Two communities in the Lytton First Nation have lifted boil-water advisories that have been in place for a generation, according to the nation’s lead water operator.
Half a dozen of Lytton’s 56 reserves are too small to tap into federal infrastructure funds and have been boiling water in some cases, for more than 15 years and probably much longer “They’ve been boiling their water since I got here,” said Warren Brown, who runs nine water treatment systems for the Lytton FN.
“We can’t get a centralized water system for our smaller communities because they fall below the federal threshold.” Communities with fewer than five homes do not qualify for federal funding for public drinking water systems, according to Indigenous Services Canada.
“Chief Janet Webster is having trouble convincing her daughter to drink their tap water when she comes to visit,” said Brown.
Each home system costs about $7,000 to assemble and install.
“Within a couple of months the samples all came back negative for any bad stuff,” said Brown.
“Once the First Nations Health Authority was convinced, they were taken off the boil-water list.” There are currently 17 First Nations in B.C.
To date, 52 long-term drinking water advisories have been lifted on First Nations across the country, while 28 new advisories have been added.
Funding to test the treatment systems came from Res’eau-WaterNet, a program that aims to provide safe water to small, rural and Indigenous communities.
He is convinced the technology can also be applied to “thousands” more non-Indigenous rural homes in B.C., as well.