  
Advisory of the Day
2017/11/9
WHALE COVE, NU: NEW FILTRATION SYSTEM A POSSIBLE RELIEF FROM NUNAVUT COMMUNITY'S WATER WOES
This story is brought to you in part by Borrum Energy Solutions
What has come to be an annual boil water advisory (BWA) has been lifted from a small community in Nunavut.
Whale Cove has tested high for coliform in each of the past three summers. This year's BWA lasted for four months.
No known source of the coliform has been found at this point, although heavy Spring rains have been blamed in the past.
The community of approximately 435 residents, located on the Western shores of Hudson Bay just south of Rankin Inlet, has been lacking the proper infrastructure to remedy the bacterial contamination and so have had to simply wait out the boil water advisories.
"Coliform bacteria cannot survive in colder, winter water temperatures," said Ron Wassink, a spokesperson for Nunavut's Department of Health, in an email to this reporter, "Bacteriological tests have returned to acceptable levels," He went on to add, so the boil water advisory was removed.
Residents do have reason to be hopeful that next summer might be advisory free. Thanks to the Whale Cove Emergency Water Supply project a set of three inline water filters is being added to the water treatment facility in the community.
According to an August press release, "The Government of Canada is contributing up to $375,000 to this project through the Small Communities Fund, and the Government of Nunavut will contribute $125,000."
"The temporary water filtration unit has arrived in Whale Cove, and the installation is completed," said Kris Mullaly, a Policy Analyst/ Communication Officer with the Government of Nunavut. "With the winter weather, it is not suitable to go into operations with this equipment this fall. We are hoping to go into operations as soon as the weather permits in May or June, 2018."
WaterToday.ca will follow up with this story next summer to see how the filtration system is performing.
|
|
|
Have a question? Give us a call 613-501-0175
All rights reserved 2025 - WATERTODAY - This material may not be reproduced in whole or in part and may not be distributed,
publicly performed, proxy cached or otherwise used, except with express permission.
|
|
