After nearly two months, IqaluitSA国际影视传媒檚 Do Not Consume Advisory for tap water was lifted Dec. 10, after hydrocarbons were found in the water mid-October.
Questions remain, however, as to how and why a full fuel tank was buried beside the citySA国际影视传媒檚 water treatment plant, says Mayor Kenny Bell.
SA国际影视传媒淐learly that was a major failure,SA国际影视传媒� he says, SA国际影视传媒渨hy they did it, we donSA国际影视传媒檛 know.SA国际影视传媒�
The fuel tank, believed to be buried in 1995 and found under a layer of concrete, is the subject of an ongoing investigation into IqaluitSA国际影视传媒檚 water crisis.
SA国际影视传媒淚f youSA国际影视传媒檙e going to bury a tank why would you want to bury one thatSA国际影视传媒檚 full? It doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 make any sense at all.SA国际影视传媒�
In addition to lingering questions as to how fuel got into the water supply, Iqaluit is facing another kind of water crisis, one with a $184-million price tag needed to fix it.
For years Lake Geraldine, the citySA国际影视传媒檚 water supply, has been facing continued shortages.
The increased national and international media attention this most recent water crisis has brought to Iqaluit has helped in the CitySA国际影视传媒檚 lobbying for funding.
SA国际影视传媒淲e have a long-term water crisis,SA国际影视传媒� Bell said, SA国际影视传媒渨eSA国际影视传媒檙e going into our sixth year SA国际影视传媒� we had to submit our application during a water emergency.SA国际影视传媒�
Bell says while thereSA国际影视传媒檚 nothing good about this water emergency, SA国际影视传媒渋t did bring to light our overall water crisis, the six years of not having enough water for the community and no real ability to grow.SA国际影视传媒�
In 2019 the City had to pump about 200,000 cubic meters of water from the Apex River to Lake Geraldine to help meet the CitySA国际影视传媒檚 winter water needs.
Bell said he was able to bring the matter of this long-term water crisis to larger audiences outside of Nunavut, from national outlets to larger international organizations such as the BBC or Al Jazeera English.
SA国际影视传媒淵ou never want to wish this upon anyone but thatSA国际影视传媒檚 pretty good timing if youSA国际影视传媒檙e already in a crisis that needs support from the government,SA国际影视传媒� Bell said.
The City of Iqaluit has been aware for the need of additional water since early projections in 2005, with the Lake Geraldine dam being raised the following year to help accommodate more water.
Unless the chronic water shortages are fixed, the City wonSA国际影视传媒檛 be able to address things such as much needed housing or the citySA国际影视传媒檚 growth.
SA国际影视传媒淲e canSA国际影视传媒檛 open land for housing because thereSA国际影视传媒檚 not enough water for more people. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e in a serious situation,SA国际影视传媒� said Bell.
