Effectiveness of recycled glass as a wastewater effluent filtration media: A pilot-scale study

With increased emphasis on water quality in the Lake Winnipeg watershed, more stringent guidelines for wastewater effluents are being implemented. Smaller municipalities and remote communities, with limited financial resources, will be facing regulatory pressures, particularly around discharge of phosphorus, as well as micropollutants such as estrogens, pharmaceuticals and pesticides. To ensure the release of high quality wastewater effluents post-lagoon treatment technologies such as subsurface filtration systems are being employed for enhanced removal of pollutants. One such system has been constructed in pilot-scale at the Village of Dunnottar, MB near the shores of Lake Winnipeg. Recycled glass can be crushed to aggregate sizes similar to those used in gravel/rock filtration beds. It is unclear, however, if recycled glass will be comparable in its effectiveness to rock/gravel media for wastewater effluent treatment. The proposed study, comparing recycled glass to rock/gravel media over multiple lagoon discharge seasons, will facilitate the future use of recycled glass in new wastewater treatment applications. Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries is a strong supporter of the proposed work and sees great value in pursuing environmental end-use applications of recycled glass. The proposed research could provide a new market for recycled glass aggregate across Canada.

Faculty Supervisor:

Nazim Cicek

Student:

Joe Ackerman

Partner:

Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Environmental industry

University:

Program: