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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - What started as a hairline crack has turned into a large expense for the village of Fort Simpson.

The village could spend up to $200,000 to replace four tanks at the sewage treatment plant after one developed a leak.

Carl Gaule, the municipal maintainer for the village of Fort Simpson, examines one set of the clarifier and grit tanks at the sewage treatment plant that need to be replaced. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Mitch Gast, the village's public works foreman, was at the plant on Sept. 17 when he noticed a small crack on the side of one of the two clarifiers in the system. The clarifiers, along with two grit tanks, are pressure vessels. They're important because they provide the primary treatment at the plant, said Gast.

As soon as he noticed the crack, which quickly increased in length, Gast depressurized the vessels to remove the risk of an explosion. Pressure, however, is an integral part of the system and without it the treatment capacity at the plant drops.

The village will find money in the budget to replace the tanks, said Mayor Duncan Canvin, during an emergency council meeting on Sept. 18.

"No one argues that it doesn't have to be done," said Canvin about the repairs.

The plant has been an ongoing problem for the village since it was built 10 years ago. The village is taking this opportunity to see how the system can be improved while the tanks are replaced, said Canvin. The cost to replace the tanks along with the temporary work needed to keep the system functioning in the interim will be in the ballpark of $200,000, said Gast.

The problem isn't entirely unexpected. When Gast started his position in January he inspected the interior of the tanks.

"I was scared by the pitting I saw," he said.

After 10 years of service the tanks were reaching the end of their lifespans but Gast said he'd expected them to last a few more years.

While the necessary replacement tanks are being constructed Gast is keeping a close eye on the water quality of the effluent being discharged from the plant. The plant needs to meet certain standards as set out by its water licence from the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board (MVLWB).

Since the crack was discovered the plant has been running with a depressurized system at approximately 80 per cent efficiency. This means the plant meets the terms of the licence 80 per cent of the time while the other 20 per cent it could be anywhere from just below to far below the standards.

"We've been doing a good job so far," said Gast on Sept. 22.

The village is waiting to hear back from the MVLWB after applying for permission to exceed discharge limits until repairs are made. The board, along with the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Environment Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, has been monitoring the situation. Tests of the effluent will be done on a regular basis until the system is repaired, he said.

Prior to the tank failing the plant was running well, said Gast.

"We were producing great water," he said.