Dease River First Nation
Water & Wastewater
Assessment and Feasibility Study

Project Description

Dease River First Nation (DRFN) is a member of the Kaska Dena Council and is in Good Hope Lake, British Columbia, approximately 120 km south from the BC/Yukon border.

M2 Engineering prepared a Water and Wastewater Feasibility Study Report to summarize the community’s existing water and wastewater systems and to identify potential upgrade options to address identified issues.

Water Supply, Treatment and Distribution

DRFN currently has a water treatment plant (WTP) and water distribution system that provides potable water to the members living on the Nation. The existing WTP was commissioned in 2013 and consists of water softening and chlorine disinfection. Although the WTP is only 5-years old, DRFN has had operational challenges with the WTP that needed to be addressed.

Water Distribution Options and Water Treatment Options were evaluated in the feasibility study. Recommendations of the study included water treatment plant upgrades, a new potable water storage reservoir, and modifications to the distribution system by installing water tank sheds for homes with either pressure or freezing issues.

Wastewater Collection and Treatment

The wastewater system in DRFN is consists of several different components. There is a piped collection system that transports wastewater from homes in the Southside of the community to the centrally located lagoon for treatment. The majority of the homes located in the northside of DRFN have septic tanks and septic fields to manage wastewater, with the solids from the septic tanks ultimately being hauled to the lagoon. There are also a few homes that use wastewater holding tanks that are cleaned out and hauled to the lagoon.

The wastewater collection system and lagoon were both assessed as part of the Feasibility Study. Based on the location and uncertainty regarding the condition of the existing lagoon, it was recommended to design and build a new lagoon to service the community. Recommendations for the wastewater collection system were to replace all existing septic fields and tanks over the next 5-years due to the age and condition of the existing systems.

Project Challenges

Project challenges included the prioritizing of immediate upgrades which would tie into the long-term upgrade needs. Additional project challenges were due to the geographical location of DRFN and the extreme climate conditions in the area.

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