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Water Management on Native Reserves. Jude Johnson Science 4 2009. Availability of Drinking Water in Canada. Canada has 7 percent of renewable fresh water in the world. Less then half of the global water supply (about 9 percent)is considered renewable. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Water Management on
Native Reserves
Jude JohnsonScience 42009
Availability of Drinking Water in CanadaCanada has 7 percent of renewable fresh water in
the world.Less then half of the global water supply (about 9
percent)is considered renewable.Most of it is fossil water reserved in lakes,
underground aquifers, and glaciers.More than half of Canada’s fresh water drains
northward into the Arctic Ocean and Hudson Bay.As a result 90 percent of the Canadian population
who live within 300 km of the countries southern border do not have access to this north flowing fresh water.
Canadian Drinking Water GuidelinesHealth Canada sets drinking water guidelines for
all Canadians including First Nations communities
Guidelines are new or have been revised since the publication of the Sixth Edition of the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality in 1996. These new and revised guidelines are presented on the Canadian Drinking Water Guideline Web Site:
Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality - Summary Table
Drinking Water ContaminationContaminants occur at the :
Original water source
During treatment
During distribution
Source Of Water ContaminantsSurface water
Rivers & lakesAcid RainStorm water run offPesticides Industrial waste
Ground waterWells & public water supplies
PathogensRun off land fillsSeptic systemDisposal of hazardous household productsAgricultural chemicalsUnderground storage tanks
Contaminants in WaterMicrobial Pathogens
Produce disease. Include bacteria, viruses and parasitesIntroduced to the water through raw sewage and wells
OrganicsToxic chemicals and metalsIncludes pesticides, solvents and gas additives
InorganicsToxic metals including arsenic, barium, lead, mercury
and silver and also nitrates that comes from fertilizers Radioactive elements
Radon is found in area`s that are uranium
Health RisksAcute
Severe and suddenExamples: nausea, lung irritation, skin rash,
vomiting, dizziness and even deathAdditional examples are swimmers itch and
salmonellaChronic
Occur after long term exposure Examples: cancer, liver and kidney damage,
nervous system disorders, damage to the immune system and birth defects
Economic ImpactCosts associated with:
• bottled drinking water
• trucking household water
• improving & maintaining water system
• health care costs
• relocating communities
Social ImpactCommunities feel:
Threatened and afraid of using contaminated water
Isolated Dependent on others to bring them waterAngry because water is contaminatedDepressedMotivated to change water situation Disenfranchised
Types of ProblemsLack of waterPollutionInfrastructure/Maintenance Lack of trainingWater system management systemsContaminated waterFunding shortagesShortage of trained water operators & staff
Perception of NativesUnsafeDisenfranchised Anger and resentment FrustratedConcerned
SafetyResponsibilityFundingNeed for more resourcesRegulations (What regulations should be in effect
and how they would be enforced?)
Who is Responsible?The Provincial, territorial, federal and
municipal governments are responsible for providing safe drinking water in all the communities.
Responsibility for drinking water monitoring and the boil water advisories on native reserves and Indian and Northern Affairs in Canada.
Responsible for the health issues with the water problems on Native Reserves is Health Canada.
History of Water Quality Problems on Reserves
Not enough money invested in water systems since early 1990`s
Poorly designed water plantsSewage water seeking into water systems in late 1990`s Water is poorly treated by water technicians since early
2000E.Coli was discovered in water samples October 14th 2005High chlorine levels were discovered in Kashechewan on
October 12th 2006There are currently 85 high risk Boiling drinking water
advisories as of 2007As of February 28th 2009, 109 first nation communities
are still under boiling water advisory
New Policies and ProgramsUpgrading and building water & wastewater
facilities;Water quality monitoring & compliance and
reporting systemsOperation and maintenance programsOperator and training certification programsWater quality management proceduresFirst Nations public awareness campaignStandards, protocols and policies
Case Study Kashechewan
Case Study KashechewanIn 2005 the Kashechewan reserve had discovered E.coli
in their water.The Ontario Government had to evacuate about 1,100
residents from the reserve.One year later, the natives were still being denied the
right to clean drinking water.There was at least one intake pipe was downstream of
the reserves lagoon.In November 20005, over 800 members of the first nation
were evacuated after E.coli bacteria was discovered in their water supply system.
In April 2006 the community was evacuated due to flooding caused by natural causes.
Kaschewan SolutionsOn November 9, 2006, A report by former member of
Provincial Parliament, Alan Dope has recommended to solutions to the problems, including upgrading the current site, moving the community to a new site and moving the residents to Fort Albany
In early January 2007 21 young people attempted to commit suicide.
On July 30th 2007, the Government of Canada signed a memorandum agreement understanding the with the first nation, giving the Kaschecewan reserve a grant of 200 million to improve the infrastructure, housing and flood control services in the community
Situation in Chapel Island
Situation in Chapel IslandThe Situation in Chapel Island is very similar to the
problems on most Native Reserves.The community has had a serious water problem
for over 30 years. The Reserve was only supplying half of the reserve
and the rest of the people had their own wells. The water was running on a small four inch cast
iron pipe, The main pump was located in the basement of an old school.
There was no one that worked full time to ensure good water to the community.
Chapel Island SolutionsNow they have a well produced water system
on the reserve and a full time water operator (Norman Isacc)
Improvements were made around the same time the new water system was installed
The water tower cost $575,000, with water improvements totaling $1.3 million
Waste water management on the reserve is handled by Alec Marshall
ConclusionNatives have rights to have fresh drinking
water like everyone else.Clean water is the responsibility of
government and all citizensSome reserves do have good drinking water
but, many others still need a lot of improvements
ReferencesGuidelines for Canadian Water Quality Summary Table. (2008,
May). Retrieved April 15, 2009, from Health Canada: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/pubs/water-eau/sum_guide-res_recom/revised-revisees-eng.php#tbl1
Kashechewan First Nation. (2009, March 27). Retrieved May 8, 2009, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashechewan_First_Nation
Members, B. (2009, January 13). Water System for Chapel Island. (K. Johnson, Interviewer)
Potlotek. (2004). Retrieved April 12, 2009, from Chapel Island First Nation: http://potlotek.ca/cifn/main.html
Health Effects of Drinking Water (1996, March). retrieved May 10, 2009, from http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/programs/extension/publicat/wqwm/he393.html