With more development taking place in the area, the Village of Boyle is starting the search for solutions to a sewage dilemma.
At the village’s council meeting on Aug. 20, chief administrative officer Charlie Ashbey explained in his report to council that administration is looking at getting an independent review of the capacity of the community’s sewage lagoon system.
Ashbey stated the review is necessary as the current levels at the lagoons are coming under pressure and nearing the licensed capacity.
“The review is needed to help assess and determine how we can manage our system as the number of commercial developments such as camps increase and want to dump into our lagoons. As well, we need to continue to accommodate the present and future use of the lagoons by Athabasca County and the summer villages,” said Ashbey.
“It will help us figure out how we can move forward and if we have to look at possible expansion.”
The system is designed for a population of 1,500 with the volume spread out over the year.
Where the pressure comes, Ashbey explained, is during the rush over the spring and summer when work camps, summer villages and other operators make deliveries.
“(The delivery of effluent) isn’t spread out of the year, which has brought us to being nearly over-capacity,” added Ashbey.
“The need is there to find out how to accommodate it all without over-burdening the entire (sewage lagoon) system.”
One possible solution being looked at to alleviate the pressure and overloading the system is instituting tipping fees for commercial dumping.
They are also looking at a way of tracking just how many trucks are using the site.
In addition, the village would also like to figure out some way to track the volume of effluent being dumped.
A card and automatic gate system was suggested by councillor Don Radmanovich and could track the number of trucks.
Radmanovich also would like to have seen the tipping fees introduced sooner as a way to generate revenue.
However, he agreed with the rest of council that waiting until next year would give everyone a chance to adjust to any new potential fee.
Mayor Bob Clark added the delay would also allow the village time to look at various options and make the fee schedule more equitable.
No one has been retained to conduct the review and there is no timeline set for bringing the issue back to council.
