But all that could change for the Kehewin Cree Nation, with an estimated 1,400 people living in 330 homes on the reserve.
The community —located about 230 km northeast of Edmonton — is breaking ground Monday on a long-awaited new water treatment plant.
Contaminated source water, outdated plant Now in his mid-30s, Badger can’t remember a time when Kehewin Cree Nation wasn’t under a boil-water advisory.
Toxins in the water from blue-green algae, for example, can’t be boiled out.
"My fear, what I know to be true, but it’s hard to say, is that people are drinking it," Badger said.
He said the nation felt pressure from federal bureaucrats to feed into the same regional water system that services the Frog Lake First Nation, which had its long-term boil water advisory lifted in 2016.
Lawrence Quinney has only worked at Frog Lake’s water plant for a couple of weeks but said clean water is essential for the community.
Badger said the design has been completed for at least three years.
72 other communities under advisories According to the Indigenous Services Canada website, there are still 72 other communities across the country under long-term boil water advisories.
Ashbolt said clean water for drinking and washing use is essential for positive health outcomes for all communities, not just First Nations.

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LAFAYETTE — Some buildings on UL’s campus will be under a boil advisory Thursday through Sunday.
The housing development under construction at the corner of East Lewis and Johnston streets will be connected to the city’s domestic water system at 9 a.m. Thursday.
There is a chance that this process may introduce bacteria into the water supply for parts of campus.

West Virginia American Water has issued a boil-water advisory for approximately 60 customers beginning with Summers County High School going north, including Temple Street, Bass Lake Trailer Park, Fox Addition, Mullens Road, Beymer Lane, Brooks Church Road, Dead End Way, Blackberry Lane, Brooks Mountain Road, Fox Cemetery Road, and Pine Lane in Hinton.
The advisory follows a water main break.
Page-Kincaid Public Service District has issued a boil-water advisory for water customers in Dempsey and Carter Branch areas.
The advisory follows a water main break.
Customers in these areas should boil their water for at least one full minute prior to use until further notice.
Danese Public Service District has lifted a boil-water advisory issued on Aug. 6 for its water customers.

A boil water advisory that had been in place since Monday for several Mandeville-area neighborhoods was rescinded Wednesday morning.
The neighborhoods affected by the boil water advisory included The Woodlands, Quail Creek, Forest Brook, Grand Terre, Emerald Pines, Casa Bella, Remington Court, Woodlands Terrace, as well as addresses on Viola and Soult streets.
The advisory was put in place on Monday after a communications contractor laying fiber in the Woodlands Subdivision hit an 8-inch water main, which caused water pressure to drop there and in surrounding areas.
The advisory was called out of an abundance of caution and in accordance with the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) regulations.
Tammany Utilities, which provides water to the affected areas, received confirmation from the LDH Wednesday morning that samples from the Briarwood Terrace Water System are clear and that water was safe for consumption.
For more information, call Tammany Utilities at (985) 276-6400.

Birmingham city crews finished repairing the water main break on 14 Mile Road from Bates to Stanley and had it back in service by 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 14.
The break occurred early Tuesday afternoon and resulted in 14 Mile being closed to through traffic between Pierce and Southfield Road.
The road was open for rush hour traffic Wednesday morning.
The water main break did not cause any problems with water pressure; no boil water advisory was issued.

The city has issued a boil-water advisory for residents in parts of Montreal’s Plateau-Mont-Royal borough.
City officials say it is a preventative measure put in place on Wednesday after water was turned off for maintenance work.
The affected streets are the following: Mont-Royal Avenue East (south side) from Saint-Hubert to Christophe-Colomb Saint-André Street from Duluth East to Mont-Royal East Mentana Street, from Duluth East to Mont-Royal East Boyer Street, from Rachel East to Mont-Royal East Marie-Anne Street East, from Saint-André to Boyer 960-964 and 969 Rachel St. East Duluth Avenue East, from Saint-Hubert to Parc-La Fontaine The city warns further maintenance work could lead to drops in water pressure and additional boil-water notices to be issued in the sector.
The advisory could be lifted on Saturday pending water-quality lab results.
The city said affected residents will be notified via notices on door hangers.
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WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (18 NEWS) – Please be advised; there is a Boil Water Advisory for the Village of Watkins Glen, Dix & Reading Water Districts.
Bring tap water to a rolling boil, boil for one minute, and cool before using.
Or use bottled water certified for sale by the New York State Department of Health.
Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth, and preparing food until further notice.
It is likely that you will need to boil water for the next 5 days.
Copyright 2018 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Residents and businesses several blocks in the heart of the Plateau-Mont Royal have been told their water is not safe to drink.
The area affected is inside a perimeter marked by Mont Royal Ave., Christophe Columb Ave. and Park Lafontaine Ave., Duluth Ave., and St. Hubert St.
It not only affects residents, but many restaurants and other businesses.
Notices were handed out door to door on Wednesday afternoon warning people not to drink tap water.
The boil water advisory was imposed because maintenance work in the area has lowered water pressure and it’s possible that contaminants have been stirred up by the work.
The boil water notice will be in effect until at least Saturday when the results of water testing will be available.

A preventive boil water advisory is in effect for certain Plateau-Mont-Royal residents and business owners until at least Saturday because of water supply issues in the area.
The affected streets are: South side of Mount Royal Ave. East between St-Hubert and Christophe-Colomb; St-André St. E. between Duluth and Mount Royal Ave. E.; Mentana St. E. between Duluth and Mount Royal Ave. E.; Boyer St. between Rachel and Mount Royal Aves.
E.; Marie-Anne St. E. between St-André and Boyer Sts.
; 960-964 and 969 Rachel St. E.; Duluth Ave. E. between St-Hubert to Parc La Fontaine.
Other addresses on Rachel St. may be added.
Residents and business owners can check the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough’s website to see if their water is affected.
A statement from the borough said the advisory will be lifted once water analysis results, which are expected Saturday, become available.
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