KLSA Activities

Each year, the Kawartha Lake Stewards Association (KLSA) analyzes the performance of Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) that discharge effluent either directly to the Kawartha Lakes or their watershed, or to water bodies that flow into the Kawartha Lakes. The purpose of WWTPs is to protect public health by minimizing the discharge of pathogens and to protect the environment by minimizing the discharge of phosphorus (P) to our lakes. Of primary interest to KLSA is the quantity of phosphorus that is discharged by these plants to our lakes because phosphorus is known to be the most likely nutrient to cause increases in the growth of aquatic plants and algae. 

KLSA analyzes the performance of  WWTPs to determine if they are being operated to their fullest potential. Ideally KLSA would like all  WWTPs that discharge directly to our lakes to achieve a 99% phosphorus removal rate. This means that only one part in 100 of the phosphorus entering the plant leaves in the effluent. A decrease in the  removal rate from 99% to 95% means five parts in 100 leave the plant, which is five times more phosphorus released. What might seem like a small change in removal rate can have a very large consequence!

The results of each year’s WWTP monitoring are published in the KLSA annual Lake Water Quality Report.