Overview
Courtice WPCP in Clarington, Ontario, Canada serves approximately 56,664 people. The plant is operational and located within 50 km of the coast, discharging into the Lake Ontario watershed.
Courtice WPCP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Clarington, Ontario, within the Durham Region of the Golden Horseshoe. It serves a population of around 56,664, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under Canadian wastewater standards. The plant is operational and plays a key role in managing wastewater for this growing community. As a Canadian facility, Courtice WPCP operates under the federal Fisheries Act and provincial Ontario Water Resources Act, which mandate treatment standards to protect receiving waters. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in million gallons per day or similar units), indicating a moderate infrastructure footprint. The treated effluent from Courtice WPCP ultimately discharges into Lake Ontario, part of the Great Lakes system, which is a critical freshwater resource. The plant's proximity to the lake (within 50 km of the coast) underscores the importance of effective treatment to prevent nutrient loading and protect aquatic ecosystems. Lake Ontario supports diverse fish populations and provides drinking water for millions of people downstream.
Environmental context
Courtice WPCP discharges into the Lake Ontario basin, which is part of the St. Lawrence River watershed and ultimately drains to the Atlantic Ocean. The plant's location near the lake's north shore means its effluent can influence nearshore water quality, particularly in terms of phosphorus and nitrogen levels. Lake Ontario supports a complex food web, including species like lake trout and alewife, and is a vital drinking water source. The plant's operation is subject to strict nutrient management regulations to prevent eutrophication and harmful algal blooms.
Frequently asked questions
Courtice WPCP is located in Clarington, Ontario, Canada, within the Durham Region of the Golden Horseshoe area.
The plant serves approximately 56,664 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration.
The treated effluent from Courtice WPCP is discharged into the Lake Ontario watershed, which is part of the Great Lakes system.
The plant operates under Canada's Fisheries Act and Ontario's Water Resources Act, which set effluent quality standards to protect aquatic life and human health.
In Ontario, municipal wastewater plants of this scale typically provide secondary treatment, including biological processes, to meet provincial effluent standards before discharge.
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