Indigenous Services Canada has announced its progress for December 2018 in eliminating long-term drinking water advisories on public systems on reserve.

Jane Philpott, Minister of Indigenous Services, provided the following update as part of the department’s regular reporting:

  • Xeni Gwet’in First Nation in British Columbia lifted the long-term drinking water advisory at Lohbiee Indian Reserve No. 3 on December 11th. A new water treatment system is producing safe drinking water. The advisory had been in place since May 2001. 
  • Cat Lake in Ontario lifted the long-term drinking water advisory at the Children’s Healing Centre on December 17th. A new water treatment system was restored and commissioned to provide safe drinking water. The advisory had been in place since October 2006.
  • Weenusk in Ontario lifted the long-term drinking water advisory on the Peawanuck Public Water System on December 20t after upgrades to the system. The advisory had been in place since February 2006.

“In December 2018 progress continued as more long-term drinking water advisories on public systems on reserve were lifted,” said Minister Philpott. “There is still a lot of important work ahead as we ensure that the remaining 62 long-term advisories are lifted before March 2021.”

As well, three short-term advisories that were at-risk of becoming long-term were successfully lifted:

  • Mishkeegogamang, in Ontario, lifted a short-term drinking water advisory on December 12th after repairs to the water treatment plant were completed. The advisory had been in place since May 2018.
  • Woodland First Nation in Alberta lifted a short-term drinking water advisory on the community hall on December 17th, 2018. The advisory had been in place since August 2018.
  • Okanese First Nation in Saskatchewan lifted a short-term drinking water advisory on December 20th after minor repairs were made to the water treatment system. The advisory had been in place since March 2018.

As well, Grassy Narrows First Nation has decided to deactivate their teacherage well water system (#17219), which has had a drinking water advisory in place since 2013. As this system is no longer in use, it has been removed from the long-term drinking water advisory tracking. Indigenous Services Canada continues to work with the First Nation to end the other three long-term drinking water advisories on public systems in their community. It is projected those advisories will be lifted by March 2020.

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