Water supply and sewage disposal in permafrost areas of Northern Canada

• Main Author: Dickens, H. B.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 1959
• Subjects: Sewers; Égouts; permafrost; pergélisol; soils; sol; water supply; adduction d'eau; water treatment; traitement de l'eau; water treatment plants; ouvrage d'adduction d'eau; sewage disposal; évacuation des eaux usées; Arctic; Canada; Polar Record
• Online Access: https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/view/ft/?id=2054b57e-cfa6-4dad-bc5a-7d728acb6936; https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/view/object/?id=2054b57e-cfa6-4dad-bc5a-7d728acb6936; https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/fra/voir/objet/?id=2054b57e-cfa6-4dad-bc5a-7d728acb6936

Principles of water supply and sewage disposal in the north are the same as in temperate regions but the physical features of the installations vary with the influence of low temperature and permafrost. Initial and operating costs are higher, making normal facilities too expensive for many. Wells drilled through permafrost have special problems and are costly. Continuous pumping, or auxiliary heat are used to prevent freezing. Year round supply of water determines the location of communities. The usual features of filtration and chlorination are always necessary. Low air and water temperatures require special attention in designing water delivery systems. In smaller communities the most common delivery may be by sledge and barrel or by tank truck. Heating of the water in the distribution system may be accomplished by enclosing the water line with heat sources in the "utilidor" such as steam or hot water central heating lines. Service connections to individual premises are usually the most frost susceptible part of the system. In designs of distribution systems "dead" ends are uusually avoided and the use of cheap insulation material such as peat and moss may effect economies. Sewage systems may be individual units, such as chemical toilets or primitive pail systems. Septic tanks are used only with limited success. Only a few community systems employing water carrying sewage collection methods are in use. Sewage treatment and disposal are also problematic. Development of sewage lagooning and of aerobic digestion in a tank located in a building are recent developments in sewage treatment in arctic regions. Les principes de l'alimentation en eau et des égouts dans le Nord sont les mêmes que dans les régions tempérées, mais les caractéristiques des installations varient sous l'influence des basses températures et du pergélisol. Les frais de construction et d'exploitation sont plus élevés, ce qui rend le coût d'installations habituelles élevé pour bon nombre d' habitants. Le forage des puits dans le pergélisol ...