Sewer is not just the stuff you flush down the toilet. There are two types of sewer systems: sanitary sewer and storm sewer.
Sanitary Sewer (Toilets, Showers, Laundry)
Within the city's boundaries, sewage
Sewer is not just the stuff you flush down the toilet. There are two types of sewer systems: sanitary sewer and storm sewer.
Sanitary Sewer (Toilets, Showers, Laundry)
Within the city's boundaries, sewage is collected from buildings through underground pipes. The sewage flows by gravity and pump stations to treatment lagoons on the north and south sides of the city. The south lagoons discharge to the Peace River on a continuous basis, whereas the north lagoons discharge to the Beatton River on a seasonal basis.
Some of the issues the City must consider include large peak flows during rainstorms, which can cause basement flooding; and phosphorous, oil, and radioactive substances that are not currently being removed before sewage enters the rivers.
Storm Sewer (Rainwater, Snow Melt)
Rainwater and snow melt is collected in ditches and gutters and then enters the pipe network through catch basins and ditch inlets. The water flows by gravity to the north and south, exiting the pipe network into ditches, then into creeks and eventually into the Peace River and Beatton River.
Concerns include the large volumes of pesticides, oil, and silt the city discharges into local creeks and rivers.
If you are concerned about Fort St. John's sewage system, the City encourages you to get involved through the Public Advisory Committee. The C