Nunavut community on 6th day of boil water alert

GN employees work to thaw frozen water lines in Rankin Inlet last month. (PHOTO BY NOEL KALUDJAK)

Residents of Rankin Inlet have been under a boil water advisory for six days now, while the territory’s health department tests the water quality in the Kivalliq community.

Health officials first issued the advisory April 2 as a “precautionary measure” due to low levels of chlorine in the water system.

Since then, the Government of Nunavut’s health department has advised Rankin Inlet residents to first boil any water they intended to be used or drinking; preparing infant formula, washing, cooking or brushing teeth.

Bottled water is being brought in for students at the community’s schools.

During the advisory, health officials say water must be boiled for a minimum of one full minute before it can be consumed.

Water can be boiled either in a pot or kettle on a stove or an electric kettle without an automatic shut-off, the April 2 GN release said.

It’s not clear what may have caused low chlorine levels, but the department said it is working with Community and Government Services to investigate the issue.

The Kivalliq community, the second-largest in Nunavut, has struggled with water issues this winter; frozen water shut water off to a number of homes and businesses in late February and early March.