Water Quality Emergency- Investigation Update

Water Quality Emergency- Investigation Update

The City of Iqaluit has made significant progress on its investigation into the drinking water quality issue.

The quality and quantity of Iqaluit’s water supply are of the utmost importance to the City. The City of Iqaluit is doing everything in its power to ensure that residents have safe and reliable drinking water.

The City’s investigation team has located an underground spill that shows signs of historic fuel adjacent to the Water Treatment Plant in an inaccessable, below-ground void. Testing is underway to confirm that this is the source of the reported north clear well (concrete tank) concentrated hydrocarbon contamination. The north clear well was subsequently isolated, pumped out and bypassed from the rest of the treatment process, as well as other underground tanks as preventative measures.

With multiple underground tanks bypassed, the water treatment plant is still able to achieve its chlorine contact time and disinfection requirements due to its sizable potable water storage reservoirs.

The City has reported the spill to the Government of Nunavut and has engaged a professional firm to manage the spill and remove it from site. The City's Engineers are working to develop and execute a site remediation plan.

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For additional information during business hours, please contact:
Geoffrey Byrne
A/Communications and Customer Service Manager
867-979-5619 | g.byrne@iqaluit.ca