Marine outfalls for small coastal communities in Atlantic Canada

Abstract

Atlantic Canada is a relatively sparsely populated region with a few large urban centres and many small communities. Many of these communities rely on secondary treatment plants for treatment and disposal of domestic wastes. However, with a generally low tax base and a small pool of technically qualified personnel, maintenance on the plants is often of low quality so that their performance deteriorates after a few years of operation. In this paper the argument is advanced that ocean outfalls provide a more satisfactory means of treating and disposing of domestic wastes in such cases. Details are provided to confirm the low level to which some plants perform; and the design, installation, and postconstruction monitoring of a small ocean outfall are described to show the advantages of this alternative. Key words: ocean outfalls, marine treatment, waste disposal, pollution, environment.