Big Valley Council: Fall discharge scheduled for sewage lagoon

Council discussed the repairs and maintenance of the Big Valley sewage lagoon during the Big Valley village council meeting.

Council reviewed a report from MPE, a division of Englobe, regarding the Big Valley sewage lagoon located about one kilometre south of the village.

MPE was hired by the village to investigate safety concerns and dam safety deficiencies at the lagoon facility.

The company was initially retained in 2023 to conduct an infrastructure study, which included the lagoon.

Upon review in early 2024, issues were identified with the lagoon, including a crack in the wall of the effluent pond dating back to 2022 that had not been addressed.

An emergency discharge of the effluent pond was carried out in early summer 2022, but as of March 2024, no mandatory annual or bi-annual discharges had been conducted.

According to the report, the existing lagoons operate under a Code of Practice (COP) issued by Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP).

The COP does not require specific effluent discharge standards unless the treated effluent is used for irrigation.

The village’s Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA) approval allows for up to two discharges per year from the lagoon outfall to Big Valley Creek, between April 1 and Nov. 30, with each discharge lasting a maximum of three weeks.

Failing to conduct a discharge between the summer of 2022 and spring of 2024 put the village in contravention of Alberta Environment regulations and increased the risk of the crack expanding due to added volume and pressure.

With the lagoon full, another emergency discharge was completed in April 2024.

The village conducted a Geotechnical Investigation Study to assess the current condition of the lagoon’s effluent pond revealed that the crack had grown considerably since the June 2022 emergency discharge.

Council directed the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to have public works schedule a fall discharge to manage the lagoon during the winter, with another discharge planned for the spring, in accordance with AEP requirements.

Council also requested that MPE attend the next council meeting to present the infrastructure study findings, including those related to the lagoon.

Tractor repair

The village’s John Deere 6210 tractor was taken out of service after being deemed unsafe until repairs could be made.

Upon closer inspection by the village’s Public Works department, it was discovered that the mounts on the arms were worn and the bucket could not attach properly.

As a result, the grapple and hoses do not need to be replaced as previously quoted.

The repairs would extend the tractor’s life by an additional 10 to 15 years, making it eligible for capital expense coverage under a provincial grant.

The repair would also increase the village’s assets and defer the need for leasing or purchasing new equipment and would become depreciable based on standard municipal asset depreciation rules.

With limited resources, the tractor would also be used this fall to catch up on village maintenance tasks that have been delayed or contracted out, as well as for snow removal and other winter activities.

Council directed the CAO to proceed with the repairs, minus the grapple and hoses, with an expected delivery in two to three weeks.

Tax reduction request

Council reviewed a request from a property owner who has owned a lot in the village for several years.

In the correspondence the property owner pointed out that due to its location, limited frontage, size and lack of services or improvements the lot has a low value and would be difficult to sell.

The property is currently assessed and taxed at the minimum rate, with a 2024 tax bill of $635.

The owner argued that since the lot is about one-third the size of a regular lot and lacks services it should be taxed at a lower rate.

Council denied the request and maintained the lot at the minimum tax rate.

Cheryl Bowman
Multimedia reporter
ECA Review

About the author

Cheryl Bowman

Cheryl spent most of her childhood in Stettler, growing up on a quarter section north of town. After graduating from Stettler Composite High School she moved to Calgary where she worked in various industries, attended The University of Calgary and raised a family.

She enjoyed volunteering and contributed in a variety of ways, such as writing articles for the Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre and covering charitable events as a photographer.

She moved back to Stettler in 2023 where she still has family.