Search for new water source on Potlotek First Nation begins soon

The drilling of test wellscould begin in a matter of days to locate a new source of cleandrinking water for the people of Potlotek First Nation in Cape Breton.

Representatives of Health Canada and Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC)visited the community on Tuesdayto formally announce that Potlotekwill get a new water system.

The tap water in Potlotek suffers from seasonal discolouration and a foul odourdue to high levels of manganese and iron at the source, but Health Canada's Dr. David Jones said it's worse this year for a reason not fully understood.

"It's not unsafe, in the sense of those levels of manganese,they discolour the water. It's not suitable to drink, but in terms of any short-term impacts directly, we actually take in much more manganese in our diets," Jones said.

Looking for good water

Jones said the focus is on getting a permanent source of good water, and in the meantime,supplying clean bottled and bulk water to the community for consumption, housecleaning and bathing.

Contractors will begin drilling test wells to identify possible sources of water that could supply the community for as long as 25 to 30years, Jones said.

It hasn't been determined whether the new system will draw water from a lake, as the current system does, or if each home will have its own well.

"I've seen groundwater wells with high levels of arsenic, high levels of sulphur, many other things, and surface water supplies that are better," Jones said.

"I've seen others [with]a delicious groundwater source that's secure,and surface water that's a problem."

A year in the planning

The announcement of a new water system for Potlotek appeared to come as a pleasant surprise to many in the community, but Chris McDonnell,INAC regional director for the Atlantic region, said it's actually been in the works for quite a while.

A group created toaddressthe waterproblemsin Potlotek was established more than a year ago, he said.

"This working group knew that the system was on the list for replacement," he said, "and the group was also tasked with doing the maintenance and renovations to the existing system to ensure that it performs to its standard until the new system is built and the transition can occur."

The working group includes residents of Potlotek, among them the technicianswho maintain the current water system.

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'They manned upto it'

PotlotekChief Wilbert Marshall said the community told governmentofficials Tuesday they don't want their future water to come from a lake.

"There's too many negative impacts that could go wrong any time," said the chief.

"The highway's going right through our community, right through our watershed," he said. "The watershed also goes beyond our community and we have no control over people cutting trees, and tree farmers and four-wheelers."

Marshall said he's relieved for the community that theend of its water crisis is in sight.

"I didn't know what to tell them anymore, but at least they [government officials]showed up today and they manned upto it, I guess," he said.

McDonnellestimated that it will take as long as two or three years before the new water system is functioning.