Guidelines for the planning and design of wastewater lagoon systems in cold climates

Abstract

Lagoons are the most widely used form of wastewater treatment in Canada, particularly in the western provinces and northern territories. Existing lagoon design guidelines developed for warm climates must be modified for successful use in cold climates. The use of short-detention lagoons followed either by long-detention continuous flow lagoons or by 270 – 365 d storage lagoons will be required in most situations. Under special circumstances, the conversion of small lakes to engineered lagoon – lake systems may be an acceptable option. Detailed guidelines for the planning and design of these types of lagoons are presented with emphasis on the cold regions of Canada. Key words: wastewater, treatment, cold climate, lagoon, design, guidelines.