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