Nunavut government warns Inuksugait Plaza area residents to boil water

Water main repairs in front of building 1104D, in the area of Inuksugait Plaza, prompted the Government of Nunavut to warn residents of certain buildings in the area to boil their water, late in the day April 23, until further notice. The City of Iqaluit shut down water to nine buildings in the afternoon April 24, and announced it had completed repairs by 3 p.m. (PHOTO BY PETER VARGA)

The Government of Nunavut issued a boil water advisory for Inuksugait Plaza buildings 1104 A, B, and C in Iqaluit late in the day April 23 until further notice. The offices of at least three Government of Nunavut departments in these buildings were closed that day due to water shut-downs. (PHOTO BY PETER VARGA)

(Updated 4:40 p.m., April 24)

A boil water advisory issued for parts of Iqaluit April 23 will remain in effect until further notice, said an April 24 public health advisory from Nunavut’s health department.

The advisory is directed at buildings in and around the Inuksugait Plaza as municipal workers continue to repair a major water main just north of the city centre.

As of 4:30 p.m., April 24, residents in the following buildings have been warned to continue boiling their water:

• Inuksugait Plaza buildings 1104A, B, C, and D

• Buildings 985, 1087, 1089, 1093, 1103, and 1107

Water should be boiled for a minimum of one minute, the advisory said.

“This is a precautionary measure due to the water main break and repair in the area of Inuksugait Plaza,” the advisory said.

The City of Iqaluit confirmed in separate public service announcements April 23 that public works crews are conducting repairs to a water main, which cut water to several buildings throughout the day.

“Water testing is being done on an ongoing basis,” the Department of Health said.

Water should be boiled for the following uses:

• drinking, preparation of infant formula, juices and ice cubes;

• washing fruits and vegetables;

• cooking;

• brushing teeth

Water shutdown April 24

Shortly after the Department of Health issued the boil water advisory April 23, the City of Iqaluit announced it would shut down water service to several of the same buildings on April 24.

The water shut-down only took effect for part of the afternoon. The city announced just before 3 p.m. that it had repaired the water main break, and restored service.

Shut-downs affected:

• Inuksugait Plaza buildings 1104 A, B, and C;

• Buildings 985, 1087, 1089, 1093, 1103, and 1107.

Most of these buildings went without running water from about 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on April 23.

Inuksugait Plaza buildings 1104 A, B and C each house apartments and offices.

Building A hosts offices of the Government of Nunavut’s Department of Economic Development and Transportation, and the Department of Environment.

Building C houses the government’s motor vehicles licensing and registration offices. All these offices were closed April 23 due to water main repairs.

Check the Government of Nunavut’s Department of Health website for updates on the boil water advisory, and the City of Iqaluit’s website for updates on water shut-downs.