Back grounder
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BRANDON WATER QUALITY  INDUSTRIAL WASTE-WATER TREATMENT FACILITY
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Prior to 2000 – There are no treatment standards for nitrogen and phosphorous removal
from Brandon’s industrial waste-water treatment plant which is used exclusively by
Maple Leaf Foods (MLF).
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2003 – The Clean Environment Commission (CEC) reviews an application from Maple
Leaf Foods to expand its hog processing in Brandon. The CEC recommends approving
MLF’s application subject to the company meeting stringent standards for nitrogen and
phosphorus (15 mg/litre for nitrogen and 1 mg/litre for phosphorous). Manitoba accepts
the CEC’s recommendations as provincial policy for waste-water treatment.
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2007 – Manitoba Conservation approves an application from MLF and City of Brandon
to increase hog processing to 75,000 hogs from 50,000 per week subject to Brandon
and MLF meeting the CEC’s recommended standard for nutrient removal.
MLF invests approximately $10 million in Brandon’s industrial waste-water treatment
facility to meet nutrient standards. This investment resulted in an 85 per cent reduction
to nitrogen levels (103/mg/litre to 15mg/litre) and a 94 per cent reduction on
phosphorous (16 mg/litre to 1 mg/litre).

2008 – MLF wants to continue to expand hog processing in Brandon to 86,000 from
75,000 hogs per week. To accomplish this Brandon and MLF must invest $15.5 million
to continue to continue to maintain the standards for nitrogen and phosphorous for an
expanded processing level of 86,000 hogs per week.