A Wetlands Sewage Treatment System for the Community of Teslin

by Robert J. Lorimer, Klohn Leonoff Yukon Ltd, Whitehorse,
Owen P. Quinn, Klohn Leonoff Yukon Ltd, Whitehorse,
G. Lakshman, Klohn Leonoff Yukon Ltd, Whitehorse,
John M. Grainger, Klohn Leonoff Yukon Ltd, Whitehorse,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Cold Regions Engineering

Abstract:

The Village of Teslin, with a population of 450, is located in south-central Yukon, approximately 180 km southeast of Whitehorse. Since 1977, the community has been trucking its sewage to a nearby lagoon facility that comprises two anaerobic (primary) cells and two aerobic (secondary) cells. Although the lagoons have so far provided storage for the community's sewage, population increases coupled with the connection of previously unserviced residences are leading to the inevitable need to periodically discharge the lagoons. A proposal to discharge secondary effluent to the nearby waters of Teslin Lake was considered environmentally unattractive by the community's residents, who formed a citizen's group to look into other alternatives. The group concluded that wetlands treatment appeared to offer the best alternative method for further treating and disposing of the Village's sewage effluent, and that the option was worthy of further detailed study. This paper describes the resulting investigation, study and development of the selected wetlands treatment alternative, which is intended to provide tertiary treatment together with disposal. The selected treatment area slopes gently downward towards a creek which winds through what was once the bottom of a glacial lake. Soils include sands, silts, clays and organics. Vegetation consists of grasses, moss and peat, dense willows and buckbrush, and scattered spruce. Although a wetlands system was initially envisaged, the predesign process concluded that the site characteristics were appropriately suited to a combined slow infiltration/induced wetlands

Subject Headings: Wetlands (fresh water) | Sewage | Soil treatment | Lagoons | Systems engineering | Sanitary engineering | Infiltration | Canada

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