| Scientist Disputes Lake Winnipeg Cleanup Plan | 24 February 10 |
 Canada's leading freshwater scientists says Manitoba is squandering millions of dollars on its plan to clean up Lake Winnipeg. David Schindler, internationally renown University of Alberta professor, said phosphorus, not nitrogen, is feeding the blue-green algae blooms that threaten one of Canada's largest lakes.Manitoba previously ordered Winnipeg to cut nitrogen runoff by spending $350 million to upgrade its wastewater treatment facilities. But money spent on removing nitrogen will go to waste, Schindler told councillors at a February 23, 2010 Winnipeg City council meeting. "[The] $350,000 a year that's going to be spent would be better spent getting more of the phosphorous sources," Schindler said. Schindler added that provincial officials are basing their demands on outdated science. Terry Sargent, head of Manitoba's Clean Environment Commission (CEC), states targeting nitrogen still makes sense. The CEC has just release their report, An investigation into nutrient reduction and ammonia treatment at the City of Winnipeg's wastewater treatment facilities, which states: "We have concluded that nitrogen, while critical to all life on the planet, in excess amounts is not an environmentally benign product. This leads us to recommend to the Minister that nitrogen must be removed as part of the wastewater treatment conducted by the City." Dr. Schindler also made a submission to the CEC. View David Schindler Presentation: Will Controlling Input Of Nitrogen Benefit Lake Winnipeg? (PDF)View March 2009 CEC report (PDF) View February 23, 2010 CBC article Source: CBC |
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