by
Jennifer Dart
The Westerly News
March 6, 2006
The Toquaht First Nation is one of 76 Canadian reserve communities without an adequate source of drinking water.
According to a representative from Indian and Northern Affairs, the 13 people living in the Macoah community on Toquart Bay have been under a boil water advisory since March of 2002.
An INAC water audit
obtained by the CBC gives three reasons for the advisory:
- unacceptable microbiological quality of the water in the system
- inadequate disinfection
- operation of the system would adversely affect the health of the community
"New water source is needed, bottled water is being provided," states the report.
"We're working towards rectifying the situation, obviously we're not there yet," said the representative.
Toquaht chief Bert Mack confirms he is working with INAC on the situation, and said a report will be forthcoming at which time he will share the information.
The CBC reported the federal government put another $66 million over five years into funding safe drinking water on First Nations reserves in 2003, after spending $2 billion since 2001.
INAC must spread the funds out to all the communities in need of costly water system improvements.
The problems stem from a lack of regulatory standards for drinking water on reserves, inadequate water treatment systems, and inconsistent water testing, say water specialists and advocates.
Jim Prentice, the new federal conservative Minister of INAC (formerly the opposition ctiric), has promised a new plan to imprive the quality of water on reserves.
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The Westerly News is published each Wednesday in Ucluelet. Phone: 250
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