Operational Deficiencies At Small Wastewater Treatment Facilities In New Brunswick, Canada

The Province of New Brunswick in Canada has nearly 200 small private and publicly-owned wastewater treatment facilities. An extensive survey of these systems was conducted in both summer and winter to determine their performance under a wide variety of environmental conditions. The survey revealed that poor operational procedures and lack of regular maintenance were the sources of most system deficiencies. The operators' lack of formal training in plant operation was the chief factor in the failure of many of these systems to meet effluent requirements. The owners of these small facilities are often constrained by limited finances for the design, operation and maintenance of t