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Managing wastewater for a future-ready Guelph

Guelph waste water outfall

In 2020, the City initiated an update to the Wastewater Treatment and Biosolids Management Master Plan to make sure everything that is flushed down your sinks, drains and toilets is managed sustainably, protects the environment, including local rivers, wetlands and other waterways, and can handle Guelph’s growing population.

As we reviewed the plan, staff engaged with the community, regulatory agencies, and indigenous groups. We listened to feedback and learned how wastewater management affects our community and our environment, including the Speed River. We heard that we need to consider advances in treatment technologies and explore sustainable and cost-efficient wastewater treatment concepts that mitigate climate change and support the City’s goal of using 100 per cent renewable energy sources by 2050.  

Based on community engagement and Council’s approval in 2022, staff are working to:    

  • maximize the use of buildings, treatment processes and other infrastructure
  • use sustainable new technologies and processes to mitigate climate change impacts:
    • continue to use and potentially expand on-site energy production to save energy costs and reduce the carbon footprint
    • improve filtration to increase capacity in the third stage of the wastewater treatment process
    • ensure regulated discharge limits into the Speed River are safe and sustainable based on technical data collected both upstream and downstream of the treatment facility

The City is committed to protecting the environment, including our water resources. These updates will allow us to meet the demands of our growing community now and for decades to come.

Additional 2022 highlights

Water Resource Recovery Centre

What goes down comes around at the Water Resource Recovery Centre

Staff and the public had much to celebrate on April 23, 2022, at the City’s Wastewater Open House. The Earth Week event witnessed the launch of the new wastewater public education program—What Goes Down Comes Around—and introduced the public to the facility’s new name, the Water Resource Recovery Centre.

What goes down comes around at the Water Resource Recovery Centre
From behind: a child rides a bicycle on the cycling lanes.

Guelph continues to prioritize environmental sustainability

Environmental sustainability is a priority for the City and the community. Every year the City publishes an environmental sustainability report to highlight progress and the action needed to move closer to reaching sustainability goals, fighting climate change, and meeting our Race To Zero targets.

Guelph continues to prioritize environmental sustainability