Farragut looks to future
Sewage system is major upgrade from WWII-era tanks
The summer of 2008 ushered in a new era as the Idaho State Parks Department decided to move ahead with sewage systems in the most sensitive areas. Farragut (Lake Pend Oreille) and Heyburn (Chatcolet, Benewah, and Hidden Lakes) state parks were slated for this upgrade.
Since Farragut State Park opened, septic tanks and drain fields have been used for the camping areas and ranger housing. Construction for the new system began August 2008 with the majority finished by April 2009. The state-of-the-art plant was up and running by summer 2009.
The septic system was operating just fine, said Randall Butt, park manager. “We just decided that the aquifer in this area was so sensitive, and considering future growth, that we needed to move ahead with this now, rather than later when the situation might then be more critical,” he said.
During World War II when Farragut was a training base for U.S. Navy recruits, there had been a sewer system in place. Large concrete pipe was used and was processed at the current Sunrise day-use area.
Projections were made for the next 50 years of expansion and operation. The new plant meets those standards and more. The new system incorporates the septic tanks as a primary anaerobic treatment, followed by the effluent being pumped to a treatment plant for secondary or aerobic treatment. The new facility consists of two 2.1-million-gallon lagoons, plus pumping facilities and wastewater distribution provisions. Some of the modern piping was fed through the larger WWII concrete.
The twin lagoons are double lined with 50-year protective liners: one at the surface and the secondary one under 12 inches of sand. There is also a leak detection system with a dry sump for detection and remediation. Redundancy throughout precludes problems with equipment breakdown. There are pumps for aeration or sending oxygen into the lagoons, and outflow pumps that send treated water into a field of sprinklers.
One of the most difficult situations in the park is the out-of-control spread of knapweed. Two things knapweed can’t live with are water and fertilization. The area sprayed last summer is devoid of the noxious weed so prevalent in our area. Light chlorination is used before spraying.
A hydrogen sulfide scrubber is located above and between the lagoons, filtering effluent through activated carbon. All camping areas and living quarters, including the visitor center, are hooked up and operational today. Only Snowberry and Whitetail campgrounds are yet to be hooked up. Also deferred was a pump station at Eagle landing at the lake. The entire project was budgeted at $5 million, with most of the work done with the first $3 million. The remainder was put on hold due to state budget constraints.