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Grey Water Dumping Increasing in the Canadian Arctic

Tuesday, 21 August 2018 14:47

The route more vessels are taking through Canada's Northwest Passage

A new report by the WWF suggests grey-water dumping will at least double by 2035.

A new report by the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) suggests ships and fishing vessels dumping wastewater into Nunavut waters will double by 2035 if stricter Transport Canada regulations around pollution aren't implemented.

The 50-page study noted grey water, runoff wastewater from kitchens and laundry aboard ships, is on the increase due to a rise of cruise ships and commercial vessels heading through the Northwest Passage near Nunavut.

Vessels from cruise ships with tourists to commercial ships carrying marine goods to supply ships hauling mines or ore all produce this substance. 

The report notes overlapping territories where fishing and harvesting of shellfish takes place for First Nations would be severely impacted if their food security became contaminated by grey water. Whale habitat and migration routes could also be devastated.

Currently there are no Transport Canada-approved discharge systems mandated for grey-water treatment in the Arctic.

The WWF highlights that dumping of grey water is also more heavily monitored below the 60th parallel. While Canada's regulations make vessels treat and release grey water before entering prohibited dump zones, ships going through Canadian Arctic waters are not being forced to adhere to this protocol.

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