A brand-new water treatment facility is currently in the works in Sanikiluaq, Nunavut, with the aim of resolving a ten-year-old water advisory. The Government of Nunavut had prohibited the consumption of water from the town’s existing water plant in the summer of 2016 due to its high salt content, which poses health risks to individuals with conditions like high blood pressure and certain medical issues, as well as to vulnerable groups such as infants, children, and the elderly.
To address this issue, reverse osmosis filtration systems were installed in homes and businesses in the community of approximately 1,100 residents. Despite this, some locals have opted to collect drinking water from natural sources. The upcoming water treatment plant, as stated by Johnny Appaqaq, the mayor of Sanikiluaq, is expected to instill greater confidence in the community regarding the safety of their water supply. The construction of the new plant is anticipated to create employment opportunities for local residents.
The presence of salt in the water supply in Sanikiluaq is attributed to the geographical location of the town on the Belcher Islands in Hudson Bay, which has saltwater. Groundwater flowing into Sanikiluaq Lake, the primary water source for the community, absorbs salt from the surrounding rock formations.
The Government of Nunavut awarded a $38.5 million contract to Hardy Construction on April 1 for the construction of the new water treatment plant. The facility, scheduled to be operational by October 2027 if all goes according to plan, will utilize advanced treatment processes such as ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, and chlorination to meet Health Canada standards. Robert Hedley, the community’s Senior Administrative Officer, emphasized that the upgraded plant will significantly enhance operational efficiency compared to the current facility.
The existing water treatment plant in Sanikiluaq filters and chlorinates the water but falls short of producing water that is completely safe for consumption. The new plant is expected to streamline the water delivery process, reducing the time required to fill trucks and ensuring safe drinking water for residents. Mayor Appaqaq expressed the community’s long-standing efforts to secure a new treatment plant and the positive impact it will have once completed.