Calgary is the only city in Canada to have won an A+ rating for wastewater treatment – putting the city at the very top of its class – from the prestigious Sierra Legal Defense Fund.

The City of Calgary’s wastewater system treats enough sewage to fill 128 Olympic sized swimming pools a day. Wastewater flows through several kilometres of underground pipes to either the Bonnybrook or Fish Creek wastewater treatment plants.

The Bonnybrook plant serves the area north of Glenmore Trail, while the Fish Creek plant serves the area south and east of the Glenmore Reservoir. When gravity isn’t quite enough to do the job, lift stations raise wastewater from low-lying areas.

Once treated, clean water is released into the Bow River while separated waste is recycled as fertilizer and soil conditioner.

Calgary’s wastewater drainage system is a self-supporting utility that operates independently of municipal property taxes.