For September 2018, the Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Indigenous Services, provided the following update as part of the department’s monthly report on long-term drinking water advisories: One long-term drinking water advisory was lifted by the Cowichan Tribes in British Columbia on September 12.
The community completed repairs to their water treatment system and back-up power system to restore the supply of clean drinking water.
One long-term drinking water advisory was lifted by Canupawakpa Dakota First Nation on September 28.
Additionally, one short-term advisory that was at-risk of becoming long-term was successfully lifted: Shamattawa First Nation in Manitoba lifted a short-term advisory on September 4 after repairs were made to the community’s water treatment system.
Seventy-one long-term drinking water advisories have now been lifted from public water systems on reserve since November 2015.
Work is already underway to end the remaining 69 long-term advisories, close the gap in water and wastewater infrastructure, and prevent further short-term advisories from becoming long-term.
Four long-term advisories were lifted in September, with 71 having now been lifted since November 2015.
Minister of Indigenous Services Quick Facts A drinking water advisory becomes long-term when it has been in place for over a year.
There were 105 long-term drinking water advisories on public drinking water systems on reserve in November 2015.
Budget 2018 provided an additional $172.6 million over three years to help accelerate progress on lifting drinking water advisories and to ensure more infrastructure projects can be completed prior to 2021.