2023 Edition of the Journal of the Northern Territories Water and Waste Association

Journal

of the Northern Territories Water and Waste Association

2023

PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT #40934510

Water at the third pole

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The Journal

TABLE OF CONTENTS Message from the Editor..................................................................................................6 2023 Conference.................................................................................................................8 The Third Pole................................................................................................................. 10

Source to Solutions for the Hindu Kush Himalaya Water Crisis...................... 14

The Geography of Water in Nepal............................................................................. 18 Ice Towers of the Himalayas........................................................................................ 22

Access to Clean Water in Rural Mongolia............................................................. 24

Water and Sanitation Issues for the Mongolia’s Capital City............................ 26 Permafrost Data Recording for Sewage Lagoons in the Arctic......................... 28 Emergency Water Reservoir Refill

for Kangiqsualujjuaq, Nunavik Region, Northern Quebec................................. 30 Water and Sewer Access in the Arctic – Origins.................................................. 32

Index to Advertisers........................................................................................................34

is published by DEL Communications Inc. Suite 300, 6 Roslyn Road Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada R3L 0G5 www.delcommunications.com President & CEO DAVID LANGSTAFF Editor-in-Chief LYNDON MCLEAN lyndon@delcommunications.com Editor KEN JOHNSON cryofront@gmail.com Sales Manager DAYNA OULION Toll Free: 1-866-424-6398 Advertising Account Executives BRENT ASTROPE BRIAN GEROW MIC PATERSON MICHELLE RAIKE Cover Photo Courtesy of KARL ZIMMERMAN, KYANJIN GOMPA, NEPAL Production services provided by: S.G. Bennett Marketing Services www.sgbennett.com Creative Director / Design KATHLEEN CABLE

© Copyright 2024, DEL Communications Inc. All rights reserved. The contents of this pub­lica­tion may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without prior written consent of the publisher.

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein and the reliability of the source, the publisher­in no way guarantees nor warrants the information and is not responsible for errors, omissions or statements made by advertisers. Opinions and recommendations made by contributors or advertisers are not necessarily those of the publisher, its directors, officers or employees.

Publications mail agreement #40934510 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: DEL Communications Inc. Suite 300, 6 Roslyn Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada R3L 0G5 Email: david@delcommunications.com PRINTED IN CANADA 02/2024

4 The Journal of the Northern Territories Water & Waste Association 2023

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MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR

KEN JOHNSON

I

have always been a fan of the Himalayan region of Asia, although I have never thought about “conquering” Mount Everest. I have also been intrigued by the feat over 70 years ago of Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary climbing the

perspectives about the religious context of water, and its growing

beast for the first documented time. The closest I have gotten

Zimmermann for their contributions of text and photos on work

the Himalayas is participating in a water and sanitation workshop

they are advancing in Nepal. An additional shout out to Karl for

hosted by an international aid organization in the Ladakh region

providing the cover photo from one of his outings in Nepal. A

of northern India through a web presentation several years ago.

final shout out the Renata Klassen for providing a second set of

Although the ice of the Himalayas is miniscule compared to

scarcity and the means to manage it for the sake of public health and safety.

Many thanks to Nand Kishor Agrawal, Samuel Thomas, and Karl

editorial eyes on the articles.

the Arctic and Antarctic, is provides water for agriculture, indus-

If anyone has any questions on Arctic water and sanita-

try, and drinking to over a billion people, which is extraordinary.

tion, or comments on the Journal, please contact me by email

What the region lacks in ice, it makes up for in people. The ar-

(ken.johnson@exp.com or cryofront@gmail.com) or by cell or

ticles in this edition of the Journal provide some very interesting

text at 780-984-9085. S

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2023 Conference and Trade Show

The NTWWA welcomed a new Board at the conference. The Board members are (left to right) Megan Lusty, Jasper Singoorie, Derek White, Gavin Olivera, Dan Grimes, Aaron Pooley, Greg Hamann, John Sainas, Sarah Collins, and Paul Clow.

The Great Northern Drinking Water Contest trophy.

Rob Osborne, Executive Director of the NTWWA.

Sheldon Yamkovy (on the left) accepting the Great Northern Drinking Water Contest trophy from Greg Hamann on behalf of Łutsël K’é.

Braden Redshaw (on the left) and Paul Clow complete the odour testing as part of the Great Northern Drinking Water Contest.

An Operator Forum was hosted at the Conference (seated from left to right) Shane Turner, James Takazo, Charles Nivingalok, Sheldon Yamkovy.

8 The Journal of the Northern Territories Water & Waste Association 2023

THE THIRD POLE

By Ken Johnson (Edited from various articles)

T

he north and south poles are common phrases in the mainstream media. However, the focus on climate change

ably the world’s most important “water

has brought some new geography into

gy, industry, and sanitation needs of 1.3

the discussion on the poles. The Hindu

billion people living in the mountains and

Kush Himalayan (HKH) region of Asia is

downstream.

tower”, being the source of 10 of Asia’s largest rivers. Together, these rivers support the drinking water, irrigation, ener-

the storehouse of the third largest body

The similarities between the three

of snow and ice on our planet outside

poles may not be obvious, but a common

of the Antarctic and the Arctic. Due

denominator is that each region has a

to similarities between the Antarctic,

significant volume of permanent ice. The

Arctic, and Himalaya, scientists are now

Himalayan glacial ice is 5,000 cubic kilo-

describing these three regions as the

metres of ice; the Arctic ice is 3 million

three poles, with the Himalayan system

cubic kilometres of ice; and the Antarctic

as the Third Pole.

ice is 25 million cubic kilometres of ice,

Stretching over 3,500 kilometres and

using recent estimates. A more astound-

across eight countries – Afghanistan,

ing characteristic of the HKH region is

Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal,

the population of 200 million people.

Myanmar, and Pakistan – the Hindu Kush

Polar research is often related to global

Himalaya has an approximate area of 3

issues which influence our life on earth,

million square kilometres and is an argu-

like climate change and the environment.

10 The Journal of the Northern Territories Water & Waste Association 2023

It’s widely accepted that understanding the polar regions can offer keys to unlocking the past, understanding the present, and predicting the future. Understanding of environmental change in the polar regions may also apply to other parts of the planet. By analysing ice cores or sediment cores, scientists can show how the Earth’s climate has changed throughout history and make predictions about the climate in the future.

A correlation between Arctic ice-melt and the Indian monsoons has been established, but the exact effect remains undiscovered. It is believed that melting Arctic ice and the consequent increase of freshwater in the region prevents heat from escaping, leading warmer waters to the Indian Ocean, which in turn alters Indian monsoons. The effects of this could be detrimental, specifically on agriculture that remains critical to India’s economy and growing population. Sea level rise could be accompanied by a devastating situation for India’s coastal inhabitants and ecosystems. Climate change can also have a severe impact on water resources and the availability of drinking water in many parts of India.

India is one of the most recent countries to join polar research. The Third Pole concept has gained increasing relevance in India as the interest in integrated polar research and international collaboration has increased. To meet the growing interest in scientific explorations in the Arctic and Antarctic, it has become important for India to acquire polar research vehicles that can cut through ice sheets and glaciers. India is therefore steering ahead to strengthen its polar programme and is

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In the Himalayas, hundreds of millions of people depend on glaciers for water, for irrigation, industry, and domestic consumption. planning to acquire two new oceanography research vessels for carrying out polar research and mineral exploration activities.

Because of the complex dynamics of the climate system, it’s imperative to look at all three polar regions rather than concentrate on a single pole. A collective international effort will help us to better understand climate variation and will help us to work together to sustain the future of humankind. For this reason, it makes a lot of sense to forge ahead with joint collaborations to be able to provide the best scientific evidence for effective policy making.

Climate change is having rapid and dramatic impacts on glacier ice and snow at three of the world’s poles: the North

Pole, the South Pole, and the Third Pole – the world’s highest point, the glaciers of the Himalayas. In the Arctic, the Greenland ice sheet is experiencing increased summer melt, leading to a great increase in ice discharged into the ocean. The extent of the Arctic Sea ice is decreasing, exposing more dark ocean water which absorbs heat and amplifies warming. In the Antarctic, we are seeing rapid changes in the floating ice shelves that surround the continent, which are thinning and have increased surface melt.

The great outlet glaciers that drain the Antarctic ice sheet are also shrinking, driving global sea level rise. In the Himalayas, hundreds of millions of people depend on glaciers for water, for irrigation, industry, and domestic consumption. As

the glaciers here shrink, they will provide less water for downstream populations, providing more tension in an already water-stressed region. Himalayan glaciers are frequently covered in rock debris, making their response to climatic changes highly non-linear and difficult to predict. Working at high elevation is challenging, but if models projecting future glacier change in the region are to be considered robust, the collection of field data is essential.

A recent world event brought together experts in ice at the Earth’s three poles for three exciting talks and an engaging panel discussion to explore climate change at the world’s highest, most northern, and most southerly points.

The discussions must continue. S

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SOURCE TO SOLUTIONS FOR THE HINDU KUSH HIMALAYA WATER CRISIS

By Nand Kishor Agrawal and Samuel Thomas, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Nepal

C

Soil-cement water pond in Nepal.

Springs have cultural and religious significance in India.

14 The Journal of the Northern Territories Water & Waste Association 2023

limate change has moved from a scientific debate to a fact of everyday life in many parts of the world, impacting the natural and built environments. In the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region of Asia, these impacts are more profound due to elevation-dependent warming, whereby temperatures in high-mountain areas increase at a faster rate than at lower altitudes.

The HKH encompasses mountainous area of eight countries from Afghanistan in the west to Myanmar in the east. In the HKH, multiple factors, including climate change, air pollution, and often not-sowell planned infrastructure development, are impacting the water cycle.

Snow and rainfall patterns are changing, and extreme weather events are becoming more frequent. Between 2011 and 2020, the rate of glacier mass loss was 65 per cent higher compared to the previous decade. Deforestation, land use change, and infrastructure development are impacting the absorption capacity of the land, resulting in more surface flows and less infiltration, slope instability, landslides, flash floods, and drying of springs. As springs dry up, millions of people across the mid-hills and mountains face the brunt of a water crisis that is impacting everyday life, making farming uncertain, increasing drudgery, especially for women, as they are compelled to go farther in search of the next water source, and forcing families to migrate in extreme cases.

Beyond their environmental advan­

Springs water collection by a woman in mid hills of HKH.

tages, solutions like springshed manage­ ment, low-cost soil-cement ponds and drip irrigation, and aquaponics can reduce the drudgery of mountain farming, reduce climate risks for smallholder farmers, and enhance food security and water self-sufficiency across the HKH.

Springshed management

According to a rough estimate, the HKH has about 9 million springs that sustain the lives and livelihoods of some 100 million people. During the dry season, which can last from six to eight months, most springs discharge one litre or more per minute. Conservative estimates suggest that about half of these springs are close to human settlements. In 2018, half of the estimated 3 million springs in the Indian Himalayan Region part of HKH had either dried up or had reduced flows. The situation is no different in the mid-hills of the other HKH countries.

Springshed management is an approach to rejuvenate dying springs. A systematic approach to springshed management can help improve water flows, restore biodiversity, sustain livelihoods, and reduce the drudgery of women and children who provide water for household and farm use. Springshed management follows a six-step spring revival protocol emphasising community knowledge and demystifying springshed hydrogeology to identifying “recharge areas” through which water infiltrates and reaches the aquifers, where groundwater is stored and emerges at the surface as a spring.

The protocol also involves undertaking interventions such as digging waterretention trenches, afforestation, measures to slow water flow in the recharge catchment area, monitoring spring flows, building community institutions, and promoting women’s leadership for managing spring revival and water use.

Low-cost soil cement ponds and drip irrigation

With only 30 per cent of Nepal’s agri-

cultural land having access to irrigation, mountain farmers must adopt water management and efficient use practices.

“Soil-cement water ponds”, combined with drip irrigation, is one such solution which is gaining popularity among mountain farmers in Nepal. This solution is also becoming popular among local governments for their development plans. The ponds are made and lined with a mixture of soil, sand, and cement in a 3:3:1 ratio.

Construction costs less than US$200 for a 25,000-litre pond, which can last for up to 15 years if maintained well. With an additional US$50 investment in a gravitybased, small drip irrigation system, the farmer can easily irrigate an area of 100 square metres for year-round vegetable production. By harvesting rain and spring water, and with almost no running and maintenance costs, such ponds are a boon for smallholder farmers in the midhills. Drip irrigation ensures targeted and efficient irrigation, minimizing the loss of fertilisers and nutrients, as well as less pest and weed infestation.

The Journal of the Northern Territories Water & Waste Association 2023 15

Aquaponics combines aquaculture (fish farming) and hydroponics (soilless plant cultivation) in a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship.

Aquaponics

food. It also has the potential to attract

vironmental degradation, water-induced

aquaculture

younger generations to agriculture, and

extreme events, and food insecurity,

(fish farming) and hydroponics (soilless

thereby encourage further innovation in

require a need for scaling simple and af-

plant cultivation) in a mutually beneficial

agricultural value chains. Aquaponics can

fordable solutions that can be replicated

symbiotic relationship. In an aquaponic

be implemented at various scales, from

without much external support. Spring-

system, fish are raised in tanks, and the

small backyard setups to large commer-

shed management, low-cost soil-cement

nutrient-rich water from these tanks

cial operations. Additionally, it allows for

ponds, and aquaponics emphasise a na-

is circulated to nourish plants grown in

year-round cultivation, making it ideal

ture-positive approach that can ensure

hydroponic beds. The plants, in turn, act

for regions with challenging climates and

water and food security, harmonising ag-

as natural filters, removing excess nutri-

limited arable land. It also significantly

riculture with ecological restoration, and

ents and purifying the water before it is

reduces the need for synthetic fertilisers

empowering communities to take charge

recirculated back to the fish tanks. This

and pesticides, which are expensive and

of their water security. Restoring springs

closed-loop cycle minimises water wast-

harmful to the environment and farmers,

is also of greater hydrological impor-

age, making aquaponics incredibly wa-

thus lowering water pollution and soil

tance since they sustain the base flows

ter efficient compared to conventional

degradation risks.

of rivers in non-glaciated basins. It’s fun-

Aquaponics

combines

farming. This eco-friendly method of

The HKH region is facing a water cri-

damental to understand that these solu-

food production is new to the HKH but

sis of Himalayan proportions. Water

tions are simple, relatively low-cost, and

holds high potential as more consumers

insecurity, and the complex and inter-

easy to implement, which explains their

are looking for healthy and chemical-free

related challenges of climate change, en-

popularity. S

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The Journal of the Northern Territories Water & Waste Association 2023 17

THE GEOGRAPHY OF WATER IN NEPAL

A

n expedition in Nepal is a journey with diversity of culture, diversity of geo­ graphies, and diversity of water challenges.

In the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu, temples are found on half of the street corners and stupas – a mound-like or Buddhist structure containing relics that is used as a place of meditation – are found on the other half. In between the stupas and the temples are tightly packed houses with ornate wooden carvings around window frames, railings, and roof lines. Ancient water infrastructure in the form of with stone waterspouts also remain part of the community. The stone waterspouts are especially prominent in Thamel – the west central district of Kathmandu – and dozens of stone spouts are located about two metres below street level, near street corners and neighbourhood intersections. Built and maintained for generations by the local

Astaman Shakya in Shand Bhanjyang, Nepal.

Edited from an article by Karl Zimmermann, University of British Columbia

Newar people, stone spouts typically start with an underground water box that fills from a spring or stream. Water then flows through ornately decorated stone spouts into the open-air stage where people can fill water jugs, do laundry, and even bathe. This water is regarded as clean, pure, and of highest value. In fact, many of the below-ground stone spout stages are regarded as temples with statues of gods on display. Such is the value of safe water in Nepal.

Nepal’s water geographies include the Himalayan peaks with mountainside springs, the hilly region, including Kathmandu, where water was piped kilometres to each household, and the Terai plains, where wells offer water at the household level, but the water needs treatment. It is a landscape where the diversity of water challenges is rivalled only by the diversity of beautiful sunset vistas.

18 The Journal of the Northern Territories Water & Waste Association 2023

Kathmandu is approximately central in Nepal. Beautifully diverse landscapes are encountered upon leaving the capital.

To the north, northeast and northwest is the Himalayan region with towering peaks to elevations of 8,000 meters and the border with China. Mount Everest is 160 kilometres to the northeast. This is where life is challenging for the six per cent of the Nepalese population who lives there. In the mountains, water quality is typically good, and a common approach is pipe water from a source high above the village, down into a storage tank before distribution to community or household taps.

The middle band of the country is the hilly region, encompassing 40 per cent of the population, including Kathmandu.

These “hills” are typically below 2,000 metres and often have jungle-like fauna, working well for cultivation of rice, corn, and staple crops. While the rolling hills

Water line installation Kyanjin Gompa, Nepal.

Banjahity stone waterspout in Kathmandu.

and steep valleys make for a picturesque landscape, they can present challenges for water access. Many communities rely on springs and mountainside rivers that can be five to six kilometres from the communities and in some instances 14 kilometres from the community.

These systems are fed by gravity, if possible, bringing water from the source directly to the tap. If the domestic and agricultural water needs are great, then

water from multiple water sources may be collected at a point downhill of the community. In this case, a pumping scheme powered with solar panels is emerging as a preferred option to lift water into an uphill collection tank from where it can then flow to household taps.

In either case, a challenge comes in building and managing a network of pipes to get to the water to each home. Without an organized plan, the result can be a spi-

derweb of piping, tied to tree trunks and supported with haphazard poles. In this regard, the government and non-governmental organization (NGO) partners like Helvetas Nepal can help bring together the community by creating a water use master plan to understand their local water needs, water resources, the equitable sharing of water, and a plan for the infrastructure and policies to achieve it.

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Girl collecting water in Dailekh.

Terai plains region along the southern border with India. Here lives 54 per cent of the population in predominantly small landholder farming communities. For agriculture and household uses, groundwater serves the water needs of this region.

However, houses have a decision to make when installing a well. Surface wells (less than 10 metres [30 feet] deep) risk influence from runoff contamination. The water between 10 and 50 metres [30 and 150 feet] is safer from pathogens but has poor quality significantly contaminated with iron and arsenic, up to one hundred

(WHO) drinking water guidelines. Deep

water storage and treatment like the bio-

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sand filter which can remove not only

may have better quality water but are

pathogens and turbidity, but also iron

expensive to drill and require an electric

and arsenic through a clever modifica-

pump.

tion using rusty nails and an aeration box.

times the World Health Organization

and illness, and to promote household

Balancing risk and cost, many homes

This remarkable water filter comes with a

decide on wells around 15 metres (50

financial cost; however, households need

feet) deep, despite the water quality

to understand the importance of using

challenges. Organizations like the Envi-

it to treat water and protect their fam-

ronment and Public Health Organization

ily’s health. This behaviour change is be-

Nepal (ENPHO) work with local busi-

ing pursued by the government but also

nesses and community leaders to explain

community partners like ENPHO and the

the connection between unsafe water

Red Cross. S

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ICE TOWERS OF THE HIMALAYAS Edited from article by Mark Mancini

Community gathering at ice stupa.

Building of ice stupa with spray discharge.

L

cated at elevations between 2,700 and

Himalayas – a mountain range with the

with an average annual precipitation of

earth’s highest peaks, including Mount

100 millimetres. The Himalayas shield the

Everest and K2. The capital city of Ladakh

region from the annual monsoon – the

is Leh, 600 kilometres north of Delhi.

big seasonal wind – that much of the rest

adakh is a region in northern India administered as a union territory in the eastern portion of the larger Kashmir region within the

The communities in Ladakh are lo4,000 metres. It is a cold desert with winter temperatures reaching minus 30°C,

22 The Journal of the Northern Territories Water & Waste Association 2023

of India relies on. Human settlements in Ladakh are almost always located around glacial streams and diverting water from the streams toward deserts is the key.

The water from the streams is diverted through canals toward land that can support crops like barley, wheat, and vegetables.

Most of the villages in Ladakh face acute water shortages, particularly during the two crucial months of April and May when there is little water in the streams and moisture is needed for the newly planted crops. By mid-June, there’s an excess of water and even flash flooding due to the fast melting of the snow and glaciers in the mountains. By midSeptember, all farming activities end, and yet streams flow throughout the winter.

But because of the frozen ground and low air temperatures, the farmers can’t grow crops during the coldest months of the year.

This elevated terrain is world-famous for its ice supply. Indeed, more ice than any other non-polar area on Earth is contained within the Tibetan Plateau and its surrounding mountains. Unfortunately, those glaciers are receding because of climate change. With glaciers, some seasonal melting is expected; however, normally, winter snowfall allows glaciers to replace the melted ice they lose during the spring melt. Across the plateau, glaciers are no longer getting enough annual snowfall to offset their lost water.

In the 1980s, a civil engineer devised an innovative reservoir system using dams and channels. The concept diverted large volumes of glacial water into impoundments on the shady sides of mountains, where it froze. When the weather warmed in the spring, the ice would melt and flow downhill to growing areas through a series of canals. However, this

ice storage method melted too quickly, so the water tended to run out before the summer rains arrived.

In 2013, it was deduced that the ice in impoundments with the characteristic of a flat surface area melted so fast because too much of the surface was exposed to direct sunlight. Considering the theoretical and practical geometry of the stored ice, it was calculated that ice frozen into a conical tower would have much less exposed surface area exposed to direct sunlight, and hence melt slower.

To make these frozen cones, a simple irrigation system was devised, with the major component being a long supply pipeline. The upper end of the pipeline taps into a glacial stream, which maintains a flow during the winter, or a lake high in the mountains.

Through the pipeline, the flows by gravity to the ice tower location at a lower elevation. No mechanical systems are needed to control the water flow, and the pipeline connects to a narrower pipe, which stands vertically in the centre of where the ice tower will take shape.

The water is discharged as a spray at the tower location, and the spray encounters atmospheric temperatures of minus 20°C or lower. Before landing, it freezes solid, forming a large cone of ice around the vertical pipe. The cone’s distinctive shape resembles that of a stupa, traditional Buddhist prayer monuments. Hence, the ice towers have taken the name of a new glacier-like structure called an “ice stupa”.

Installing pipeline for water supply to ice stupa.

Ladakh’s ice stupas melt down in late spring – right when the need for water is greatest. The first stupa erected in the winter of 2013 contained approximately 150,000 litres of ice and provided irrigation through the middle of May. Since the original installations, numerous oth-

ers have been constructed. One stupa watered 5,000 newly planted trees.

Standing 18 metres tall, it contained 2 million litres of ice. It is anticipated that stupas may exceed about 30 metres and contain 10 million litres of ice. S

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The Journal of the Northern Territories Water & Waste Association 2023 23

ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER IN RURAL MONGOLIA Edited from an article by Bolormaa Purifvav

M

ongolia is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south. The western edge of Mongolia is only 20 kilometres from Kazakhstan. It covers an area of 1.5 million square kilometres, with a population of 3.3 million, making it the world’s most sparsely populated sovereign state. Mongolia is the world’s largest landlocked country that doesn’t border a closed sea, and much of its area is covered by grassy steppe, with mountains to the north and west and the Gobi Desert to the south.

Ulaanbaatar, the capital and largest city, is home to roughly half of the country’s population.

Approximately 30 per cent of the population is nomadic – travelling from place to place – and a horse remains an important part of the nomadic culture.

Buddhism is the majority religion at 50 per cent, while 40 per cent of Mongolians are nonreligious, being the secondlargest group. Most citizens are ethnic Mongols, with roughly five per cent of

the population being ethnic minorities.

the winter, but that water needs to be

The residents of most of the rural

treated, as it is not suitable for drinking,

regions in the country face severe chal-

and can risk heavy metal contamination.

lenges in accessing clean water daily. In

A recent effort with the support of

the northernmost region of the country,

UNICEF has been working with Soum

which is 700 kilometres from the capital

(administrative

of Ulaanbaatar, work has been ongoing

schools, and kindergarten management

with the communities to improve water

teams, children, teachers, and social

quality and access to water. The winter

workers to provide water filters, train-

there is harsh and lasts from November

ing, and guidance to local schools and

through March. In the winter, the terrain

kindergartens on water and sanitation.

of the region has snowcapped hills, fro-

Already seeing results from the aware-

zen landscapes, and subzero tempera-

ness-raising aspects of the project, the

tures, which make access to fresh water

local Soum governors have begun allo-

even more difficult.

cating portions of their local develop-

division)

governors,

Given the lack of access to drinking

ment funds as well as investing their

water in schools and dormitories in ru-

own time and resources to ensure that

ral Mongolia, students generally do not

children have access to clean drinking

drink water during the school day. Only

water.

a small cup of tea once or twice a day

One project allocated 100 million

is provided, and water for handwash-

tugrug (US$50,000) to improve a com-

ing is scarce. Water sources are located

munity’s water supply and sanitation

far from schools, and available water is

facilities for schools and kindergartens.

transported from lakes and rivers by ve-

The project team provided important

hicles or horse carts. In the winter, these

technical advice on improved sanita-

water sources are frozen, which makes

tion technology and the nano-water fil-

access even more challenging. Wells

ters. It was also recognized that there’s

are available in some areas even during

considerable value in teaching students

24 The Journal of the Northern Territories Water & Waste Association 2023

about proper hygiene and water usage habits. This is something that isn’t part of the traditional teaching curriculum or culture in rural Mongolia.

In addition to these efforts, other local government partners launched a series of mini- campaigns to share vital information on the inadequate state of water supply and sanitation in schools and kindergartens, with the objective of increasing urgency for taking immediate lic officials in Mongolia are more con-

SUSTAINING communities

cerned with issues related to the school

for forover over

curriculum and overcrowding. The need

Every day in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, NAPEG Members play an important role in developing innovative and sustainable water supply and treatment solutions.

action. Traditionally, parents and pub-

for improved water and sanitation, in contrast, has rarely been discussed.

Through these awareness-raising campaigns, parents have become some of the strongest advocates for improving water sanitation and hygiene in schools.

As a result of another effort, the par-

30 Years.

40 Years.

To learn more, visit www.napeg.nt.ca

NAPEG Northwest Territories and Nunavut Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists 201, 4817 - 49 Street, Yellowknife, NWT X1A 3S7

(867) 920-4055

ents’ council quickly acted and brought BPA-free bottles from Ulaanbaatar for the children. Members of the parents’ council were trained on how to apply a monitoring checklist for the minimum water requirements in schools, kindergarten, and dormitories, and monitoring results are used to improve the WASH minimum requirements.

It was noted that the campaigns have greatly increased the overall understanding of water supply and sanitation issues across the province among local governments, businesses, and parents. While the momentum has been positive, more is needed to ensure the health and hygiene for the children of rural Mongolia, particularly building affordable and easy-to-maintain water and sanitation facilities that are operational throughout the long, cold winters. The project’s introduction of water filters has been promising in that they are cost-effective, easy-to-use, and re-

20th International Conference and Cold Regions Engineering Anchorage, Alaska May 13 - 16, 2024

quire virtually no maintenance costs. S The Journal of the Northern Territories Water & Waste Association 2023 25

WATER AND SANITATION ISSUES FOR MONGOLIA’S CAPITAL CITY

U

laanbaatar is the capital and most populous

the residents of Ulaanbaatar reside in overcrowded and under-

city of Mongolia with 1.6 million people. Winter

serviced “ger” districts (a form of residential districts) where

tem­pera­tures can fall as low as -40°C in January,

they face a host of infrastructure and service challenges, in-

and Ulaanbaatar holds the record as the coldest

cluding lack of access to water, hygiene, and sanitation.

capital city of any country in the world. The municipality is in

The city relies entirely on groundwater supplies that are re-

north central Mongolia at an elevation of about 1,300 metres

charged directly from the Tuul River, which runs through the

(4,265 feet) in a valley on the Tuul River. The city was founded

city. The aquifers of the Tuul River are the lifeline of Ulaan-

in 1639 as a nomadic Buddhist monastic centre, changing

baatar. For Ulaanbaatar’s citizens, water has always been a val-

location 28 times, and was permanently settled at its modern

ued resource. However, its sustainability is being threatened

location in 1778.

by continued urbanization, which has drastically increased the

As the country’s primary city, Ulaanbaatar serves as Mongolia’s cultural, industrial, and financial heart and the centre of

demand for freshwater. Mismanagement and climate change are further jeopardizing Ulaanbaatar’s water supply.

its transport network. Although summer day temperatures can

Access to drinking water for residents of the ger districts is

be around 20°C, the city shivers in sub-zero temperatures for

limited to public kiosks (water distribution points), which are

five months of the year. January and February are the coldest

open for only limited periods of the day and often run out of

months, with temperatures hovering between -15°C and -30°C

water. According to estimates, the water consumption of peo-

at night. The cold is dry, however, and there’s not much wind

ple living in ger districts is limited to six to 10 litres per person

chill due to temperature inversion. More than 60 per cent of

per day. This is well below the minimum level of 15 litres per

26 The Journal of the Northern Territories Water & Waste Association 2023

Access to drinking water for residents of the ger districts is limited to public kiosks (water distribution points), which are open for only limited periods of the day and often run out of water. According to estimates, the water consumption of people living in ger districts is limited to six to 10 litres per person per day. day per person prescribed by the World Health Organization.

Ninety-five per cent of the people living in ger districts use

tive to the commonly used chemical containers for drinking water transport and storage.

simple pit latrines, which risk polluting groundwater. These un-

Two-hundred-and-fifty households in the target ger districts

sanitary conditions combined with the lack of water represent

are also now using eco-toilets provided by the project as an

a public health threat.

alternative to pit latrines. These improved sanitation facilities

Improving access to safe water, better sanitation, and proper

– which don’t endanger either human or environmental health

hygiene in Ulaanbaatar’s ger districts was the goal of a WASH

– are affordable for residents. At present, the eco-toilets re-

(water, sanitation, hygiene) project initiative. This was a four-

main the only consistently piloted option for improved envi-

year project that was completed in 2015 and had a number of

ronmental on-site sanitation in areas that are not connected

impacts on improving sanitation and hygiene practices. More

to the waste-water system in Mongolia’s densely populated

than 20,000 children from 14 schools and kindergartens in the

ger districts.

project’s target areas now have access to improved and reha-

The efforts to improve water and sanitation in Ulaanbaatar’s

bilitated toilets and sanitation facilities in their schools and

ger districts through demonstrations of solutions and viable

kindergartens.

alternatives, which has fed numerous studies and analytical re-

This initiative accelerated good hygiene practices among

ports, has resulted in policy actions, including imposing a con-

schoolchildren and led to a reduction in waterborne diseas-

dition on using improved latrines on new land allocations, and

es among the school-age population, including hepatitis A

the introduction of cost-covering water rates in Ulaanbaatar. S

and dysentery. The number of Hepatitis A cases in the target schools dropped to three in 2014 from 121 in 2012. Advocating hand-washing practices among children was a key factor in

40 years serving Arctic communities

achieving this result.

Advocacy kits on proper hygiene practices were widely distributed and were the only comprehensive tool on hygiene promotion for children in Mongolia. The kits were approved

Let’s explore the possibilities

by the Ministry of Education and Science as a tool to be used at the national level with regards to the hygiene curriculum.

The project remodelled four water distribution kiosks, transforming them into multi-functional centres that included water distribution, public showers, and hairdressing services, demonstrating that the kiosks were able to provide better hygiene services while earning additional revenue for further sustainability.

There was a significant reduction in the bacteriological contamination of household water, confirmed in three consecutive samplings, because of trainings and advocacy for residents and staff at water distribution kiosks on water-quality testing and the improvement of water-distribution tools.

In addition, project collaboration with the private sector resulted in the production of 20,000 plastic water containers to transport water from kiosks. The containers were produced in Mongolia and distributed with subsidies to provide an alterna-

Providing cold region engineering solutions

Contact: Ken Johnson 780 984 9085 ken.johnson@exp.com Photo - Resolute water supply intake

The Journal of the Northern Territories Water & Waste Association 2023 27

PERMAFROST DATA RECORDING FOR SEWAGE LAGOONS IN THE ARCTIC

By Renata Klassen, EXP; Elan Chalmers, Government of Nunavut; and Ken Johnson, EXP

PVC tubing with a thermistor cable connected to a datalogger recording temperatures in a drill hole on the lagoon perimeter.

R

ecording of ground tem­ pera­ture data is a method of monitoring the operational performance of sewage

lagoon, which has historically been

tive lagoon to passively function over

plagued by leakage and a malfunctioning

the period of warmer and sunny Arctic

liner. The study involved the installation

summers and discharge into a wetland

of equipment into berms for continuous

for supplementary treatment in the fall.

lagoons constructed on permafrost in

ground temperature monitoring and data

The lagoon was constructed on top of a

the Canadian Arctic. Factors that impact

collection as part of a 2021 field program.

natural drainage course, or creek, which

the performance of Arctic lagoons

The Kugluktuk lagoon is a rectangu-

crossed the area where the lagoon was

include the condition of the permafrost

lar engineered pond, approximately 240

prior to construction, after the structure

metres by 200 metres, with compacted

The lagoon was commissioned in 2009.

is built, and changes in the permafrost

granular earth berms. It was designed

Several issues started occurring that be-

that result from warming caused by the

to store 125,000 cubic metres of sew-

came obvious over time, starting in the

contained sewage. Furthermore, drainage

age. The lagoon is lined with 60 mil-thick

first year of its use. These issues included

around the lagoon, as well as subsurface

(1.52 millimetre) high-density polyethyl-

a floating liner, which formed “islands”

water around and below the lagoon

ene (HDPE) plastic to hold the sewage

(called whales), which started forming

impact asset performance as both

through an entire year until the passively

after construction in 2009, lagoon leak-

flowing and standing water contribute to

treated wastewater is drained (decanted)

age under one of the berms in 2010, and

melting of the permafrost. A study was

into the adjacent wetland-treatment

significant subsidence of the earth berms

completed by EXP for the Government

area in the late summer. The treatment

progressing over time. In one location

of Nunavut on the Kugluktuk sewage

process principle is to allow the faculta-

the berm subsided over 40 centimetres.

28 The Journal of the Northern Territories Water & Waste Association 2023

constructed.

Above left: Recording temperatures in one of the holes – blue thermistor cable is connected to a datalogger housed in a protective casing.

Note “whale” (floating liner) in the background of the photo. Right: Geotechnical drilling program on the lagoon perimeter.

The goal of the 2021 field program was to collect data which could be used to assess the geotechnical elements of the lagoon and develop a plan to improve issues with the lagoon. Four holes were drilled around the top of the lagoon and PVC plastic tubes were installed in the holes. Thermistor strings (wires with electronic thermometers at several places along the wires) were put into the plastic tubes and connected to equipment (data loggers) in protective cases.

This equipment continuously recorded the temperature of the ground around the tubes. A multimeter which recorded details such as voltage, current and resistance was also connected to the thermistor strings to do spot check readings at various times and spots. The water levels in the holes were measured at several locations along the berm with a water level meter. This information was added

to information on the temperature distribution in the earth berms on the north and west sides of the lagoon. The ground temperature measurements revealed similar temperatures between the holes suggesting that the ground below the berms was frozen and the base of the berms was freezing back.

Upon completion of the 2021 field program, a decision was made to leave on site a data logger connected to a thermistor string for further temperature data collection. In March 2022, data from the data logger, which had been recording since August 2021, was downloaded.

The recorded temperatures confirmed that the ground was frozen to at least four metres below the base of the berm in this location.

The ground temperature data recorded in 2021 and during the follow-up in 2022 provides valuable information about the

possible causes of the poor performance of the sewage lagoon structure in Kugluktuk. The recorded temperatures indicated that several of the berms were freezing back, except for one berm that was not freezing back while onsite in July 2021. The lack of freeze back in the berm could indicate unfrozen ground within the permafrost. The data from the field investigation has been used to develop several remedial options for the lagoon that include relining in combination with a drainage collection system below the lagoon and a vertical barrier to cutoff surface and subsurface drainage from entering the lagoon. The continuous ground temperature data collection will provide information for fine tuning these options before starting to prepare the detailed design of remedial work on the lagoon. S

The Journal of the Northern Territories Water & Waste Association 2023 29

EMERGENCY WATER RESERVOIR REFILL FOR NORTHERN VILLAGE OF KANGIQSUALUJJUAQ, NUNAVIK REGION, NORTHERN QUEBEC

By Chris Keung, Ken Johnson, Luc Malo, Alfred Tsui, and Hossain Shafeghati

C

hris Keung, Ken Johnson, and Luc Malo are professional engineers from EXP Services Inc. (EXP), who assisted Kativik Regional Government (KRG) with the planning, engineering and execution of the emergency resupply project. Alfred Tsui and Hossain Shafeghati are the engineers from the KRG who supported the project.

KRG is responsible for the community infrastructure for the Nunavik Region Kangiqsualujjuaq, formerly known as George River, is a remote Inuit village in the Nunavik Region of northern Quebec, located 1,500 kilometres north of Montreal at 58.7 degrees north latitude. The community is located at the mouth of the George

Pipeline and cat trail.

30 The Journal of the Northern Territories Water & Waste Association 2023

Discharge into lake.

Equipment mobilization.

River on the east coast of Ungava Bay in Arctic Canada, and the community has a population of approximately 1,000 people.

The name “Kangiqsualujjuaq” (Inuktitut syllabics ) is Inuktitut for “the very large bay”. The community is only accessible year-round be air, and by sealift from Montreal during the limited ice-free period from late July through October. The community is not accessible by road.

In the early summer of 2023, the community operating staff observed a significant water leak from what appeared to be a pipe of the water supply system. The break in the line itself was not observed because it was difficult to see anything under the snow cover. The water is supplied from the water supply lake (reservoir) referred to as Imirtaviup Tasinga Lake (the lake). The lake is an elevated water source north of the community with a capacity of 360,000 cubic metres at an elevation of approximately 140 metre above sea level. The cause of the leak was a break in the buried water recirculation pipeline to the water treatment plant.

The water supply is a two-pipe system consisting of a main water supply pipeline and a water recirculation line. The recirculation water line provides freeze protection to the water supply line with kinetic energy generated by continuously recirculating return flow from the water treatment plant to the lake.

Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the break was causing an

Intake and pumping system.

unexpected draining of the lake. It was determined that a refill of the lake was necessary to provide enough water supply to the community over the winter.

The situation created a water supply emergency in the community. EXP was retained by KRG to plan, engineer and assist in the execution of the emergency water reservoir refill. The execution of a 100,000 cubic metre refill of the lake was required.

The schedule required the execution of a hasty plan to select a water source, select the necessary equipment and materials, and mobilize them 1,500 kilometres north. This plan had to be executed before the onset of cold temperatures in October, which can fall to minus 10° C. After the consideration of several water sources in reasonable proximity to the lake, Ellasie Lake was selected as the most appropriate source for the refill. Ellasie Lake is 1,300 metres north of Imirtaviup Tasinga Lake. All efforts focused on the logistics for executing the refill, which was up against the coming Arctic winter.

The refill from Ellasie Lake required a pumping system and a 1,300-metre overland piping system that would have to be mobilized by air or possible sealift.

As the project progressed at the end of the summer, the sealift was not an option. In addition, the community airfield is not long enough for larger aircraft.

Given these mobilization limitations, a flexible piping and diesel pumps was selected as the most appropriate design for the pumping system to meet the strict

dimensional requirements of a smaller cargo aircraft.

Based on 30 days of 24/7 operation, the pumping system would require a flow rate of approximately 40 litres per second (600 USGPM) and would need to overcome approximately 65 metres of static head. Various equipment suppliers were contacted to find pumping equipment that was available and could be procured and transported given the numerous logistical challenges. Two high-head pumps, 1,400 metres of flexible 200-millimetre (8-inch) hose and associated materials were procured.

Concurrently, discussions occurred with various cargo and logistic companies to organize transportation options for the shipment. As the final solution, a Boeing 737 plane was chartered from southern Quebec to the nearby community of Kuujjuaq, which has a longer airfield. From Kuujjuaq, the shipment was transferred to a fishing boat and transported 200 kilometres to Kangiqsualujjuaq.

Once the shipment was on site, the challenge was to install the flexible piping along a hastily constructed trail from Ellasie Lake to Imirtaviup Tasing Lake.

Additional construction included a pad for the pumps; provision of fuel supply 24,000 litres (approx. 6,500 US gal) and installation of the fuel tank; and maintenance and operation of the pumps.

Pumping began in late September 2023, and the emergency water reservoir resupply was completed 35 days later. S

The Journal of the Northern Territories Water & Waste Association 2023 31

WATER AND SEWER ACCESS IN THE ARCTIC – ORIGINS

By Ken Johnson, EXP

S

everal jurisdictions in Nunavut are considering the

constructed in the community of Rae, NWT in 1978. These vaults

opportunity for “improvements” to their 45 year old

had electrical boxes and heaters inside, which did not work well.

Arctic Access Vaults (AAVs) that are used for water and

The issues with the first generation AAVs included an inability to

sewer conveyance. In principle, the idea of advancing

seal High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipe entering vaults (the

innovation has merit, however, the advancement of these

application of HDPE pipes was an emerging technology at the

innovations may be fraught with an incomplete consideration of

time), electrical equipment quickly corroding within the AAVs,

factors associated with the engineering of water and sanitation

and difficulties of getting good concrete in most communities of

for an Arctic environment. A background to these factors was

the NWT. The application of the first generation AAVs included

presented in an article by Ken Johnson, MASc, P.Eng., 35 years

AAVs in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet and Resolute Bay.

ago entitled “Municipal Engineering in the Arctic”. In advancing any improvements to the configuration of the water and sewer infrastructure, the question should be asked “what is the driving force behind this”, rather than starting with a potential wish list of improvements.

The AAV design is such that the water and sewer are isolated or sealed systems within the AAV. If the seal is maintained the risk of contamination is small, and it could be argued, no worse than the risk from the water main and sanitary sewer sharing the same trench. Contamination in the common trench may be greater due to the installation of fitting (service connection) in the field as opposed to the fitting inside the AAV being installed in a factory. However, this all becomes irrelevant when one factors in the issue of cleanout covers not being reinstalled upon routine maintenance during the AAVs operation and maintenance.

IN THE BEGINNING The steel AAVs were a second generation of the AAVs and date from about the early 1980s. They were developed by the Government of Northwest Territories (GNWT), Department of Public Works, with specific input from the GNWT operational staff and various consultants. The initial intent was to have a heated space where workers could access both water and sewer systems, and effect repairs protected from minus 40 °C weather.

An extension to the water and sewer system in Rae, NWT advanced in 1984, by which time the steel AAVs were in use, with the design once again provided by the GNWT. The design details were presented in a technical paper entitled “Water Distribution and Sewage Disposal Systems in the Northwest Territories”, by Sukhi Sheema, P.Eng. and Robert Boon, P.Eng., presented at 1985 CSCE conference.

Local variations had occurred in the steel AAVs. For example, modifications were required to the AAV pipe penetration details in Iqaluit because of issues with water getting into the foam insulation between the walls of the AAVs. Another example from Fort McPherson in 1986 required a modification to the flanged HDPE pipe connection outside the AAV because anticipated ground movement due to thick active layer would have applied too much stress to the flange. In response, a 450 mm long Robar style coupling was used for the transition from steel to the HDPE pipe. it is strategic to develop an extensive list of objectives in consideration of modifications to the AAVs.

OBJECTIVES OF AAVs The performance objectives for an AAV may include: providing access for sewer clean out and thawing; providing access for

The first generation AAV’s were concrete, with the design de-

water main thawing and draining; providing access to operate,

veloped by the GNWT. Engineering consultants were supplied

maintain, and repair appurtenances within an AAV; providing

with the design details, which they then applied to new water

resistance to all uplift forces in surrounding ground and thaw

and sanitation design projects such as the new system that was

settlement; preventing ingress of subsurface water; and accom-

32 The Journal of the Northern Territories Water & Waste Association 2023

modating thrust forces due to expansion and contraction of conveyance pipes.

Other objectives for an AAV that may include: low fabrication cost and low installation cost; easy shipping and handling for ground or sea transportation; maintenance work to be done in a sheltered portable environment with power facilities for heat and light; durable construction for known operating conditions; vandalism resistance; field modifications or alternation possible for unplanned future extensions; minimum turnaround for manufacture of components in system; minimum potential of contamination of water main from sewer main or other source; original ground thermal regime maintained; and meeting Occupational Health and Safety Standards.

NEXT STEPS The water and sewer system in Rankin Inlet is utilizing variations of the current AAV standard, , with separating the sewer and water in the vault, and applying other geometric variations, such as rectangular AAVs. Iqaluit is planning to update their Municipal Design Guidelines with improvements based upon staff recommendations. The result in Iqaluit will be a new set of Municipal Design Guidelines that should reflect 40 years of water and sanitary conveyance experience and improvements in the Iqaluit service conditions. S

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The Journal of the Northern Territories Water & Waste Association 2023 33

INDEX TO ADVERTISERS ACC Water Solutions Inc............................................................... 3

MACA............................................................................................... 11

AECOM............................................................................................ 17

Metex Corporation.........................................................................12

ATAP Infrastructure Management Ltd...................................35

Mueller................................................................................................. 5

AWI (Anthratech Western Inc.).............................................. IFC

NAPEG..............................................................................................25

BI Pure Water..................................................................................33

Nexom.................................................................................................. 9

Bio Pro Distributors....................................................................... 19

Nunatta Environmental Services Inc.......................................... 6

Can-Am Instruments.................................................................... 21

Nuqsana Waterworks Inc. / Sandale Utility Products.......... 21

CleanHarbors Lodging Services.................................................20

Perma-Pipe Canada........................................................................13

Clow Canada.................................................................................... 16

Reed Pipe Tools & Vises.................................................................. 7

Dominion Divers.............................................................................35

Stantec...............................................................................................15

duAlaska............................................................................................ 17

Terminal City Iron Works............................................................35

Exp Services Inc..............................................................................27

Urecon............................................................................................... 16

Harmsco Filtration Products....................................................... 21

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34 The Journal of the Northern Territories Water & Waste Association 2023

DEEPLY DEDICATED MARINE CONTRACTORS We offer a proven track record in the north for water/wastewater utility services and training.

Our recent Rankin Inlet Fire Hydrants Training Services project, involving the inspection & maintenance of 94 hydrants, highlighted the exceptional service and skilled inspection/ maintenance skills of our field technicians.

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Yukon Water and Wastewater Operator Program 867 668 8792 | ywwop@yukonu.ca | YukonU.ca/ywwop