Fleming College
IN-2: Innovation 2

Created by a grant from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, Fleming College’s Centre for Alternative Wastewater Treatment (CAWT) is a unique collaboration of partners seeking innovative solutions to one of the world’s key sustainability issues – access to clean water. The CAWT specializes in applied research on alternative, innovative and emerging water and wastewater treatment technologies. The Centre maintains an emphasis on cold and temperate climates and on low cost, high efficiency technologies, including biological treatment systems, phytotechnology and other environmentally sound technologies.

The Centre fosters collaborative research partnerships. With an established track record, the CAWT has undertaken projects around the world in partnership with many universities, governments, non-government organizations and some 50 private sector companies. A sampling of our partners include:

Universities: Queen’s University, University of Guelph, Sir Wilfrid Laurier University, Trent University, China Agricultural University and Tianjin University

Government: Environment Canada, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Trade & Employment, City of Kawartha Lakes and the City of Peterborough

NGO’s: American Ecological Engineering Society, Canadian Alliance of Water Quality, Canadian Water & Wastewater Association, Centre for Sustainable Watersheds, United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment & Health (UNU-INWEH)

Private Sector: Aqua Treatment Technologies, Bio Ecological Solutions Inc., Imbrium Systems, Trojan Technologies, EcoEthic Inc., and Anaergia Inc.

The CAWT also engages in opportunities to enhance student learning through the integration of applied research activities in student curricula. The Centre’s mandate extends to student training through the Fleming’s Environmental Technology program and to technology transfer with partners and the public. In addition, the CAWT works closely with Fleming Continuing Education to offer new accredited wastewater operator courses through various delivery methods.

An example of the exciting work being done at the CAWT is extensive research on phytotechnology. This technology optimizes the physical, chemical and biological processes of natural wetland ecosystems for stormwater and wastewater treatment. It is an effective, low maintenance, and inexpensive form of water treatment.

In general, the CAWT aims to:
• Conduct, facilitate and coordinate applied research on alternative wastewater treatment technologies within the province, country, and the world.
• Promote interdisciplinary interest, applied research, and unique facilities in the study of alternative wastewater technologies for collaborative use.
• Advocate public policy and regulatory changes that would facilitate the implementation of alternative wastewater treatment technologies in Ontario.
• Collaborate with all levels of government, industry, academia, and other institutions to identify research needs and develop pilot-scale projects or experiments to address these needs.
• Facilitate the exchange of information between CAWT and external agencies through print and web-based resources as well as through partnerships with stakeholders including regulatory agencies, private sector firms, and researchers.
• Provide educational opportunities for students, wastewater practitioners, government, and industry in the form of workshops, short courses, conference presentations, demonstration projects and fact sheets about alternative wastewater technology.