Kugaaruk, Nunavut Declares Local State of Emergency Over Water Plant Failure
A local state of emergency has been declared in Kugaaruk after a breakdown at the town’s water treatment facility allowed sea water to contaminate the system, leaving residents without a dependable source of drinkable water.
In a Sunday news release, Nunavut Emergency Management (NEM) explained that the emergency was triggered when seawater entered the treatment plant, prompting the hamlet to take protective action. As a result, schools and government offices are closed for the time being, and the health centre is operating on emergency-only services.
According to Samuel Wat of CBC News, the situation prompted the hamlet to announce at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday that the water plant could no longer produce clean water, effectively cutting off a reliable supply for residents. An update issued Monday morning indicated that crews are attempting to pump water from a backup source. If successful, water deliveries to the community could resume, though no timeline has been provided.
Efforts are underway to secure additional bottled water, which will be distributed at the community hall on Monday. The emergency declaration remains in effect until further notice, and a boil-water advisory is in place. All water—including water drawn from rivers and lakes—must be boiled for at least one minute before use to curb any health risks.
NEM stated that it is organizing shipments of bottled water, as well as pumps and other equipment to enable residents to draw water from an alternate source. Residents are urged to conserve bottled water for essential needs and to stock up on a three-day supply of essential items.
Nunavut’s Health Department is directing people with emergencies to contact the Kugaaruk health centre directly at 867-769-6411; after-hours calls will be redirected to the on-call nurse.
About the author: Samuel Wat is a senior CBC North writer based in Yellowknife. He has previously reported for CBC in Iqaluit and Ottawa and has worked with public broadcasters in New Zealand. He can be reached at samuel.wat@cbc.ca.
