Highland Creek Treatment Plant - Toronto, Ontario Wastewater Facility

Highland Creek Treatment Plant is a major wastewater facility serving the Scarborough district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. With a population served of over 381,000, it is one of the larger treatment plants in the region, contributing to the wastewater management of the Greater Toronto Area. The plant operates under Canada's federal and provincial regulatory framework, including the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and Ontario's Water Resources Act. Facilities of this scale in Ontario typically employ secondary or advanced treatment to meet effluent standards. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 million cubic meters per day, indicating a large-scale infrastructure. Treated effluent from the plant is discharged into Lake Ontario, a vital freshwater resource and part of the Great Lakes system. The lake supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for millions. The plant plays a key role in protecting the lake's water quality and the downstream St. Lawrence River ecosystem.

Highland Creek Treatment Plant discharges into Lake Ontario, which is part of the Great Lakes Basin. Lake Ontario drains via the St. Lawrence River to the Atlantic Ocean. The lake supports a complex aquatic ecosystem, including fish species such as lake trout and salmon, and is a critical migratory corridor for birds. Protecting water quality in this region is essential for both ecological health and human use.