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Kitigan Zibi Water Woes: Decades of Dry Taps End?
10 Dec
Summary
- Kitigan Zibi's 25-year drinking water advisory for private wells nears its end.
- Uranium contamination in groundwater prompted the long-standing advisory.
- Efforts accelerated in 2017 to connect remaining homes to safe water.
Residents of Kitigan Zibi Anishinābeg are hopeful for an end to a drinking water advisory that has impacted private well users for approximately 25 years. Initially issued in 1999 by Health Canada due to naturally occurring uranium in the groundwater, the advisory meant many homes, including those of long-time residents, have been without tap water.
The federal government provided bottled water and invested in a new system for some homes, but roughly half the community remained under the original advisory for years. This situation has been a recurring point of contention regarding the federal government's responsibilities.
Significant efforts to extend the community water system have been underway since 2017, connecting numerous mikans (roads) and a final cluster of homes. While some remote residences may not be connectable, the majority of the community is expected to gain access to safe, clean water.
