Watershed Wastewater Treatment Plants Recognized at Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) Annual Workshop

The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) held its Annual Workshop for municipal participants of its Watershed-wide Wastewater Optimization Program (WWOP) on November 13, 2025, at its Administration Centre in Cambridge.

The goal of the WWOP is to improve the water quality of the Grand River by reducing phosphorus and ammonia levels from wastewater treatment plants. The workshop aims to share knowledge within the Grand River watershed community of wastewater practitioners, celebrate accomplishments of the WWOP, and recognize municipal wastewater treatment plants that performed exceptionally. This includes going above and beyond their regulatory requirements, and achieving the GRCA’s voluntary effluent targets for phosphorus and ammonia levels. These targets are established by the Water Managers Working Group, as a part of the collaborative Water Management Plan. To be eligible, plants must meet all their Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) limits, and each plant is quantitatively scored based on the established Recognition Program Criteria.

This year, 17 municipal wastewater treatment plants in the Grand River watershed were recognized, which is the highest number since the program’s inception in 2012. Since 2012, the total loadings from wastewater treatment plants to the Grand River have decreased by 38% for total phosphorus, and 93% for total ammonia nitrogen.

The following municipal wastewater treatment plants were recognized this year for their exceptional performance:

Gold

Brantford

Conestogo (Region of Waterloo)

Silver

Ayr (Region of Waterloo)

Caledonia (Haldimand County)

Cayuga (Haldimand County)

Dunnville (Haldimand County)

Elmira (Region of Waterloo)

Grand Valley

Guelph

Mapleton

New Hamburg (Region of Waterloo)

Wellesley (Region of Waterloo)

Bronze

Kitchener (Region of Waterloo)

Paris (Brant County)

Preston (Region of Waterloo)

St. Jacobs (Region of Waterloo)

Waterloo (Region of Waterloo)

The WWOP is an important and collaborative initiative that supports the GRCA’s Strategic Plan and the strategic pillar of improving the health of the Grand River watershed.

Learn more about the WWOP by visiting the GRCA website.

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Media Contacts:

Lisa Stocco, GRCA Director of Strategic Communications and Environmental Education
Phone 519-621-2763 x2316  |  Email lstocco@grandriver.ca

Serena Catania, GRCA Supervisor of Communications and Marketing
Phone (519) 621-2763 x2240  |  Email scatania@grandriver.ca