Overview
Wastewater system Old Massett is a secondary treatment plant serving 607 people in Area D (Graham Island), British Columbia, Canada. It discharges 625 cubic meters of treated wastewater daily near the coast.
Wastewater system Old Massett is a municipal treatment facility located on Graham Island in the North Coast Regional District of British Columbia, Canada. The plant serves a small community of 607 residents in the Area D (Graham Island) region, providing essential wastewater treatment for this remote coastal area. The plant employs secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment process required under Canadian federal and provincial regulations for communities of this size. The plant's discharge volume of 625 cubic meters per day indicates it is sized appropriately for the local population. Canadian wastewater facilities are regulated under the Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations (WSER) administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada. The treated effluent is discharged into the coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean near the northern tip of Graham Island. This area is part of the Hecate Strait ecosystem, which supports diverse marine life including salmon, herring, and marine mammals. The plant's coastal location requires careful management to protect sensitive nearshore habitats and water quality.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Pacific Ocean near the coast of Graham Island, part of the Haida Gwaii archipelago. The receiving waters flow into Hecate Strait, a biologically productive marine area that supports critical fisheries and migratory bird populations. The coastal ecosystem is sensitive to nutrient inputs and requires effective treatment to maintain water quality and protect marine biodiversity.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located on Eagle Avenue in Area D (Graham Island), within the North Coast Regional District of British Columbia, Canada. It serves the community of Old Massett on Graham Island, part of the Haida Gwaii archipelago.
The plant serves a population of 607 residents in the Area D (Graham Island) region. This is a small community, and the plant is sized accordingly to handle the local wastewater load.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean near the northern tip of Graham Island. The discharge volume is 625 cubic meters per day, and the plant uses secondary treatment to reduce pollutants before release.
The plant operates under the Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations (WSER) administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada. These regulations set national standards for effluent quality, including limits on carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand, suspended solids, and other parameters.
For small communities in Canada, secondary treatment is the standard requirement under the WSER. This typically involves biological treatment processes such as activated sludge or lagoon systems to remove organic matter and solids before discharge.
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