Abstract

The permanent settlement and formation of organized communities in the Canadian Arctic have led to a need to manage and treat wastewater. The treatment of wastewater in such environments can be particularly challenging. Remoteness, a harsh climate, and socioeconomic factors are a few of the aspects that make the treatment of wastewater problematic in Canadian Arctic communities. To date, as was in 2013, little research has been done on wastewater treatment in the Canadian Arctic, especially on the use of wetlands, a common treatment technology employed in the region. This chapter characterizes and describes the use of wetlands for wastewater treatment in the Canadian Arctic with an emphasis on performance. Also discussed is the potential for the application of ecotechnologies, specifically constructed and engineered wetland systems in remote Canadian Arctic communities. New performance data are presented in a case study of a treatment wetland in use in the community of Paulatuk, Northwest Territories. Results from research on a horizontal sub-subsurface flow constructed wetland are also discussed. In summary, treatment wetlands are an effective method for the treatment of domestic wastewater during the summer growing season in Arctic regions.