Over the past decade there have been multiple structural failures, overflows and emergency discharges from wastewater lagoons in the Whiteshell Provincial Park.  Even recently constructed lagoons at Big Whiteshell Lake and West Hawk Lake have experienced breaches. 

The existing  lagoon system has proven to be inadequate to cope with the volume of waste that must be hauled to such facilities in order to comply with updated environmental regulations.  In 2009 cottage waste was barred from three lagoons in the North Whiteshell. As a result hauling fees charged to cottagers skyrocketed.  A new lagoon constructed at West Hawk Lake has always been off limits to hauled cottage waste.

As part of a revised service fee system, the Manitoba government has stated that it intends to recover from cottagers the capital costs associated with such existing and any new infrastructure constructed in the Park.

Subsequent to the events of 2009, a new truck haul lagoon has been approved for construction in the north Whiteshell.  The WCA has also been advised that another lagoon will eventually be constructed in the south Whiteshell.

New north Whiteshell truck haul lagoon public open house display boards