The current domestic wastewater treatment plant at the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station (PLNGS) was originally installed in 1979. While it is currently operating well, the installation was only meant to operate temporarily. In 2023, PLNGS will upgrade this system to install a permanent wastewater treatment plant that will provide reliable service for the next 25 years. The domestic wastewater treatment facility is part of the conventional operations of PLNGS and has no radiological component.

The upgrade project is proposed to be implemented in two phases:

Phase 1: replacement of the existing steel tank with a new concrete bioreactor tank and installation of connections to the existing containerized membrane bioreactor (MBR) system.

Phase 2: replacement of the existing containerized MBR system with a skid mounted MBR system housed in a new process building that will protect the equipment from ongoing exposure to the elements and make it a more permanent installation. 

Before it can proceed, NB Power must register this proposed project for an Environmental Impact Assessment with the provincial Department of Environment and Local Government. The Environmental Impact Assessment was submitted in January 2023 and is available at the following link: Upgrade the existing domestic sewage treatment plant at the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station (PLNGS). It includes a complete description of the proposed project, an assessment of potential impacts and recommended mitigation measures to be incorporated into the project to ensure any environmental impacts are not significant.

Any questions, concerns or comments on the project can be submitted to David Maguire (dmaguire@nbpower.com) on or before March 1, 2023.