Measuring a Wastewater Lagoon’s Loss in Capacity from a Whaled / Blistered Liner in Alberta, Canada

Feb 21

By: Courtney Felton and Andrew Ambrocichuk

Introduction

Situated in Alberta, our client, a wastewater treatment facility, faced the challenge of determining the degree of lagoon treatment capacity reduction caused by a whaled lagoon liner. Serving a population within the province, this facility relied on a lagoon system comprising several cells for wastewater treatment, each lined to prevent seepage. The client’s challenges were to assess the extent of capacity reduction caused by a HDPE liner bubbling in a wastewater lagoon and evaluate the accumulation of sludge within a lagoon featuring a blistered liner.

Bubbling Wastewater Lagoon Liner — Wastewater Lagoon Bubbled Liner

Hydrasurvey's Solutions

To determine the extent of capacity reduction caused by the blistered / whaled liner, Hydrasurvey conducted a comprehensive Sludge Survey. This survey involved detailed liner measurements including measuring each blister, determining the maximum depth of the clay liner where the HDPE liner had bubbled, and comprehensive mapping of sludge distribution across the lagoon. These measurements were analyzed to quantify the capacity lost due to the blistered liner.

Large Blistered Liner in a Wastewater Lagoon from a Drone — Large Bubble in Wastewater Lagoon Liner

Client Outcome

The survey revealed that the bubbles were not only visible above the surface but also submerged; therefore, further reducing their treatment capacity. Armed with the findings outlined in the sludge survey report, our client devised a plan for liner repairs to restore their lagoon treatment capacity.