Mainstream upgrade provides downstream benefits for Tofino

A $1.1 million upgrade to Mainstream Canada's Pacific National Processing facility has improved ocean water quality for residents of Tofino and for the West Coast of Vancouver Island.

Early this year, Mainstream Canada completed an upgrade of the waste water treatment system in its Tofino-based Pacific National Processing plant. The system has been in operation since this spring.

"We are excited that Mainstream, along with their funding support from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, have completed this latest upgrade to their waste water treatment system at their Tofino based processing plant. Any time a stakeholder in the community can make this level of improvements, we all benefit," said newly-elected Tofino Mayor Perry Schmunk.

"Our new system makes sure the waste water coming out of our plant is clean and free of any materials which could have a negative impact on the ocean environment," said Dave Pedersen, plant manager at Pacific National Processing. "We're pleased we were able to use a made-in-B.C. solution to reduce our environmental impact and improve the quality of ocean water in the Tofino area."

The plant, which produces 16,000 tonnes of fresh, farmed salmon per year and employs approximately 50 people full-time, also produces 200 cubic meters of waste water per day. The wastewater contains solids, blood and other compounds common to both farmed and wild salmon processing facilities.

Until early 2011, the wastewater flowed through the District of Tofino sewage system and was discharged to the marine environment with minimal treatment. Mainstream Canada has been actively looking for ways to further reduce this waste and is pleased to announce this solution.

"We ended up working with Delta B.C.-based Muddy Waters Technology, which built us a unique air and pressurized ozone system that treats the processing water before it is passed on to the District of Tofino's system," Pedersen said.

The wastewater system uses a series of processes to separate solids from liquid. Those solids are shipped away and recycled into compost. The remaining liquid is sent through a pressurized ozone system for disinfection.

Once the ozone treatment is completed, the effluent passes through ultraviolet light to destroy any remaining ozone before the effluent is sent to the district.

"There are a lot of complicated steps, but when it's done it comes out as clear as drinking water," Pedersen said.

The upgrade was made possible thanks to nearly $208,000 in funding from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)'s Aquaculture Innovations and Market Access Program (AIMAP) which funds projects with the goal of encouraging the development of innovative technologies and management techniques to enhance the global competitiveness and environmental performance of Canadian aquaculture.

For more information please contact Grant Warkentin, communications officer, Mainstream Canada, at grant.warkentin@mainstreamcanada.com or 250-286-0022 ext. 247