NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER TREATED EFFLUENT TO BE STUDIED

Environmental protection officers will use a special dye to gather information about the path and dispersion of treated effluent flowing into the North Saskatchewan River during the week of August 18th.

Rhodamine dye, used to study effluent plumes in water bodies, will be introduced into the outflows of both the Prince Albert sewage treatment plant and the Weyerhaeuser pulp mill, located near Prince Albert. Water samples will be collected from various locations in the river over several days. An instrument called a fluorometer is then used to measure the amount of dye, allowing the treated effluent to be tracked as it travels downstream.

Monitoring and studying these discharges will help to protect the environment and water resources by ensuring that provincial and federal requirements are being met. By knowing where the plume travels within the river the people doing the testing can build a map that will help them be sure that future samples continue to be taken from within the flow of the plume. A sample from outside the flow of the plume may show a different result than one taken from within the flow.

Although the dye disperses very quickly people immediately downstream from both facilities may notice a very slight pink tinge in the water. The dye does not harm humans, fish or wildlife.

The treated effluent plume study is part of Weyehaeuser's ongoing environmental effects monitoring program, which is required by federal law. The company works closely with Saskatchewan Environment to monitor various indicators of the river's health, including water quality, fish, and small invertebrates on the river bottom.

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For More Information, Contact:

Len Sinclair Environment Prince Albert Phone: (306) 953- 2662 Email: lsinclair@serm.gov.sk.ca