EABAMETOONG FIRST NATION, ON — Citing "alarmingly high" levels of contamination in its water distribution system, Eabametoong First Nation's leadership has declared a state of emergency.
Chief Harvey Yesno and council announced Monday that they had delivered formal notice to Indigenous Services Minister Seamus O'Regan requesting immediate action from the federal government.
A government spokesperson said, however, that a new water treatment plan is due to go into operation within weeks, and that it will provide clean water.
Eabametoong has an on-reserve population of about 1,600, and is located 360 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay.
According to the community's announcement, independent lab tests late last month found high levels of chemical compounds known as trihalomethanes in the water system which are 122 to 182 per cent greater than allowed under the Ontario government's drinking water objectives.
An Ontario public health source states that THMs are disinfection by-products of the water treatment process, and are formed when naturally-occurring organic substances found in raw water react with chlorine used to treat the water.
THMs can be harmful to human health, and may be linked to an increased risk of cancer.
Just last week, Attawapiskat in northeastern Ontario declared a state of emergency after tests showed its tap water had potentially harmful levels of trihalomethanes.
Eabametoong said its water samples were taken from its water treatment plant and a local hotel.
Ottawa provided $12 million for a new plant that's scheduled to start commissioning on July 22.
A spokesperson for Indigenous Services Canada told Tbnewswatch the new facility will address elevated levels of THMs and haloacetic acids that were found in recent test results at the existing treatment plant.
He said the long-term drinking water advisory should be removed sometime in August, once the plant is fully commissioned.
Eabametoong's leadership, however, said other infrastructure has not been upgraded, "such as the water intake, which is located too close to shore."
It said there are also deficiencies with the wastewater system.
"The discovery of high levels of THMs, combined with ongoing issues with our water and wastewater systems, has forced us to declare a state of emergency to protect the health of our community," Chief Yesno said.
"It is unacceptable that Eabametoong has been on a boil water advisory for 18 years. Progress has been made...but our members cannot be expected to consume water that fails to meet Ontario drinking water standards."
As part of its emergency response plan, the community is using reverse osmosis units to draw water for drinking and cooking. The statement said water drawn from household taps has a noticeable foul smell and taste.
The government spokesperson said Indigenous Services Canada provided $139,000 in 2016-17 for the reverse osmosis equipment in order to provide water that meets Canadian drinking water quality guidelines.
He said department officials are working with Eabametoong to help address outstanding issues.
