LAC SEUL FIRST NATION, Ont. — Residents of Lac Seul First Nation affected by a longstanding boil water advisory are now able to drink water right from the tap.
As a result of the construction of a new, government-funded water treatment plant at Kejick Bay, the advisory that was declared in 2003 was recently terminated.
An official celebration will be held in the community of about 350 people on Thur. Feb. 13.
The old treatment system including groundwater supply wells was established in 1989.
It had a 20-year design life span but fell out of compliance with current government drinking water regulations by 2003.
The new facility cost $8.3 million.
Kejick Bay is one of three communities that comprise Lac Seul First Nation, about 40 kilometres northwest of Sioux Lookout. The others are Frenchman's Head and Whitefish Bay.
Elsewhere in Northwestern Ontario, two new boil water advisories in First Nations communities were declared "long-term" this month because they have lasted more than one year.
Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation, east of Fort Frances, has been under an advisory since February 2019 pending upgrades to the treatment plant.
The work was completed, but high turbidity, or cloudiness, levels were found during testing. The community and Indigenous Services Canada are working with the contractors and the treatment supplier to fix the problem.
Fort Severn First Nation on the Hudson Bay shoreline has had a similar problem with turbidity since February 2019, as well as a subsequent leak in the distribution system.
According to a federal government statement, efforts are underway to stabilize water plant operations and water quality monitoring.
The government has established a goal of ending all long-term drinking water advisories on reserves across Canada by March 2021.
Since 2015, 88 advisories have been lifted, but 60 remain in effect.
