People on project:

Nova Scotia On-Site Applied Research Program

Approximately 50% of the population of Nova Scotia relies on on-site systems for wastewater treatment and disposal.  Since 1986, CWRS has conducted a long-term program of applied research related to the assessment, improvement, and development of on-site systems utilized throughout Nova Scotia and described in provincial regulations.  The applied research, focusing on performance, design, and management of on-site systems, influenced much of the content of Nova Scotia On-Site Guidelines, including verification of system performance, soil and materials assessment, and more effective and economical system design.

Since its inception, the program’s technology transfer activities have included: support and guidance of graduate students, experience opportunities for undergraduate co-op students, contributions to undergraduate and graduate students, workshops with shared local and international participation, and contributions to national and international conferences.

A significant program development occurred in 2002 with the establishment of the Nova Scotia On-Site Wastewater Research, Evaluation and Training Facility located at the Bio-Environmental Engineering Centre (BEEC) in Bible Hill, Nova Scotia.  Development of the site was a co-operative effort between the Centre and the Nova Scotia Agricultural College and the AgriTech Park.

The site features a closed-loop design for each of the various treatment systems being evaluated – sloping sand filters; C2 contour systems (dosed and gravity fed); peat system.  The facility enables researchers to assess the long-term treatment performance of individual treatment technologies.