A recent review of Battleford's sanitary sewage lagoon wastewater treatment system has given it a passing grade.
The assessment prepared by Catterall and Wright Consulting Engineers, presented to Battleford Town Council last week, states the lagoon operation meets the current operating requirements permit and Water Security Agency guidelines for both size and effluent quality.
Battleford's lagoon system, located southwest of the town, releases its effluent into the Battle River approximately five kilometres upstream of the confluence of the Battle River and North Saskatchewan River.
The report indicates no major work on the lagoon system is required in the near future, unless changes are made to current toxicity regulations or environmental changes, such as lower water levels in the Battle River, occur.
"The lagoon system is well-maintained and does not require upgrades or major repairs at this time."
If the time comes when it does need upgrading, the report suggests the construction of a SAGR cell for nitrification of effluent. A SAGR cell is a submerged aquatic growth reactor, which provides effective cold weather nitrification of the lagoon effluent. This SAGR would protect the Battle River from toxic levels of ammonia.
The Town has been having the lagoon effluent tested for ammonia levels quarterly since 2007, with weekly tests done by staff, with the view that they could reach toxic levels. Acute lethality testing, which has to be done every three years, has also been done, with a passing grade in 2013's test.
Part of the report included a contract with Golder Associates, a civil / geotechnical and environmental consulting service, to study how effectively the effluent is mixing with the water of the river. The study indicates the Town's system should be able to meet the Water Security Agency's 2006 guidelines, although there have been times in the past when the effluent has exceeded provincial limits for bacteriological, chemical or physical parameters.
Additional assessment is being done by the WES in the development of specific effluent discharge objectives for the Town of Battleford's wastewater works, expected to be completed by 2017, said the Golder Associates report.
The Town's lagoon system consists of three aerated cells and a large polishing cell that operates with a continuous discharge. It is designed for a population of 5,766, based on a 20-year growth period from a lagoon assessment completed by Catterall and Wright in 1998. The recent report was based on a population of 4,350, based on projected growth from the 2011 census, which put the population at 4,065.
