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97 long-term DWAs in effect, says Health Canada’s First Nations drinking water advisories report
May 5, 2017 By Ground Water Canada
Ottawa – In April, Health Canada published its latest report on boil water advisories in First Nations and Inuit communities across Canada, excluding British Columbia and communities within the Saskatoon Tribal Council.
Drinking water advisories are based on the results of water quality tests, according to the Health Canada website. They’re issued to protect the public from drinking water that’s potentially unsafe or confirmed to be unsafe.
As of Feb. 28, 2017, in 81 First Nations communities south of the 60th Parallel there were:
- 29 short-term DWAs, meaning there was a temporary water quality issue on a specific water system
- 97 long-term DWAs, meaning the advisory has been in place for more than a year
Health Canada says that British Columbia First Nations and communities within the Saskatoon Tribal Council are not included in the above numbers. These groups may be contacted for more information on DWAs in their areas.
The full report and regional advisory figures are available on the Health Canada website.
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