Meadow Lake warns sewage lagoon smell will get worse before it gets better

Meadow Lake residents are being warned to brace for stronger odours as the city prepares to clean out decades of sludge that have left some sewage lagoon treatment cells up to half full.

In an update issued Monday, the City of Meadow Lake said a contract is being finalized for maintenance work at the municipal sewage lagoon, where sludge buildup has “filled up to 56% of some treatment cells, severely limiting our wastewater capacity.”

The city said removing the accumulated material is necessary to restore wastewater capacity and address long-standing odour issues.

“The smell from the lagoon will get worse before it gets better,” the notice said.