Module 6: Water Supply and Waste

Treatment
 Issues

Natural water
Domestic water
Sewage
 Occurrence of Freshwater in the
Arctic
Glaciers and ice caps
hold much of Arctics
freshwater (Greenlands
ice cap contains 10% of
worlds freshwater)
Glaciers and
accumulated snow in
mountain feed Arctic
rivers
Many wetlands, ponds,
and lakes
Groundwater is scarce in
permafrost areas
Freshwater Cycle
 Key Characteristics of Arctic
Freshwater
Drastic cycles in lakes and rivers each year
Thick or solid ice in winter high water flow in spring (can
be destructive)

In areas dominated by vegetation, freshwater carries high

concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC)
E.g. humic and fulvic acids (colour the water)

Supports an array of flora and fauna in sediment and water

column (bacteria, protists, algae, micro-invertebrates)

Essential habitat for freshwater fish (few in Arctic),

anadromous fish, waterfowl, mammals

Part of the freshwater food web that recycles carbon, nitrogen,

phosphorous, and other nutrients
 Overview
Impacts on aquatic receiving environment
Import of nutrients to marine environment
Import of toxicants to marine environment
Barrier to fish migration
Mackenzie River Delta
 Concepts
Acid rain
Rainfall with a pH of less than 7.0 (in
practical terms, <5.0).
Rain + Sulphur Dioxide
Same as acid deposition

Effects are a function of the pH buffering

capacity of the environment.
 Concepts
Nutrients
As a pollutant, any element or compound, such
as phosphorous or nitrogen, that fuels
abnormally high organic growth in aquatic
systems (i.e. eutrophication).
As a fertilizer, any element or compound,
principally P, N, K, S, that are limited in
availability, hence influence plant growth (e.g.
algae) in water
Note: Can be used to precipitate pollutants in
algae through long-term sedimentation.
 Concepts
Effluents
The sewage or industrial liquid waste that
is released into natural water by sewage
treatment plants or structures to treat
industrial water (including mine water)
Receiving waters
A river, lake, ocean, etc., into which waste
water or treated effluent is discharged
 Drinking Water in the North
Issues
Wells for extracting ground water is not an
option
Underground water lines in permafrost
require insulation; installation of such
infrastructure is a challenge
Reservoirs are above ground and
insulated
Quality drinking water is generally
available
 Sanitation of Water
Inadequate sanitation may lead to:
Gastrointestinal illness
Hepatitis A
Bronchitis
Meningitis
Other bacterial infection
Skin and eye diseases

Note: lack of running water has consequences in

terms of poor hygiene
 Concepts

Drinking Water:

Water intended for human consumption

but which has other household uses
 Best Practices
Prevention of the contamination of water
sources (lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater
sources)
Treatment of water
Proper maintenance of water distribution
systems
Regular monitoring of drinking water
Public education and awareness (especially for
in house water distribution)
 Waste Water
Sewage
Liquid waste from toilets, baths and showers,
kitchens, that is disposed via sewers, trucking,
or on site treatment systems

Industrial Waste Water

Waste water from industries of mines. Generally
involves some on site processing
 Treatment Stages
Primary: Mechanical treatment to reduce
coarse solids, sand and dirt, oils and
grease

Note: Ideal as pre-treatment or for treating

surface water (e.g. street water)

Note: Involves screening, sedimentation,

skimming
 Treatment Stages
Secondary: Treatments designed to degrade
biological content of sewage (e.g. human waste,
food waste) through aerobic biological
processes

Note: Require aeration for bacterial and protozoan

activities to degrade organic compounds

Note: Effluent water and sludge are by-products

 Treatment Stages
Tertiary: Advanced stages of treatment to raise
the effluent quality to the standard required
before it is discharged to the receiving
environment

Potential steps: Filtration, polishing, ponding

(lagoons, wetlands), nutrient removal,
disinfection.

Note: Industrial contaminants remain an issue.

Primary Sewage Treatment
 Common Options for Secondary
Sewage Treatment
Treatment Description Key Features
Process
Activated Oxygen is mechanically Sophisticated process many
Sludge supplied to bacteria which mechanical & electrical parts, needs
Process feed on organic material careful control of operator; provides
(ASP) and provide treatment high degree of treatment.

Aerated Like lagoons but with Not very common; oxygen

lagoons mechanical aeration requirement mostly from aeration and
hence more complicated and higher
operational and maintenance costs.

Land Sewage is supplied in Soil matrix has quite a high capacity

Treatment controlled conditions to for treatment of normal domestic
(soil aquifer the soil sewage, as long as capacity is not
treatment exceeded. Some pollutants, such as
SAT) P, are not easily removed.
 Issues for Arctic Environments
Small communities cannot support
extensive sewage treatments
Storage tanks and transfer sites (closed to
houses) are sources of contamination
Overland treatment of raw sewage is often
the only approach to treat sewage
Nutrient loading and sewage-based
contaminants are key issues
Leaching into the marine environment
 Arviat, Nunavut

LAGOON
1 LAGOON
2

LAGOON
3

OVERLAND
FLOW
PUMP
AREA SYSTEM
Arviat, Nunavut