Grassy Narrows Lifts Boil Water Advisory
GRASSY NARROWS – On September 29th Grassy Narrows First Nation lifted the long-term “boil water advisory” on its drinking water system. The First Nation recently completed the interim solution of repairs and upgrades to the existing central water treatment plant, and the water has passed testing performed by the Kenora Chiefs Advisory. For the first time in over six years all households in Grassy Narrows can now drink water safely from their tap without boiling or other further treatment. The advisory had been in place since June 27, 2014.
“I am proud to tell my people that we can go ahead and drink the water from our taps safely,” said Chief Rudy Turtle of Grassy Narrows. “We have worked hard to reach this point, and I am looking forward to working with Minister Miller to build a new water treatment plant and upgraded wastewater treatment plant soon to meet our growing needs.”
Prior to the recently completed repairs and upgrades, the existing water treatment plant, built in 1993, did not meet modern water treatment standards. The plant had insufficient chlorine contact time (for disinfection), above guideline levels of chlorination by-products (THMs and HAAs), and was incapable of filtering out cryptosporidium (a parasite). A risk assessment done in 2001 rated the system a 10 out of 10 (very high) on risk to public health.
On September 23rd, Environmental Health Officer Garry Tang from the Kenora Chiefs Advisory wrote to Grassy Narrows Chief and Council stating “All required conditions have been met to guarantee that, as of today September 23 2020, the water is safe for drinking… Therefore, I am officially recommending that the Boil Water Advisory that was in place in your community be lifted.”
Grassy Narrows has also completed an extension of piped water service to two neighbourhoods which previously were serviced by well water and which had been on a “do not consume” order since May 24, 2013 due to above guideline levels of uranium. Households in the Mission Road and Snake Point areas can now safely drink their tap water from the upgraded central water system.
Grassy Narrows has also completed a Feasibility Study which recommends a new Water Treatment Plant be constructed to meet the demand for potable water in the growing First Nation. The feasibility study also recommends an upgrade and expansion of Grassy Narrows’ wastewater treatment plant.
“Under Chief Turtle’s leadership we have made great progress in bringing safe drinking water and good infrastructure to our people,” said Grassy Narrows Project Manager Robert Williamson. “Moving forward Chief Turtle has great plans for drinking water, housing, and health services facility construction and I am eager to get the job done with Chief Turtle and Canada’s support.”
The water treatment plant upgrade cost $3.8M and was funded with $2.8M from Indigenous Services Canada and Grassy Narrows, and $1M from Ontario’s Small Communities Fund.
The piped water service extension to Mission Road and Snake Point cost $2.4M and was funded solely by Indigenous Services Canada.
