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

unsafe to drink

PFAS levels in rainwater have made it 'unsafe to drink' globally, even in remote areas: study

PFAS levels in rainwater have made it 'unsafe to drink' globally, even in remote areas: study

Researchers out of Europe say global levels of man-made "forever chemicals" have made rainwater unsafe to drink around the world — even in the most remote areas. The study, published in peer-review journal Environmental Science and Technology on Tuesday from researchers at Stockholm University and ETH Zurich, argues that guideline values – amounts considered acceptable – for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water, surface water and soil have fallen "dramatically" over the last 20 years "due to new insights into their toxicity."

One month later, people in Sachs Harbour still avoiding fuel-contaminated tap water

One month later, people in Sachs Harbour still avoiding fuel-contaminated tap water

A do-not-consume advisory for drinking water in Sachs Harbour, N.W.T., has been lifted in a handful of locations in the community of about 100. Meanwhile, tap water remains unsafe to drink for many, and there's still no explanation of what happened. The do-not-consume order first went into effect four weeks ago, on March 23, after the territory's chief public health officer reported a fuel smell and an oily sheen in water deliveries.

Boil water advisory declared for Chippewas of the Thames

Boil water advisory declared for Chippewas of the Thames

Residents of Chippewas of the Thames First Nation are being cautioned to boil their water immediately as it has been deemed unsafe to drink. A precautionary boil water advisory came into effect at 4 p.m. Tuesday, cautioning residents to boil water from their supply. The advisory also applies to Muncee-Delaware Nation. "Any water being used for cooking, drinking, brushing teeth, making beverages, washing babies, and washing fruit and vegetables should be boiled for ONE MINUTE and cooled before use," read a statement on the Chippewas of the Thames website.

Bad weather hampers military efforts to purify Iqaluit river water

Bad weather hampers military efforts to purify Iqaluit river water

Seven weeks into Iqaluit's drinking water crisis, the Canadian Armed Forces is finalizing plans to move its water purification efforts in Iqaluit to an existing military facility, as the city's water remains unsafe to drink. The original plan, which involved using a reverse osmosis water purifier at the Sylvia Grinnell River was waylaid Nov. 22 by a winter storm that snapped the frame of a military tent that sheltered clean water bladders from the reverse osmosis system.

Canadian Armed Forces now providing potable water to residents of Iqaluit

Canadian Armed Forces now providing potable water to residents of Iqaluit

The Canadian Armed Forces is now providing potable water in Iqaluit amid its ongoing water contamination crisis. The city has been under a state of emergency since Oct. 12, when staff confirmed evidence of fuel contamination in the city's treated water supply. Residents were told the water is unsafe to drink, even if filtered or boiled. The CAF is using mobile water treatment units to treat water from the Sylvia Grinnell River using reverse osmosis. It then transfers potable water to a designated city water truck that carries it to water filling depots at the Arctic Winter Games and the library parking lots.

Iqaluit city council extends state of local emergency over water crisis

Iqaluit city council extends state of local emergency over water crisis

During an emergency city council meeting on Tuesday, Iqaluit city council extended the local state of emergency in a unanimous vote. A state of emergency was declared on Oct. 12 after city staff found evidence of fuel contamination in the city's treated water supply. Residents were the water as it is unsafe to drink, even if filtered or boiled. During Tuesday's meeting, Coun. Kyle Sheppard told residents there is enough safe drinking water for all.

Don't drink the tap water, Iqaluit mayor tells residents

Don't drink the tap water, Iqaluit mayor tells residents

A state of emergency has been declared in Iqaluit after city staff found evidence of fuel contamination in the city's treated water supply. The water is unsafe to drink, even if filtered or boiled, according to the municipality. In an interview with Nunatsiaq News Tuesday, Mayor Kenny Bell said every part of town was affected, whether water is delivered by pipes or by trucks. "It's everything. Any treated water," he told the paper.

First Nations want federal party co-operation, commitment to clean water

First Nations want federal party co-operation, commitment to clean water

Every Wednesday drinking water is delivered to the home of Dylan Whiteduck, chief of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg near Maniwaki, Que. His home, which is just a 90-minute drive from Parliament Hill, used to belong to his grandmother, and for years the water coming from the tap has been unsafe to drink. "All these politicians live on our unceded traditional territory in Ottawa. ... So close to us, [yet] we don't have access to this clean drinking water," said Whiteduck, who partly blamed unsafe levels of uranium in the well water.

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