Irish Trout Lake - Assessment of wastewater treatment systems
A citizen project behind a study on wastewater treatment systems
The Irish Trout Lake and its tributaries are subject to numerous pressures which endanger the maintenance of this ecosystem. Following the publication of a report describing the alarming situation for this environment located upstream of the Bécancour River watershed, the Irish Trout Lake Protection Association (APLTI) started in the summer of 2018 the first phase of an intermunicipal project called ACT TOGETHER – HAUTE BECANCOUR.
One of the objectives of this project was to “implement actions to sustainably counter the contributions from upstream, [including] the overflows [of wastewater] from the overflow structures of Thetford Mines and Saint-Joseph-de -Coleraine.” APLTI has chosen to collaborate with Fondation Rivières to achieve this.
Image taken from the video 2015-09-26 Lake Trout from Ireland-Chaloupe
Services
- Study of available monitoring data and patterns
- Telephone interviews with water sanitation managers
- Calculation of annual contaminant loads released
Partners and collaborators
- Association for the Protection of the Irish Trout Lake (APLTI)
- Bécancour area watershed consultation group (GROBEC)
- Adstock (Sacré-Coeur-de-Marie sector)
- St. Ferdinand
- Saint-Joseph-de-Coleraine (Vimy Ridge sector)
- Thetford Mines
Methodology
Collaborating with a citizen committee with a promising project greatly benefited the completion of this evaluation of wastewater treatment systems. APLTI's canvassing ensured that all the municipalities studied agreed to collaborate in the telephone interview process, aimed at answering a set of questions based on our interpretations of public information.
Structuring and manual data entry was relatively quick. More time could be allocated to studying the performance of wastewater treatment systems.
Duration of the study
The evaluation of wastewater treatment systems took place from April to August 2018.
Findings
01.
There is no disinfection of wastewater in Thetford Mines. This situation must be corrected.
02.
The Adstock station (Sacré-Coeur-de-Marie) is slow to install a phosphorus removal system.
03.
Saint-Joseph-de-Coleraine must examine its network to eliminate parasitic water.
The largest contamination load on Trout Lake in Ireland is attributable to wastewater from the Town of Thetford Mines.
The water quality of Irish Trout Lake: a project that is progressing tirelessly
The Fondation Rivières continued to collaborate with the APLTI following the submission of its study, in particular by offering support during its discussions with the City of Thetford Mines. The AGIR ENSEMBLE – HAUTE BÉCANCOUR project is evolving and continues to mobilize a multitude of local stakeholders to improve the water quality of the Irish Trout Lake and its tributaries.