Town of BWG Breaks Ground on State-of-the-Art Tertiary Membrane Filtration Facility

The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury is marking a major milestone in its long-term infrastructure planning with the groundbreaking of the new Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) Odour/Aeration Systems Upgrades and Tertiary Membrane Facility. The ceremony celebrates the start of construction on a series of upgrades that will modernize the plant, enhance environmental protection, and expand wastewater treatment capacity to support the community’s growth through 2031 and beyond.

The new Tertiary Membrane Filtration Facility will increase the WPCP’s capacity from 19,400 m³/day to 23,300 m³/day, with a peak capacity of 63,622 m³/day housed in a new, state-of-the-art building. This project includes significant improvements to the odour control and aeration systems, as well as the installation of a new standby generator.

These upgrades follow the recommendations of the Town’s 2012 Schedule C Class Environmental Assessment, which identified the need for enhanced tertiary treatment to further reduce phosphorus levels in the plant’s effluent. This work will help ensure compliance with increasingly stringent environmental requirements while supporting service for thousands of additional homes in the years ahead.

In 2021, the Town awarded Veolia Process Technologies a contract for the pilot study, design, and supply of the membrane system. In 2025, Maple Reinders was awarded the construction contract for the full upgrade project. The total project investment is $58.5 million, with the new facility expected to be operational in 2028.

“Today’s groundbreaking marks an important commitment to the future of BWG. These upgrades will help us protect the Lake Simcoe watershed, strengthen our infrastructure, and support the homes and businesses that will make up the next chapter of our growing community. This is an investment in environmental stewardship, in responsible growth, and in ensuring our residents continue to receive the reliable, modern services they deserve.” — Mayor James Leduc

•  Improve treatment efficiency and reduce energy use
• Restore and expand capacity to support more than 8,500 new housing units
•  Reduce contaminants entering the Lake Simcoe watershed
•  Support the long-term health, sustainability, and economic vitality of the region.