Kugaaruk operations ‘stabilizing’ after water crisis, says SAO
Canadian Rangers deployed to hamlet to help with water distribution; state of emergency has been lifted
Things are beginning to stabilize in the hamlet of Kugaaruk after a state of emergency was declared in the community last Sunday, says senior administrative officer Michelle Byers. (File photo)
Nearly a week into Kugaaruk’s water crisis, “operations have stabilized,” says senior administrative officer Michelle Byers.
“The community continues to work with partners to maintain water delivery and support residents while longer-term work at the water treatment plant continues,” Byers said Friday by email.
Last Sunday, a local state of emergency was declared after a supermoon high tide forced saltwater upriver and into Kugaaruk’s water treatment facility, triggering an automatic shutdown.
By Monday night, bottled water and pumps and other supplies to draw water were shipped in by Nunavut Emergency Management.
At an emergency hamlet council meeting Thursday, the state of emergency was lifted. The hamlet announced that development online in a public service announcement Friday.
Schools reopened Friday after being closed for four days because of the water shortage. Government offices officially reopened Thursday.
The extraction of potable water from a secondary source, known locally as “swimming lake,” continues and the water is available for people to pick up. The Department of Health advises people to boil the water for a minute before consuming it.
Water from the treatment plant is being trucked to homes, but only to be used for purposes such as laundry and dishwashing.
A do-not-consume advisory issued by Nunavut’s Department of Health remains in effect until the salt content in the water can be assessed and brought to healthy levels.
“We continue to stay in close contact with partners should additional support be required,” Byers said.
It isn’t known yet when the water treatment plant will return to normal operation.
The Canadian Armed Forces confirmed six Canadian Rangers were deployed to Kugaaruk for an initial 15-day period primarily to assist with the distribution of water, Byers said.
The six rangers are deployed through Operation LENTUS, the name the military uses when it responds to a natural disaster.
The deployment of military resources is dependent on the situation. During the 2021 Iqaluit water contamination crisis, an Operation LENTUS deployment included 35 military members at its peak, along with water-purifying equipment.
Many people pine for an emergency