Research Projects at the CAWT
At the heart of CAWT are six outdoor horizontal and vertical flow wetland cells. These constructed wetlands are currently treating wastewater from Fleming College's washrooms and are a focus of CAWT cold-climate research activities.
Additional CAWT demonstration projects are underway to generate research data from a variety of constructed treatment wetlands. Our current projects explore the suitability of constructed wetlands as an alternative wastewater treatment for domestic and aquaculture applications.
Research findings from CAWT projects will help to demonstrate climate-appropriate designs and the long-term effectiveness of constructed wetlands in Canada.
CAWT Cold-Climate Study
On-going research into constructed wetland performance and treatment capabilities is a focus of CAWT. Research to develop and refine wetland sizing calculations for northern and small-scale treatment systems is being conducted at CAWT's constructed wetland and is planned for demonstration projects. Appropriate wetland sizing is very climate and contaminant-specific, and research into optimal design parameters and system configurations is critical to develop effective site-specific solutions. Performance of treatment wetlands will also be evaluated by comparisons of vertical vs. horizontal flow systems, optimum wetland cell size and performance, potential for E. coli (Eschericia coli) removal and other pathogens, the effectiveness of different plant species as well as other parameters.
Green Buildings
Sustainable Building and Design Program
The new Sustainable Building and Design program at Fleming College presents opportunities to demonstrate innovative wastewater treatment systems. As this unique program develops, CAWT staff and students from the Sustainable Building and Design course will collaborate to leave a legacy of innovative constructed wetlands intricately associated with sustainable buildings throughout central Ontario.
Residential Demonstration Project
CAWT staff designed and built a residential scale constructed wetland in May, 2005. This alternative wastewater system - located in Northumberland County - acts as a local demonstration project and an off-site research area for cold-climate constructed wetland monitoring.
Regulatory structures in Ontario do not currently recognize constructed wetlands as alternatives to more long-standing wastewater treatment systems like septic systems. This residential demonstration project will act as an empirical database for the long-term performance of constructed wetlands. Ultimately, data from this project will be used to help pave the way for wider acceptance and regulatory approval of constructed wetlands under the Ontario Building Code.
Aquaculture and Constructed Wetlands
This project is currently in the design stage. CAWT and project partners thank the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Haliburton County Development Corporation and Haliburton Highlands Stewardship Council for generously supporting this project.
The primary objective of the project is to demonstrate the practicality of constructed wetlands for the natural treatment and rehabilitation of aquacultural wastewater in the Canadian climate. Learn more about this project.
This constructed wetland project will also:
- Include new curriculum for a local high school
- Be a research and demonstration project for a wastewater treatment system that can be applied to individual landowners, cottages and the municipality
- Educate and train volunteers and students at a vibrant local attraction
- Treat aquaculture effluent to high environmental standards for source water protection and hatchery benefit
- Involve a host of collaborating organizations dedicated to publicizing and transferring the message to the community
Trillium funding recognition event with local partners
Trillium funding recognition event with local partners
Project Partners and Supporters:
- Haliburton Highlands Outdoors Association
- Haliburton Highlands Stewardship Council
- Haliburton County Development Corporation
- Haliburton Highlands Secondary School, Trillium Lakelands District School Board
- Trent University
- County of Haliburton
- Municipality of Dysart et al.
- Environment Haliburton!
- Ministry of Natural Resources - Minden Area Office
- Centre for Alternative Wastewater Treatment, Sir Sandford Fleming College
- Federation of Ontario Cottagers' Associations (FOCA)
- Haliburton-Kawartha-Pine Ridge Health Unit
- Ontario Stewardship, Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough
- U-links Centre for Community Based Education