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Update on long-term drinking water advisories on public systems on reserve

Ottawa – Federal Minister of Indigenous Services Seamus O’Regan provided an update on the status of long-term drinking water advisories on public systems on reserve.

In January 2019, while no long-term drinking water advisories on public systems were lifted or added, four short-term advisories were lifted before becoming long-term.

The department projects that at least 15 additional long-term drinking water advisories will be lifted in the next six months.

The lifted short-term advisories in January 2019:

• Whitesand, in Ontario, lifted a short-term drinking water advisory from the Whitesand Public Water System on January 7. Whitesand receives water service provided by the Township of Armstrong, through a municipal service agreement. The advisory had been in place since May 2018, and was lifted when the town successfully employed a qualified, certified operator and regular water testing was able to resume. 
• Sucker Creek, in Alberta, lifted a short-term drinking water advisory from the Treaty 8 House Semi-Public Water System on January 11. The advisory had been in place since November 2018, and was lifted after the cistern was cleaned and disinfected. 
• Enoch Cree Nation #440, in Alberta, lifted a short-term drinking water advisory from the Decommissioned Enoch Public Water System on January 18. The advisory had been in place since November 2018, and was lifted after maintenance to correct the loss of pressure in the distribution system.
• Canim Lake, in British Columbia, lifted a short-term drinking water advisory from the Canim Lake West Community Water System on January 4. The advisory had been in place since September 2018 due to concerns during the installation of new water lines and water treatment plant. The advisory was lifted once recommended disinfection and flushing of the water system took place and samples came back satisfactory.

Since November 2015, 78 long-term drinking water advisories have been lifted from public systems on reserve. Work is underway to end the remaining 62 long-term advisories and prevent further short-term advisories from becoming long-term.