Lac La Ronge Indian Band - Lac La Ronge 156 Lagoon Expansion

The Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) is proposing to upgrade and expand it's current lagoon system. The existing two-cell facultative / exfiltration lagoon, located on provincial Crown land approximately 0.85 km southwest of Lac La Ronge and 0.4 km east of Demchenko Lake, provides wastewater treatment for the LLRIB reserves 156 and 156B and surrounding rural areas that utilize septic hauling. The lagoon is directly connected to the gravity sewer systems, pumping stations and force mains to provide wastewater service for Air Ronge and the LLRIB reserves 156 and 156B. Construction of the lagoon and upgrades occurred in 1996 and 1997. Based on the UMA 1998 record drawings, the existing lagoon primary cell with a soil bentonite liner has an area of 8.76 ha and a secondary cell that acts as an exfiltration cell with a portion of the treated effluent discharging bi-annually from the northeast corner of the facility into a muskeg wetland the length of which is approximately 900 m and located south of Lac La Ronge. The secondary cell with an effective volume of 222,000 m^3 having a reduced storage volume and is  functioning as an exfiltration cell and lacks an engineered liner. The cells are divided by an earthen dyke. The primary cell has a liquid depth of 1.5 m, the secondary cell has a liquid depth of 2.1 m, both having a freeboard of 1.0 m. Upgrades to the existing lagoon system are necessary to provide adequate treatment and storage capacity for current and future needs up to the year 2046.

 

Of the three options considered an aerated lagoon with nitrification using submerged attached growth reactor (SAGR) cells for a 10-year operational life cycle and continuous discharge is proposed.  The proposed system consists of a lagoon wastewater building (blower building) with a coarse step-screening system, mechanical room, electrical room and blower room, connection to a new three-phase power line (undertaken by SaskPower), two partially mixed lagoon cells which are aerated with a positive displacement blower and oxygen diffusers which hang from floating laterals in the lagoon cell. The purpose of these cells is to provide oxygen and contact time for natural bacteria to convert contaminants (BOD5, ammonia, and TSS) to carbon dioxide, water, and inert ash and nitrates. Each of the two aeration cells are anticipated to be 16.245 hectares (ha) in size, occupying the existing primary and about half of the existing secondary cell. Each of the two SAGR cells will be 0.216 ha in size. The project will also include upgrades for sewage pumping system (SPS) #2 to manage septage receiving where the flow will pass through the coarse screen at the Lagoon Wastewater Building thereby eliminating a truck dump chute at the aerated cells.

 

 

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Latest update

February 18, 2026 - Indigenous Services Canada issued its notice of determination and determined that the project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

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Key documents

Key documents
Document number Document title File Date
2 Notice of Determination for the Lac La Ronge Indian Band - Lac La Ronge Lagoon Expansion - February 18, 2026
1 Notice of Intent -Start of Public Comment Period - January 15, 2026

Contacts

ISC-SKENV
Indigenous Services Canada
Alvin Hamilton Building, 1783 Hamilton Street
Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 2B6
Telephone: 306-581-3134
Email: isc-skenv@sac-isc.gc.ca


Disclaimer

This map is for illustrative purposes. The markers represent the approximate locations based on available data. More than one marker may be identified for a given assessment.

  • Location

    • Lac La Ronge Indian Band (Saskatchewan)

  • Nature of Activity

    • Other, not otherwise specified

  • Assessment Status

    Completed

  • Start Date

    2026-01-15

  • Proponent

    Lac La Ronge Indian Band

  • Authorities

    • Indigenous Services Canada

  • Assessment Type

    Project on federal lands

  • Reference Number

    88549

Nearby assessments

...within 200 kilometres
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