OTTAWA — The federal government has announced it’s on track to end all long-term drinking water advisories on public systems on reserves by March 2021.
The Ministry of Indigenous Services website indicates there are currently 57 long-term drinking water advisories in place on public systems on reserves with targets to reduce the number to 45 by the end of the year, 37 by the middle of 2020 and zero by March 2021.
The number of homes affected by the advisories is said to be 3,090 with 161 community buildings affected.
Since November 2015, 87 long-term advisories affecting public systems on reserves have been lifted, a Dec. 11 release stated.
In total, 552 water and wastewater projects have either been initiated or completed since Budget 2016. These projects include new, upgraded or repaired infrastructure, and feasibility and design studies. To date, 226 projects have been completed and another 326 are underway, supporting 581 First Nations communities.
In November 2019, two short-term drinking water advisories at risk of becoming long-term were lifted from public systems on reserves and one drinking water advisory became long-term.
Short-term drinking water advisories lifted before becoming long-term:
- Woodland Cree-Marten Lake (Alberta) lifted a short-term drinking water advisory from their Marten Lake Community Hall Semi-Public Water System on Nov. 14. The drinking water advisory, in effect since Aug. 16, 2019, was lifted following repair and cleaning of the cistern and successful water testing.
- Biigtigong Nishnaabeg (Ontario) lifted a short-term drinking water advisory from their Pic River Public Water System on Nov. 12. The drinking water advisory, in effect since Nov. 15, 2018, was lifted after a UV disinfection unit was installed to provide adequate disinfection for the building.
A drinking water advisory at Little Pine First Nation in Saskatchewan became long-term on Nov. 14 after being in place for more than 12 months. The advisory was put in place in November 2018 due to mechanical and electrical issues.
“Our commitment to lifting every long-term drinking water advisory on public systems on reserves by March 2021 is unwavering. First Nations and the Government of Canada will continue to work to lift the remaining long-term drinking water advisories, complete the water and wastewater projects underway now, and bridge the gap in essential infrastructure on reserves,” commented Minister of Indigenous Services Marc Miller in the release.
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