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Fort Providence Grapples With Lagoon Blockage
9 Oct
Summary
- Sewage lagoon effluent levels breached a cell, flowing towards a second cell.
- Hamlet cannot decant a cell due to low liquid levels, preventing winter preparation.
- Temporary bypass and pumps are being used while maintenance addresses the blockage.
The hamlet of Fort Providence in the N.W.T. is urgently addressing a significant blockage within its sewage lagoon system. This issue has caused effluent levels to rise alarmingly in the first cell, leading to a breach that is now affecting a second cell. This backup means the hamlet cannot decant the system to prepare for winter input, a critical step before freeze-up.
Inspectors from the Department of Environment and Climate Change (ECC) mandated repairs before freeze-up. The blockage prevents proper flow through the lagoon's five cells. Currently, the hamlet is bypassing the first cell, using the second as the primary, and employing pumps to manage wastewater flow. Maintenance work, including desludging, is in progress to find and resolve the cause of the blockage, with an inspector set to follow up before the cold weather arrives.
