City of Iqaluit wants to continue pumping water from Apex River until 2026
Nunavut Impact Review Board seeks public comment
The City of Iqaluit is seeking approval to do annual water pumping from the Apex River to replenish Lake Geraldine every summer until 2026. The NIRB is looking for public feedback on the proposed project. (File photo)
The City of Iqaluit is looking to continue pumping water from Apex River each summer to top up the Lake Geraldine water reservoir.
The plan is for this to happen every year until the summer of 2026.
To begin the process of obtaining regulatory permission to do this, the city needs the Nunavut Impact Review Board to gather public feedback on the project until March 7 for a future screening decision.
The city plans to “conduct water transfer via pumping” from the Apex River to the Lake Geraldine Reservoir to meet the City of Iqaluit’s water requirements, every summer from July until freeze-up.
The scope of this proposed project, as identified by the NIRB, includes the following:
- Withdrawal of up to 500,000 cubic metres of water annually from the Apex River and surrounding watershed, to supplement the Lake Geraldine reservoir
- Use of up to three submersible pumps in the Apex River for water withdrawal
- Use of a 100-kilowatt generator to power the pumps
- Use of up to 540 litres of diesel per day for the generator
The public can give feedback on whether they believe the project might “arouse a significant public concern” and why.
People will also be able to provide their thoughts on whether the project would “cause significant adverse ecosystemic or socio-economic effects” or “cause significant adverse impacts on wildlife habitat or Inuit harvest acitivities.”
There is also an opportunity for the public to recommend any specific mitigation measures.
The NIRB is accepting comments through its online public registry.
All project information, maps and public comment forms can be found using file number 19UN013.
Comments can also still be submitted directly to the NIRB by email at info@nirb.ca or by fax to (867) 983-2594.
I wish that governments would let people know what other options they considered and why they determined to go with the option they did.
Instead of the Apex River, why not pump from the unnamed lake that is 3km northeast of Lake Geraldine? Is 3km too far? Is the water not good? Is there not enough? Did you consider it?
What options did you consider?
Anyone can look at the Apex River and see that there is not enough water in the river to supply the city of Iqaluit. This is a temporary fix. I know that there is need for water, but there have been years of research indicating that the Apex River is not sufficient. There is a large lake North East of Town, Long Lake, as Gobble Gobble indicated. Research has shown that this lake is a more viable option, lessening environmental and cultural impacts to the Apex River. Additionally, the lake is on a hill, so gravity could be used to transport the water opposed to pumps, just a suggestions?
So now what was once a temporary measure needs to be continued until 2026?
We need to know what the long term plans are. What will happen in 2026 that will resolve this issue? Why will it take until 2026 to find a reliable water source for our community? The plans should be laid out to demonstrate why this temporary and destructive option is our only choice.
Yes Nunavut Water Board we do need a hearing. Apex River is a small piece of a bigger and more complex issue. The City should be asked to lay all our cards on the table for the public.
We need to know how the basic need for water will be met now and in the future. We need to know how usage and waste will be monitored. We need to hear how the pricing of water will be affordable for all families. We need to know how something that was introduced as a temporary and emergency matter has become an 8 year necessity.