POLLUTED WATER SYSTEMS ON FIRST NATIONS
From the late 1960s, governments have passed numerous laws to protect the environment, including our waters, yet many First Nations still live in polluted watersheds and with inadequate water facilities. In October, 2016, there were 133 drinking water advisories in 90 First Nations, excluding B.C. That province has given its oversight of reservations to the First Nations Health Authority, which does not report these figures. The Department of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) has spent a great deal of its budgets on the building and maintenance of water and wastewater systems on First Nations, but the systems continue to break down.
One in five First Nations families relies on a private well and 57% of households have a septic system. A second type of water system on the reserves serves a commercial centre. A third one serves the whole community. There are three types of water advisories. The first is Boil Water for drinking. The second is Do Not Consume, when boiling cannot remove all the contaminants. The most limiting is Do Not Use. Regarding wastewater systems, Human Rights Watch (2016/06/07) reported that in 2015, 48% of communities were at low risk of contamination, in 2014, 41% of wastewater systems were at medium risk and that 18% were at high risk. Prime Minister Trudeau has promised that the government will see that boil water advisories are ended by 2021, and Ottawa has budgeted some billions of dollars for safe water on the reserves.
The Globe and Mail recently published a double page article on the problems of water systems among First Nations communities (2017/02/17).
John Millar, of Water First, in a letter to the Globe (2017/02/25), writes, “…there’s one approach that holds much promise: local training….In Ontario 54 per cent of First Nations under a long term boiling water advisory do not have a certified operator….Local education and training initiatives will be key to any lasting remedies.”
Grassy Narrows and White Dog First Nations The Toronto Star in January published how two reporters and volunteers from Earthroots dug behind the former Dryden Pulp and Paper mill and found levels of mercury “nearly 80 times the level expected to be found in soil from that region of the province.” In the spring scientists employed by the Ontario government will at last investigate the mill site for further mercury contamination (Toronto Star, 2017/02/14).
From the late 1960s, governments have passed numerous laws to protect the environment, including our waters, yet many First Nations still live in polluted watersheds and with inadequate water facilities. In October, 2016, there were 133 drinking water advisories in 90 First Nations, excluding B.C. That province has given its oversight of reservations to the First Nations Health Authority, which does not report these figures. The Department of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) has spent a great deal of its budgets on the building and maintenance of water and wastewater systems on First Nations, but the systems continue to break down.
One in five First Nations families relies on a private well and 57% of households have a septic system. A second type of water system on the reserves serves a commercial centre. A third one serves the whole community. There are three types of water advisories. The first is Boil Water for drinking. The second is Do Not Consume, when boiling cannot remove all the contaminants. The most limiting is Do Not Use. Regarding wastewater systems, Human Rights Watch (2016/06/07) reported that in 2015, 48% of communities were at low risk of contamination, in 2014, 41% of wastewater systems were at medium risk and that 18% were at high risk. Prime Minister Trudeau has promised that the government will see that boil water advisories are ended by 2021, and Ottawa has budgeted some billions of dollars for safe water on the reserves.
The Globe and Mail recently published a double page article on the problems of water systems among First Nations communities (2017/02/17).
- The official position of INAC is that it funds and advises the First Nations, but they are responsible for designing, constructing and operating their water infrastructure.
- Ottawa, for most of the past two decades, capped annual budget increases of many INAC programs, including capital facilities and maintenance, at 2 per cent. Whereupon, INAC raided more than $100 million from its infrastructure budget for other purposes.
- Various firms, some employed at INAC, who have had water systems contracts have different explanations for the frequent failure of the water systems. Critics say that few of INAC’s engineers have specialized training and experience with water issues. The community has to fight to choose their preferred system.
- There are no standards of service for reserves. While Ontario’s municipal systems are built to provide 450 litres per resident per day, many First Nations systems in the province were built for a capacity of 180 litres per day for residents.
- Much of INAC’S budget for water services goes to maintenance, leaving inadequate funds for new systems. The Globe comments, “…there is little evidence (that INAC) has devoted much attention to understanding why so much of the infrastructure it paid for fails prematurely.”
- The Globe’s article ends with, “Remedies.” Russell Anthony recommends that a single contractor carry out a project and be required to operate the system for several years. Hans Peterson, of the Safe Drinking Water Foundation, states that INAC and consulting engineers are reluctant to use unfamiliar technology. He participated in the invention of the integrated biological and reverse osmosis membrane process which is employed in some communities, notably in Saskatchewan.
John Millar, of Water First, in a letter to the Globe (2017/02/25), writes, “…there’s one approach that holds much promise: local training….In Ontario 54 per cent of First Nations under a long term boiling water advisory do not have a certified operator….Local education and training initiatives will be key to any lasting remedies.”
Grassy Narrows and White Dog First Nations The Toronto Star in January published how two reporters and volunteers from Earthroots dug behind the former Dryden Pulp and Paper mill and found levels of mercury “nearly 80 times the level expected to be found in soil from that region of the province.” In the spring scientists employed by the Ontario government will at last investigate the mill site for further mercury contamination (Toronto Star, 2017/02/14).