3 First Nation Drinking Water Advisories Lifted With Opening of New Angle Inlet Treatment Plant

Paul Matthews, a certified water operator, shows off his log sheets in the modern treatment plant in Fort Severn, Ontario's most northerly community, on April 27, 2018. The community is one of a minority of reserves in Canada where tap water is drinkable. (The Canadian Press/Colin Perkel)

Three long-term drinking water advisories at Northwest Angle No. 33 First Nation have been lifted following construction of a new water treatment plant in Angle Inlet, Ontario.

Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) said in a July 4 news release that the new centralized water treatment plant “will provide reliable access to safe and clean drinking water for 100 residents” and has the capacity to support future population growth the next two decades.

“This community-led project includes the construction of a water treatment plant, raw water intake and distribution system upgrades,” said ISC, which provided approximately $19 million in funding for the project.

ISC said the community has hired training operators to maintain and operate the new plant. “The ISC-funded Centralized Water and Wastewater Hub, delivered by Anishinaabeg of Kabapikotawangag Resource Council, is training and mentoring other community members. Currently, there is one certified operator,” said ISC.

According to the department, First Nations have lifted 142 long-term drinking water advisories on public systems on reserves since 2015, and they are working with the federal government to address another 28 advisories still in place across Canada.

Short-term advisories automatically become long-term after being in effect for one year, and residents in any area with an advisory need to boil their drinking water to make it safe.

“Access to clean drinking water is an inherent right for everyone,” said ISC in the news release.

Northwest Angle No. 33 First Nation Chief Darlene Comegan said despite “a number of challenges to complete this new water treatment plant, this project secures clean and reliable drinking water for our Angle Inlet community now and for years to come.”

Ms. Comegan called it a “major accomplishment” and thanked those involved with the project.

Minister of Indigenous Services Patty Hajdu said, “In partnership with communities and their leadership, we are doing what’s needed to fix this and provide access to clean drinking water to everyone.”

Northwest Angle No. 33 consists of two communities at opposite ends of Lake of the Woods, in the Kenora area in northwestern Ontario, close to the border with Manitoba. The new water treatment plant at Angle Inlet, on the west side of the lake, is only accessible by water, air, or in the winter by ice road.

Another community, Dog Paw, on the east side of Lake of the Woods, is served by an existing water treatment plant.

Drinking water advisories were set on the Elsie Blackhawk Pumphouse and the East Pumphouse in April 2011 and on the West Pumphouse in February 2016. All three advisories were lifted as of June 14.