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INUVIK
The Town of Inuvik is considering putting more protection around part of its sewage outfall line after a truck ran off Franklin Road and nearly damaged it.

Councillor Jim McDonald is concerned there is not enough protection around the town's sewage outfall line and its main water line. - Miranda Scotland/NNSL photo

The situation could have been grave, given the line empties the sewage from almost the entire east end of town.

"It really highlighted a risk we have there," said councillor Jim McDonald, who brought the issue forward upon seeing the incident.

According to a public works report, which was presented to council Nov. 28, the town has some backup cement asbestos pipe on hand in case a repair needs to be done, but still more plans need to be in place.

"Having the backup pipe is still not enough to prevent the sewage spill that will happen if this pipe is hit and knocked out of place," wrote director of public services Rick Campbell in his report. "We will have to have a plan in place to deal with the raw sewage and a plan to prevent the spread of it into Twin Lakes."

The piece of sewage outfall line in question is located on either side of the road curve near Home Hardware.

There are guardrails in place at that area, but they couldn't stop the truck from going off the road. And this isn't the first time an incident such as this has happened, Campbell wrote in his report.

Campbell is currently on vacation and could not be contacted for further comment.

Grant Hood, senior administrative officer for the town, said Inuvik is lucky the sewage outfall line hasn't been damaged in the 50 years it's been in place. But the town can't rely on luck anymore.

"We will be taking a look at what can be done," Hood said, adding any construction would happen in the warmer seasons, but the planning will start in the new year.

"We don't want to rush into something that either didn't need to be done or there is a better way to do it, a more cost-effective way to do it, that kind of a thing."

McDonald said he would also like the town to look at protecting the piece of the main water line that's located on Marine Bypass Road. It may be housed in an utilidor, McDonald said, but it is still vulnerable and if it was damaged the town could lose access to its water supply.

"It would be a difficult situation to be in and not be prepared," McDonald said. "I'm not sure how we could protect them but that's what we need to look at … I think we have been very fortunate."

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