Water Resources Development for High Arctic Communities

Abstract

<p> This research indicates that present methods of water supply and sewerage for high arctic communities are inadequate from the point of view of health, aesthetics and economics. This thesis examines these present methods and their problems.</p> <p> Field work was conducted in three communities of the Eastern Canadian Arctic. Data were collected with regard to, - the biological quality of the drinking water and raw water sources, the quantities of river water available, the soil conditions, the construction equipment and generating capacities of the small communities, water consumption, and the sizes and types of storage tanks within the communities.</p> <p> In order to improve existing conditions, an entirely new method of water supply is developed in which water is intermittently distributed through electrically traced pipes to storage tanks within all the buildings. Computer programs are presented which will optimize the design on the basis of net annual cost. The related problems of water quality, power supply and sewerage are also examined and social, health and aesthetic effects are considered.</p> <p> The results are novel in many respects: Distributed storage allows the use of very small diameter pipes and results in very low capital, construction and operating costs.</p>