A replacement was required on the same site as the existing package treatment plant which had become hydraulically overloaded. Due to the proximity of the site to homes and a popular public beach, special considerations had to be made to ensure that the plant was fully enclosed, odour free and would not detrimentally affect the beach.

A four-cell SBR with on-site sludge management (digestion and dewatering) equipment was selected with a daily peak design flow of 500,000 USgpd (1,900 m³/d). Due to the large geographic area covered by the operator, it was important that the plant have the capability to run with minimal operator attention and that the major process controls be accessible remotely.

Commissioned in October 2003, the Pugwash Wastewater Treatment Plant is consistently producing 5/5 mg/L BOD and TSS quality effluent. Total project value: $1.6 million.