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CRYOFRONT – News, Views and Muse from the Far North
2015 FLIGHTS OF FANCY
to the Kitikmeot region of Nunavut Ken Johnson, Stantec
In July, I had the opportunity for trips to the communities of Kugluktuk (formerly Coppermine) and Kugaaruk (formerly Pelly Bay) on the Arctic Coast in the Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut, which is an administrative region approximately 1,500 km due north of Edmonton. The Kitikmeot Region is the smallest of the three regions of Nunavut, which includes the Qikiqtaaluk Region (formerly Baffin Region), and the Kivalliq Region on the western shore of Hudson Bay. Travel to the Kitikmeot Region from the capital city of Iqaluit is a challenge because flights to the region originate from Yellowknife. The two trips were associated with inspection of sewage lagoons in both communities. The lagoons are fed by large trucks that pick up sewage from a tank in each household. Trucks are also used to deliver water to each household in these communities. Trucked systems are used in each and every community of Nunavut, with the exception of piped systems in Rankin Inlet, Iqaluit, and Resolute. Kugluktuk is a community of almost 1,500 people on the Arctic coast, and it is the westernmost community in Nunavut. The drinking water is obtained from the nearby Coppermine River. The sewage is treated in a retention lagoon system, A well-travelled Ken Johnson which is discharged once with Kugluktuk retention lagoon a year by pumping into a in the background.
The Kugluktuk sewage lagoon is a fully lined system to provide complete sewage retention, however the liner suffers from bubbling as a result of gas formation beneath the liner. 38 | WESTERN CANADA WATER | Winter 2015
wetland that ultimately flows into the ocean. The community’s current infrastructure issues include saltwater intrusion into the water intake from tidal action that forces a wedge of salt water up the Coppermine River, and high turbidity in the raw water. Both issues are currently being addressed with a new water treatment facility and a new water intake that may be adjusted to avoid the saltwater wedge. The sewage lagoon is suffering from a leaking and bubbling liner, and deterioration in the perimeter earth structure. Remedial planning is underway to address these wastewater issues, as well. Kugaaruk is a community of almost 800 people on the Arctic coast, and it well known for its Arctic Char fishing. The drinking water is obtained from the nearby Kugaardjuq River. Similar to Kugluktuk, the sewage is treated in a retention lagoon system, which is discharged once a year by pumping into a wetland that ultimately flows into the ocean. The community’s current infrastructure issues include saltwater intrusion into the water intake similar to Kugluktuk. The sewage in Kugaaruk is also leaking and remedial planning work is underway to address this issue. The leaking lagoons are a result of several geotechnical related issues to the design and construction of these facilities. The permafrost ground conditions in Nunavut are a challenge for even the most robust designs of earth structures. Videos of the inspections of both lagoon systems are available on YouTube on the ‘cryofront’ channel – search Youtube/Cryofront for either Kugluktuk or Kugaaruk.
Kugaaruk sewage retention lagoon is a robust earth structure; the truck discharge is visible in the background. CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS
PIPEPLUS
The community of Kugluktuk has issues with surface runoff because of a inadequate drainage conveyance system.
Arctic Char drying in the sun is a commonly seen around the community of Kugaaruk.
The terrain around the community of Kugaaruk is very rocky.
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4/24/15 12:53 PM
Winter 2015
| WESTERN CANADA WATER | 39