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Phosphorus filter meant to treat bunker silo leachate

July 17, 2014, Woodstock, ON – The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) and Hoenhorst Farms are building Ontario’s first farm-scale phosphorus filter to treat bunker silo leachate with a goal of preventing algae bloom. The project will be completed just north of Woodstock this month.

The phosphorus filter is a combination of Phosphex technology and a serpentine vegetated filter strip. The filter will absorb and immobilize both dissolved and non-soluble forms of phosphorus and other contaminants. The system is also able to destroy any waterborne pathogens, viruses and bacteria.

“The Phosphex technology utilizes a recycled byproduct of the steel industry as its reactive media. Water needs to be in contact with this media for 12 to 24 hours for the phosphorus to be removed,” explained Dr. Will Robertson from the University of Waterloo in a press release.

Agriculture Canada will conduct continuous monitoring of this site to ensure flow rates are performing correctly for optimal phosphorus removal. US Steel Canada – Lake Erie Works donated the recycled steel industry byproduct for this project. | READ MORE