Nicole Hancock
Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony ...

Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.

Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony to heal Chedoke Creek

new water treatment plant

Northwest Angle No. 33 First Nation completes a new water treatment plant and lifts three long-term drinking water advisories

Northwest Angle No. 33 First Nation completes a new water treatment plant and lifts three long-term drinking water advisories

Today, Northwest Angle No. 33's Angle Inlet community site held celebrations following the completion of a new water treatment plant for Angle Inlet. Chief Darlene Comegan and the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services, announced today that with the water treatment plant complete, the community lifted three long-term drinking water advisories. The new centralized water treatment plant will provide reliable access to safe and clean drinking water for 100 residents. The water treatment plant meets the community's current needs and has the capacity to support future population growth over the next 20 years.

Canada and British Columbia invest in water infrastructure improvements

Canada and British Columbia invest in water infrastructure improvements

In Whistler, this investment will support the construction of a new water treatment plant in the south. It will also enable the replacement of an existing well pump, the decommissioning of one well and two chlorine dosing systems, and the  construction of approximately 600 metres of new water main. This work will ensure wastewater is properly  treated and improve the connection with the Whistler Main system.

Biigtigong Nishnaabeg First Nation announces construction of new water treatment plant

Biigtigong Nishnaabeg First Nation announces construction of new water treatment plant

Biigtigong Nishnaabeg held celebrations today to formally announce the construction of a new raw water intake and treatment plant. This new plant will provide a safe and reliable source of potable water capable of meeting the community's current and future needs. The announcement was made today by Chief Duncan Michano and Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services.

‘The wait was worth it’: Rouleau, Wilcox celebrate new water treatment plant

‘The wait was worth it’: Rouleau, Wilcox celebrate new water treatment plant

Residents in Rouleau and Wilcox and surrounding rural municipalities can enjoy clean, quality drinking water now that construction of a new water treatment plant is finished. More than a dozen people — including both mayors, municipal officials, provincial dignitaries, and project contractors — gathered in Rouleau on Sept. 28 for a grand opening ceremony to celebrate the $10.6 million regional water system project.

This is what remediation at Giant Mine looks like. It's going to cost more than expected

This is what remediation at Giant Mine looks like. It's going to cost more than expected

One of the constant responsibilities of the project team is to prevent the underground from flooding — so that water doesn't come into contact with the arsenic trioxide and threaten to carry it elsewhere. Right now, water underground is pumped into the northwest tailings pond year round. Every summer, water in the tailings pond is treated and discharged into Baker Creek, which flows into Yellowknife Bay. Rather than treat water three months per year, a new water treatment plant is being built that will treat water year round. Construction on that plant is set to begin in 2023, and is expected to be done by 2025. Once it's up and running, the northwest tailings pond won't be needed to store contaminated water anymore — allowing the project team to start remediation work there.

Batchewana First Nation celebrates new water treatment plant

Batchewana First Nation celebrates new water treatment plant

Batchewana First Nation celebrated the official grand opening of its long-awaited Chi We Kwe Don water treatment plant in Goulais Bay 15A Thursday. The facility went online this past March, pumping clean, drinkable water into 49 homes in the small reserve situated 45 minutes north of Sault Ste. Marie for the first time in several years. The federal government allotted $14.6 million for feasibility, design and construction of the new water treatment plant in addition to 10 point-of-entry water systems for Obadjiwan 15E — another community belonging to Batchewana First Nation situated in the Batchawana Bay area.

Construction of new water treatment plant in West Kelowna on home stretch

Construction of new water treatment plant in West Kelowna on home stretch

The completion of the new Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant project is creeping closer. The City of West Kelowna has initiated the project's final phase — constructing 3.7 kilometres of water transmission mains that will connect residents on the West Kelowna Estates and Sunnyside/Pritchard water systems to the new Rose Valley Water Service Area.

After 14 years, boil water advisory lifted for most in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory

After 14 years, boil water advisory lifted for most in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory

For the past 14 years, Andrew Brant and many others on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory have had to haul all their water to their homes one jug at a time. His arms, and those of most fellow residents, will get a well-deserved break as the southeastern Ontario First Nation west of Kingston lifted five long-term water advisories on March 28 as they expanded connections to a new water treatment plant. The advisories had been in place since 2008.

Tapped out: Shawinigan residents want answers about water filtration plant

Tapped out: Shawinigan residents want answers about water filtration plant

The mayor, Michel Angers, says he can't make information about the plant's problems public because the city is considering legal action. Grégoire's husband, Eric Bonfanti, wonders whether a push to save money led the city to choose the wrong firm to design the plant. He wants the mayor to make expert analyses public so he can judge for himself. "Most people aren't idiots,"' Bonfanti says. "'If you made a mistake, admit it!"

Plans for a new water treatment plant underway in Pemberton

Plans for a new water treatment plant underway in Pemberton

An investigation into water quality in the Village of Pemberton’s (VOP) wells has revealed manganese and iron levels that exceed the new standards set by the Canadian government in 2019. The elevated levels were first discussed at the Pemberton council table in June 2021. While they aren’t something to be alarmed about, according to the VOP’s manager of operations and projects Tom Csima, plans are in the works for a new water treatment plant that would bring the levels back to normal range through filtration and oxidation of chlorine injection into the water.

Government Of Canada Progress Update On Improving Access To Clean Water In First Nations Communities

Government Of Canada Progress Update On Improving Access To Clean Water In First Nations Communities

First Nations communities, with support from the Government of Canada, continue to make significant progress in ending all long-term drinking water advisories on reserve and building sustainable solutions to support access to safe, clean drinking water now and into the future. Today, Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) provided an update on the progress toward clean drinking water in all First Nations communities. As of August 3, 2021, 32 First Nations communities across Canada are working to resolve 51 long-term drinking water advisories. In total, First Nations communities have lifted 108 long-term drinking water advisories, restoring reliable access to safe drinking water for approximately 6,350 homes and 467 buildings in 79 communities since November 2015.

Lhoosk’uz Dené village taps into clean water after a 20-year wait

Lhoosk’uz Dené village taps into clean water after a 20-year wait

Today, a remote Lhoosk’uz Dené community is holding a celebration to mark a joyful milestone. After decades of relying on bottled water, the village of about 50 people, located 200 kilometres west of Quesnel on Kluskus Lake, now has a steady supply of clean drinking water straight out of the tap, thanks to a new water treatment plant crafted to their unique needs. “We had to do things differently. And now, what was just a dream many years ago is reality,” says Chief Liliane Squinas. The robust treatment system relies primarily on ultraviolet light, paired with chlorine disinfection, to ensure clean drinking water that is free of harmful microbes. The setup is simple enough that it can be operated, maintained and even repaired without relying heavily on specialist skills or pricey components.

Ottawa lags on promise to end drinking-water advisories for First Nations

Ottawa lags on promise to end drinking-water advisories for First Nations

Shoal Lake 40 First Nation has been under a drinking-water advisory since 1997. The community’s new water treatment plant, due to come online in the summer, will finally provide safe water. The Trudeau government promised to eliminate all long-term advisories on reserves by March, but dozens still lack access to safe drinking water.

Lack of funding for piped water on First Nations in Sask. means some on reserves can’t drink from their taps

Lack of funding for piped water on First Nations in Sask. means some on reserves can’t drink from their taps

Rebecca Zagozewski, executive director with the Saskatchewan First Nations Water Association, says cisterns can pose health risks to those who rely on them. She says the structures can have cracked lids, which allows all sorts of debris to get into them — including rats, mice, drowned puppies and garbage — and they’re often not cleaned properly. On top of that, she says the Saskatchewan First Nations Water Association is concerned that there is no certification program for water truck drivers. The group wants to create such a program where drivers would have to be trained in how to keep the water safe and be held accountable if things go wrong. “Because right now there’s no accountability,” she says.

Boil water advisory lifted on Black Lake Denesuline First Nation after more than 7 years

Boil water advisory lifted on Black Lake Denesuline First Nation after more than 7 years

A boil water advisory on the Black Lake Denesuline First Nation that has been in place for more than seven years has been lifted, according to the Government of Canada. The long-term drinking water advisory (LT-DWA) was lifted on January 23. Nearly 200 homes and buildings in the northern First Nation such as the school, fire hall and band office now have clean drinking water from the local water treatment plant.

Prince Albert region taps $45 million water project

Prince Albert region taps $45 million water project

Rural communities near Prince Albert want to turn the taps on a $45 million water project. The Town of Shellbrook and the RM of Shellbrook have struck a steering committee with the Prince Albert Rural Water Utility (PARWU), spending $60,000 on studying a new water treatment plant with connecting pipelines to the communities, according to its terms of reference. “I really believe that building a water treatment plant will open the door to other communities to get good water,” noted Brent Miller, who is the steering committee chair and a Town of Shellbrook councillor.

Anishinaabe communities come together to continue protecting Lake Superior for future generations

Anishinaabe communities come together to continue protecting Lake Superior for future generations

Pays Plat Chief Peter Mushquash emphasized the importance of protecting Lake Superior for future generations during a Dec. 15 announcement of water treatment plant investments in his community and Biigtigong Nishnaabeg. “Water is important, it’s very important,” Chief Mushquash says. “That’s where we get our water, right out of Lake Superior. So we have to look after that Lake Superior. We have to be very careful with our water.”

Pays Plat, Biigtigong Nishnaabeg First Nations, receive government funding for water treatment

Pays Plat, Biigtigong Nishnaabeg First Nations, receive government funding for water treatment

Two First Nation in northwestern are getting funding from both levels of government to improve drinking water in their communities. The federal government is giving $3.7 million in funding to Pays Plat First Nation and Biigtigong Nishnaabeg, formerly known as the Ojibways of Pic River. The money will also be used for construction of a new water treatment plant for Biigtigong Nishnaabeg. The province also announced they were contributing $908,443 to the project through the Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada plan.

'We're not animals': Frustrations mount for Neskantaga First Nation as water crisis drags on

'We're not animals': Frustrations mount for Neskantaga First Nation as water crisis drags on

Twelve-year-old Lyndon Sakanee and some of the other youth held a rally in Thunder Bay last week, calling for action on the water crisis so they can finally go home. “We're not animals or things,” he said. “We are human, like you guys.”

Trudeau won’t commit to ending boil-water advisories on First Nations by 2021

Trudeau won’t commit to ending boil-water advisories on First Nations by 2021

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appeared to walk back his government’s promise to end all water-boil advisories in First Nations communities by March 2021. Pressed by reporters Friday, Trudeau wouldn’t commit to meeting the 2021 deadline and said the federal government was working to lift the remaining drinking water advisories “as soon as possible.”

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