Frequently Asked Questions

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. Over time, ground water (naturally occurring) mixed with the fuel and rose until the bottom of the surge tank was submerged with the contaminated water.  The surge tank is the only below ground tank that made contact with the contaminated water.

Upon making contact with the contaminated water, volatile petroleum hydrocarbon compounds wicked through the natural pores of the concrete on the bottom of the surge tank and vapourized within the surge tank. As a matter of explanation, the movement of petroleum hydrocarbon compounds moved from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration through a porous barrier. There is no evidence of a crack of the below ground tanks (including the North Clearwell).

The vapour pressure in the surge tank increased as more vapourized petroleum hydrocarbons wicked through the porous concrete. The petroleum vapour moved to the interconnected tanks, such as the unused tank connected above by an empty pipe.

When the petroleum vapour pressure in the interconnected tanks became sufficiently high, the petroleum hydrocarbons infiltrated the raw water storage tank by petroleum vapour intrusion (definition below). From the raw water storage tank, the contaminated water was transported through the water treatment plant and accumulated within the North Clearwell.

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.

Further, the City has installed additional monitoring equipment known as an S:CANN that will give us real time monitoring. This system is standard in other municipalities that choose to monitor for hydrocarbons. Iqalummiut can rest assured that this situation has been investigated, the cause was identified, the issue remediated and mitigated and testing continues. There are methods in place to ensure this will not happen again.

You 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.

The need to be waterwise has not diminished as a result of this crisis. It is important to use water wisely in our daily activities. The water situation these past few weeks is a good reminder to be water wise and have a plan in the event of an emergency.

Our activities impact the water. Residents are encouraged to refrain from skidooing on Lake Geraldine and undertaking activities that could release contaminants into the environment near our water supply and water treatment plant.

The City has implemented improved Consumer Water Quality Inquiry procedures, with a particular focus on the possibility of aesthetic complaints regarding petroleum hydrocarbon smells. An important aspect of these revised procedures is escalation of multiple complaints within 24 hours or the detection of any measurable amount of petroleum fractions with Public Health. These procedures have been put in place to protect the quality of the City’s drinking water.

The City does not expect residents to smell fuel in their drinking water. The City has taken a comprehensive approach to addressing this problem and removing the risk of recurrence. The City has enhanced its procedures to ensure that if a complaint is received, City staff respond quickly and effectively. We will also bring multiple complaints or any complaints with a measurable concentration to the attention of Public Health immediately.