A new $5 million water treatment, pilot-scale, testing and technology development facility has opened in Saskatoon. Maven Water and Environment’s eight thousand square foot facility is the first of its kind in North America. The company says it provides advanced clean water solutions for sustainable development of natural resources and will enable over 50 engineering and technology jobs locally. Maven says conventional water treatment processes can produce toxic wastes that end up in the landfill. They also require large amounts of electricity and harsh chemicals. But Maven says it uses a technology that applies natural biological processes to do the work. These include engineered treatment wetlands, bioreactors, and treatment of tailing ponds and pit lakes right at the source. The technology is aimed at mining and oilsands operations.