Sewage Treatment

The protection of Lake Winnipeg has been identified as a key commitment of Manitoba's new government in the October 2023 mandate letters issued by Premier Wab Kinew.

Mandate letters outline the premier’s expectations for each cabinet minister, including government priorities they are to focus on and specific objectives they are to accomplish.

Environment and Climate Change Minister Tracy Schmidt has been directed to “Work with experts and scientists to protect Lake Winnipeg and safeguard the health of all our waterways.”

Minister Lisa Naylor, who leads the departments of Transportation and...

For years, successive provincial governments have ignored the phosphorus pollution released by Winnipeg’s North End Water Pollution Control Centre (NEWPCC). This provincial election, join us in calling for phosphorus compliance at Winnipeg’s largest sewage treatment plant.

Excess phosphorus is the cause of harmful algal blooms on Lake Winnipeg – and NEWPCC is the single largest point source of phosphorus flowing into the lake. In 2005, the province set a phosphorus limit of 1.0 mg/L in NEWPCC’s operating licence. Almost 20 years later, NEWPCC remains non-compliant with this limit – and two...

Winnipeg’s next mayor and council will make critical decisions about environmental protection for Lake Winnipeg.

In the leadup to Oct. 26’s election, together with our partners at the Lake Winnipeg Indigenous Collective (LWIC) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), we are asking civic candidates to commit to achieving phosphorus compliance at Winnipeg’s largest sewage treatment plant.

Excess phosphorus causes harmful algal blooms on Lake Winnipeg, and Winnipeg’s north end plant is the single largest point source of phosphorus flowing into the lake.  

For 18 years...

On July 21, city council passed two important motions that put us on the path towards accelerated phosphorus compliance at Winnipeg’s largest sewage treatment plant.

Improved interim solution gets approval

Winnipeg’s city council approved funding for an updated plan for interim phosphorus removal at the North End Water Pollution Control Centre (NEWPCC). This plan improves on the city’s initial design in order to maximize phosphorus removal while reducing the amount of sludge produced as a by-product.

LWF strongly supports this plan since it will lead to tangible, measurable phosphorus...