Marc Miller, minister of Indigenous services, provided the department’s monthly progress update on drinking water advisories affecting public systems on reserves.

“First Nations and the Government of Canada continue to work in partnership to lift the remaining long-term drinking water advisories on reserve,” said Marc Miller, minister of Indigenous services.

“The hard work on short-term advisories is also an essential part of our goal to expand access to clean and safe drinking water,” Miller added. “I’m glad that during December, two short-term drinking water advisories were lifted in a timely manner therefore ensuring that more communities have access to safe drinking water.”

In December 2019, two short-term drinking water advisories were lifted from public systems on reserves. In the same month, one drinking water advisory became long-term.

Little Red River Cree Nation (Alberta) lifted a short-term drinking water advisory from its John D’Or Prairie Public Water System on December 4, 2019. The drinking water advisory, in effect since September 12, 2019, was lifted following planned system maintenance.

Wahpeton Dakota Nation (Saskatchewan) lifted a short-term drinking water advisory from the Wahpeton Dakota Nation Public Water System on December 19, 2019. The drinking water advisory, in effect since March 6, 2019, was lifted following improvements in water treatment plant operations and monitoring.

Since November 2015, 148 short-term drinking water advisories have been lifted before becoming long-term.

A drinking water advisory in Shamattawa First Nation (Manitoba) became long-term on December 6, 2019, after being in place for more than 12 months. The advisory was put in place in December 2018 due to mechanical and operational issues with the water treatment infrastructure. Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) continues to work in partnership with the First Nation to identify and implement a short-term solution. Plans to expand and upgrade the public water system for the long-term needs of the community are currently in early stages.

Between November 2015 and December 2019, 87 long-term advisories affecting public systems on reserves were lifted. The most recent updates on lifting drinking water advisories are available here.

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