Overview
Fort Chipewyan WWTP is a secondary treatment facility serving 1,132 people in Alberta, Canada. It discharges 846 cubic meters of treated wastewater daily near the shores of Lake Athabasca.
Fort Chipewyan WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in the remote community of Fort Chipewyan, Alberta, Canada. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,132 residents and operates under secondary treatment standards, which is typical for small communities in the region. The facility is situated on Daniel Street in the Wood Buffalo region, near the western shore of Lake Athabasca. As a secondary treatment plant, Fort Chipewyan WWTP uses biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids from wastewater. The plant has a reported daily discharge volume of 846 cubic meters. The facility is designed to meet the needs of the local population and operates under Alberta's environmental regulations, which require treated effluent to meet provincial water quality standards before discharge. The treated effluent from Fort Chipewyan WWTP is discharged into the Lake Athabasca watershed, which is part of the Mackenzie River basin. Lake Athabasca is a large, ecologically significant lake that supports diverse aquatic life, including fish species such as lake trout and walleye. The lake drains via the Slave River into the Mackenzie River, which ultimately flows into the Arctic Ocean. The plant's location within 10 km of the coast (Lake Athabasca) means its discharge has a direct impact on the lake's water quality and ecosystem.
Environmental context
Fort Chipewyan WWTP discharges into the Lake Athabasca watershed, which drains via the Slave River into the Mackenzie River and ultimately the Arctic Ocean. Lake Athabasca is a large, shallow lake that supports important fisheries and migratory bird populations. The plant's proximity to the lake means its secondary-treated effluent must meet stringent provincial standards to protect water quality and aquatic life in this sensitive northern ecosystem.
Frequently asked questions
Fort Chipewyan WWTP is located on Daniel Street in Fort Chipewyan, Alberta, Canada, in the Wood Buffalo region near the western shore of Lake Athabasca.
The plant serves a population of approximately 1,132 residents in the remote community of Fort Chipewyan.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the Lake Athabasca watershed, which flows via the Slave River into the Mackenzie River and eventually the Arctic Ocean.
Fort Chipewyan WWTP provides secondary treatment, which uses biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids, meeting Alberta's provincial water quality standards.
As a Canadian facility in Alberta, the plant operates under provincial environmental regulations that set effluent quality standards for wastewater treatment plants, ensuring protection of receiving waters like Lake Athabasca.
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