Water concerns force state of emergency in Constance Lake

For nearly two weeks, residents of Constance Lake have been without clean water flowing from their taps.
A thick layer of algae has formed on the lake the community draws its drinking water from. The algae is preventing access to the water supply.
Chief Arthur Moore declared a state of emergency in the community July 28 because of the situation facing his 900 on-reserve members.
“Think about trying to survive with only litres of bottled water a day for all of your drinking, bathing, washing and cooking needs,” Moore said. “This water system shutdown will cause economic, social and major health concerns for the community of Constance Lake.”
Aaron Wesley, operations and maintenance technician with Matawa First Nations said the algae in the lake is the source of the problem.
“The treatment plant is incapable of filtering the algae bloom,” said “The filters have plugged up ... and will need to be replaced.”
He explained when an algae bloom occurs on a lake, it makes the water thick so it can no longer pass through filters in the 35-year-old treatment plant where it is treated and purified before the water is ready for use in homes.
“Access to a safe and useable water supply is a right of every person living in this country,” Moore said.
“My community is suffering and I fear the lack of clean water will lead to despair and ill health. No one should have to live in these kind of conditions.”
Moore said the community had been anticipating issues with its drinking water for more than a month.
“In June, the algae started forming on the water,” he said. “This is our drinking water source. We started back-washing the lake ... and trying to rinse away the algae.”
It didn’t help, he said.
Early on in the crisis, the community had arranged for a limited supply of potable water from the nearby town of Hearst.
However it was not enough to provide necessary amounts for the First Nation’s homes and facilities including the senior’s home and high school, Moore said.
Since then, Constance Lake has secured a sanitary truck to bring clean water into the community from the nearby power generating station. Moore said the truck is making 10 trips a day.
In the meantime, the community began exploratory drilling to see if well-water would be a solution to its issue. Drilling was performed July 29.
Moore is calling for swift action from Indian and Northern Affairs Canada to address the water issues.
“The health and safety of the residents of the Constance Lake First Nation is a priority for the Government of Canada,” Susan Bertrand, manager of communications north for INAC, wrote in an email response.
INAC has been in touch with the community since the crisis began, Bertrand said.
“INAC immediately responded by committing funds for the provision of bottled water to all residents of the First Nation,” she said. “This includes funding for hauling water by truck.”
Moore said the community has requested resources from INAC to improve the water treatment facility, which it says fails to meet provincial regulations.
The community is seeking emergency funding from INAC to retain engineering services to find possible solutions to the water issue immediately and to assist in determining the best course of action to address the water issue, Moore explained.
Bertrand said INAC Ontario Region is also continuing to work with the First Nation and the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) to ensure an adequate supply of water for the community.
INAC received official notification by mail Aug. 3 of the state of emergency declared by Constance Lake.