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Contaminated source water, outdated plant Now in his mid-30s, Badger can’t remember a time when Kehewin Cree Nation wasn’t under a boil-water advisory.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.