Back in the early 1950s, the people of Toronto Township (now
Mississauga) had 
no municipal sewage disposal. Land was purchased
in late 1955 to build a sewage treatment plant, and the concept
of G.E. Booth (Lakeview) Wastewater Treatment Facility was born. When it
officially opened in November 1961, no-one could have envisioned
how it would change and expand over the years.
(Above photo: Administration Building, 1962)
Area Served
Lakeview was built by the Ontario Water Resources Commission (OWRC) to serve the southern part of Toronto Township (Mississauga), Port Credit, and parts of Etobicoke and Long Branch. Today, Lakeview treats wastewater from approximately 800,000 people, along with industries, commercial facilities, and institutions in the eastern section of Mississauga, Brampton, Bolton, and Caledon East.
Treatment Capacity
The plant was originally designed to treat 23 million litres of
sewage a day (ML/d), but the flows were only one third of that amount
at first. Even so, it was projected that capacity would eventually
expand to 273 ML/d. However, reality has far surpassed expectations:
Lakeview can now handle 448 ML/d.
(Above Photo: New headworks remove non-organic matter before it enters treatment system, improving efficency and reducing odours.)
Sludge Disposal
Back in the 1960s, sewage sludge was land applied-used as fertilizer
in farmers' fields. Eleven different disposal alternatives were
considered when the expanded facility was being designed. Incineration
is the most environmentally friendly and cost effective solution,
and produces the least odours. Emissions are constantly monitored
and strict air pollution standards are maintained.
(Above photo: An incinerator in the early stages of construction.)
Building Costs
The original plant cost $1.7 million, a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of the latest expansion: $260 million.
But what does Peel get for the money? A state-of-the-art facility using cutting-edge technologies. The biosolids facility--the largest in the world--has attracted international attention. Careful construction methods have resulted in minimal impact to residents, businesses, and the environment. And the phasing out of old treatment processes ensures that odours are significantly reduced, leading to an improved quality of life for residents.