nutrient responsible for potentially toxic algae blooms in freshwater lakes, and excess phosphorus is currently causing such blooms on Lake Winnipeg.
• The North End Water Pollution Control Centre (NEWPCC) is the largest point source of phosphorus entering Lake Winnipeg and ranks as the fourth largest phosphorus polluter among all wastewater treatment plants in Canada.
• A full upgrade of the NEWPCC is estimated to cost $1.8 billion with nutrient-reduction efforts delayed by at least 10 years; however, a $5 million interim retrofit could quickly reduce the facility's phosphorus contribution by 70%.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (2019). Undertreated Sewage Contributes to Harmful Algal Blooms. https://www.iisd.org/publications/guide/undertreated-sewage-contributes-harmful-algal-blooms

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. Undertreated Sewage Contributes to Harmful Algal Blooms. 2019. https://www.iisd.org/publications/guide/undertreated-sewage-contributes-harmful-algal-blooms.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=Undertreated Sewage Contributes to Harmful Algal Blooms |date=22 March 2019 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/guide/undertreated-sewage-contributes-harmful-algal-blooms |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopment2019undertreated, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{Undertreated Sewage Contributes to Harmful Algal Blooms}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2019}, month = mar, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/guide/undertreated-sewage-contributes-harmful-algal-blooms}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }