City of Dawson

Our water is drawn from four groundwater water supply wells, brought online in October 2015, serving one water treatment system, a buried piped distribution network and a bulk delivery service. The four water supply wells are located on the grassed parkland between Front Street and the Yukon River dyke and are completed in a relatively shallow unconfined fluvial aquifer.

There are some residents and businesses in subdivisions along the Klondike Hwy and in West Dawson that are outside of the City water supply network and have either individual water supply wells or are on trucked water obtained from the Dawson City supply.

Water is pumped from the four groundwater supply wells via a common raw water main to a reservoir pumphouse where it is disinfected through UV treatment and then chlorination. After chlorine application, the treated water is stored in two reservoirs.

The water distribution system consists of over 16 km of insulated polyethylene water mains throughout Dawson City, configured in six recirculating loops, with approximately 700 building services and 85 hydrants.

Dawson’s cold climate and permafrost conditions require freeze protection (tempering, recirculation and bleeding) of the water distribution system through the winter and spring months. 

Residential and commercial buildings in Dawson City are serviced by a network of sanitary sewer services constructed in 1978. Many upgrades have taken place over the years and further upgrades are planned for 2020.

The sanitary sewer system consists of service connections, lateral connections and sewer mains. Lateral connections branch off the sewer main and run along residential side streets while service connections connect laterals to individual properties. 

There is approximately 11 km of buried gravity main, 3.6 km of buried force main, 700 building services, and 5 lift stations.

During winter and spring months, water is bled through the system to prevent freezing. Within the City area, waste is collected in three drainage basins and flows either via gravity drainage or through a force main to the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP).

The WWTP, which was placed into operation in August of 2012, consists of a high rate aerobic process, applying “deep shaft” VERTREAT process technology, coupled with a flotation clarifier, cloth filter system, and UV disinfection. Following the treatment process, wastewater normally discharges to the Yukon River opposite Church Street, which is downstream of the water supply wells. The WWTP is owned and operated by the Government of Yukon.

Builders or homeowners are responsible for providing the water and sewer service connections from the property line to the residential or commercial plumbing system. The builder or homeowner is responsible for ensuring the connection complies with the provisions of the applicable bylaw. 

You can arrange to have the Public Works Department do the work required for the new installation by completing a Work Order form in person to the City Office located at 1336 Front Street. 

The Public Works Department will then prepare an estimate for you of the cost to do the work. You will be required to pay the estimated cost in full prior to the installation being made.  The Public Works Department will undertake the work and the difference between the estimated and actual cost of the new installation shall be invoiced and paid in full prior to the water and sewer connection being activated. If the estimate amount paid is more than the actual cost, the City will reimburse you this amount. 

Each additional service requirement placed on the water and sewer system is subject to a load capacity charge as set out in the Fees and Charges Bylaw. Applicable load capacity charges shall be paid prior to a connection being activated. 

Water service pipes are owned by property owners and the City. The City owns the pipes that run from the watermain on the street to the property line. Property owners own the pipe that runs from the property line into the home.  

If there is a break or blockage and it is located on the property owner’s portion of the pipe, the property owner is responsible for the repair.

If there is a break or blockage and it is located on the City portion of the pipe, the City will turn off the water supply at the property line and will conduct the emergency repair.

Signs of a water main break include running surface water on the street, a sinkhole, service disruption or pressure changes. If you suspect there may be an active break or blockage on the City portion of the pipe or there is a water main break, please immediately contact 

Public Works & Utility After Hours & Emergencies: 867-993-3868

You may need to shut off the water supply to your property to find the source of a water leak or to do construction or renovation work that affects plumbing systems.

You can arrange to have your water turned on or off by submitting a Work Order form, along with the payment of the fee as prescribed in the Fees and Charges Bylaw to the City Office. The Work Order form should be completed in person at City Office located at 1336 Front Street.

Water main breaks can and do occur year-round. The biggest factor of water main breaks would be ground movement caused by freezing and thawing temperatures.