MacDonald Island

Canada

$3M

Reducing Capital Expenses by $3M

30%

Reduce Indoor Potable Water Use by 30%

100%

Utilize 100% Reclaimed Water for Golf Course Irrigation

100%

Reduce Wastewater Flow to Grid by Nearly 100%

Challenge

MacDonald Island is located immediately north of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada at the junction of the Snye, Athabasca and Clearwater Rivers. It is currently home to a sports complex that contains three ice arenas, twelve curling rinks, a fitness center, a golf course, and an Olympic size swimming pool. Wastewater was conveyed via gravity sewer across the Snye River to downtown Fort McMurray where it was transported via a lift station and force main to an existing centralized treatment plant located on the west bank of the Athabasca. The MacDonald Island golf course received its irrigation water from the Snye and Clearwater Rivers and uses an average of 20 million gallons (75,708 m3) through the season from May to September. The sports complex was recently expanded to include an additional football, soccer, and baseball stadium with the capacity for 8,000 spectators along with a proposed 200-unit hotel. Wastewater demands for this recreational development exceeded the capacity of the existing centralized collection system and would have required costly infrastructure construction beneath the Snye River.

Highlights

  • Reduce surface water diversions by 20 MGal per year
  • Recover 240kW of wastewater heat energy
  • Reduce 605 tCO2e greenhouse gas emissions
  • Reduce capital expense by $3M

Solution