Boil water advisory in place during Puvirnituq Snow Festival

Puvirnituq is under a boil water advisory as the community’s snow festival celebrations get underway.  

Mayor Lucy Qalingo says it is unclear when the advisory, which was put in place March 20, will be lifted. 

A wire between the water pump and the pumping station burned, making it impossible for water to be pumped, she said in an interview from her office.

“We are trying to order the part from neighbouring communities,” said Qalingo.

She said if that can’t be done, staff will have to order the part to be sent by plane, but “it is going to be very costly.” 

She does not know yet when the boil advisory will be lifted, and said it might take a while.  

In the meantime, people are advised to boil their water for at least two minutes as a preventive measure. 

Visitors are streaming into the community this week for the five-day Puvirnituq Snow Festival.  

“We are trying our best to keep the population hydrated,” said Qalingo, adding hospital staff has to go to nearby rapids to fetch the water they need. 

The Co-op Store and Northern store are also offering fetched water to clients. 

“The community is trying their best to hydrate themselves,” Qalingo said.

She said the Puvirnituq Co-op has been studying whether it would be feasible to construct water and sewage pipes to run through the community. 

“We live in Canada, how come we are not getting any proper water?” she said. “We are taxpayers and we were colonized to live like the white people, why not treat us as such?”