After new violations, borough considers Talkeetna sewer lagoon upgrade

Two violations of the Talkeetna sewer lagoon’s permit so far this year are prompting the Mat-Su Borough to perform a capital upgrade of the system.

According to an email from Mat-Su Public Works Director Terry Dolan, water flowing out of the lagoon in May tested at more than thirty times the allowed amount of fecal coliform bacteria. Dolan believes leaks in the water distribution system caused millions of extra gallons of water to enter the lagoon, shortening the treatment time. Numbers in June were better by nearly an order magnitude, but still significantly out of compliance.

Terry Dolan says the borough is now taking more aggressive action to keep the lagoon in compliance. He says the current plan is to construct a chlorination and de-chlorination facility at the end of the lagoon. Chlorine will be added to the water to kill bacteria, then additional chemicals will be added to neutralize the chlorine once sanitization is complete. Dolan says the borough intends to take out a low interest loan from the Alaska Clean Water Fund for $2.5 million.

Meanwhile, the borough is still in talks with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation regarding multiple violations of the lagoon’s permit in recent years. Terry Dolan says the details of those meetings are still confidential, but that they are making “good progress.” He says the next scheduled meeting is next Wednesday.