RCMP – (867) 979-1111
Fire/Ambulance – (867) 979 - 4422
Blizzard information – (867) 979-5300You may smell chlorine in water picked up from the Purified River Water distribution. This is a result of the treatment required to the water. You can dispel the odour by leaving the cap off your water jug before consuming.
There are currently undetectable levels of petroleum hydrocarbons in the water supply.
The City has a comprehensive sampling and monitoring program that includes real-time monitoring, and lab tested results that are all noting non-detect.
The evidence all suggested the cause of this contamination was a buried historic fuel tank. The site near the Water Treatment Plant has been explored for any other potential causes of contamination. None were found, although there was a small spill (surface level) found nearby that was remedied out of an abundance of caution.
As of December 10th, 2021, the Do Not Consume Order instituted by the Government of Nunavut on October 12th, 2021 has been lifted.
The investigation found an old underground fuel tank that was buried nearby the water treatment plant as the cause of the contamination. At an unknown point of time, the fuel leaked into an area (known as the void) beneath the surge tank of the water treatment plant.
The City would like to notify residents that it is currently working with partners to identify solutions for the plastic waste created as a result of the recent influx of water bottles.
The City has received and is releasing the latest results of the ongoing water quality monitoring. These results cover test results from the weekly sampling program taken between November 16th 2021 and November 23rd, 2021.
The City is testing for BTEX/PHC[F1-F4], which tests for Petroleum Hydrocarbons in the water using 11 different parameters.
The Iqaluit City Council has extended the state of emergency due to the local water crisis effective as of 12 a.m. Wednesday, October 20, 2021.
During a City Council meeting on Tuesday, November 30 Council approved the extension of the state of emergency. CAO Amy Elgersma will continue to act as the Municipal Emergency Management Coordinator.
In a state of emergency, the Emergency Measures Act allows the City to "do any act and take any measure the municipal Corporation considers necessary".
As part of the Local State of Emergency, and the continued involvement of Recreation in the water quality emergency response, Recreation staff have been reassigned.
As such, effective Wednesday, December 1st: