DCL Siemens Engineering Ltd. undertook an extensive evaluation of alternatives available to the Town of Sexsmith for replacement of their wastewater treatment facilities. The alternatives investigated included aerated and conventional facultative lagoon options. In addition, a significant part of the evaluations concentrated on finding a suitable receiving course for treated effluent. The Town had been battling numerous and continuing complaints from affected land owners along the original effluent drainage routing.

A conventional wastewater lagoon was eventually selected because it was much more cost effective when considering long term operational costs as well as capital costs. The system was located on a different effluent receiving course than had been used previously because the Town was able to secure necessary drainage easements in the new location.

DCL Siemens Engineering Ltd. provided complete design and construction engineering services for the new facilities which included a 6 cell wastewater stabilization pond (lagoon) and new wastewater pumping station and forcemain. DCL Siemens Engineering Ltd. also assisted the Town in obtaining all required permits including a development permit from the County of Grande Prairie. A development permit was issued after three development appeal hearings.

The project consisted of a triplex sewage pumping station constructed of cast-in-place concrete with three 2.5 HP submersible pumps. A 250 mm dia. sewage forcemain and a conventional facultative lagoon with a storage capacity of approximately 383,000 m3 of effluent. The project was constructed in 1994 and 1995. The total cost for the project was $1,800,000.