Overview
Holtyre Wastewater Lagoon serves 188 people in Black River-Matheson Township, Ontario, Canada. The secondary treatment plant discharges 156 cubic meters of treated wastewater annually.
Holtyre Wastewater Lagoon is a municipal treatment facility located in the community of Holtyre, within Black River-Matheson Township, Cochrane District, Northeastern Ontario, Canada. The plant serves a small population of 188 residents, reflecting its role in a rural setting. As a secondary treatment lagoon system, it provides biological treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The plant operates under Ontario's regulatory framework for wastewater systems, which aligns with the Canada-wide standards for municipal wastewater effluent. For small agglomerations like Holtyre, secondary treatment is the expected minimum to protect receiving waters. The plant's annual discharge volume of 156 cubic meters indicates a low-flow system typical of small lagoons in cold climates. The treated effluent is released into a local watercourse that drains into the Abitibi River system, ultimately flowing into James Bay. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is part of the larger Hudson Bay drainage basin. The plant's inland location, over 10 km from the coast, reduces direct marine impact, but its discharge contributes to the freshwater ecosystem of the region.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into a tributary of the Abitibi River, which flows northward into James Bay, a southern extension of Hudson Bay. This watershed is ecologically sensitive, supporting fish species such as walleye and northern pike, and providing habitat for migratory waterfowl. The region's boreal forest and peatlands influence water quality, and the plant's secondary treatment helps mitigate nutrient loading in this cold-water environment.
Frequently asked questions
Holtyre Wastewater Lagoon is located at 659 Euclid Avenue in Holtyre, within Black River-Matheson Township, Cochrane District, Northeastern Ontario, Canada.
The plant serves a population of 188 residents, reflecting its role as a small rural wastewater facility.
The plant uses secondary treatment via a lagoon system and discharges treated effluent into a local watercourse that drains into the Abitibi River system, ultimately reaching James Bay.
The plant operates under Ontario's wastewater regulations, which implement the Canada-wide Strategy for Municipal Wastewater Effluent. For small systems like this, secondary treatment is the standard requirement.
For very small agglomerations in Canada, lagoon-based secondary treatment is common due to its low operational cost and effectiveness in cold climates. The system relies on natural biological processes to treat wastewater.
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