Northwest Angle #33 declares state of emergency over drinking water problems

A First Nation community in northwesternOntario has now declareda State of Emergency because of a serious issue with its drinking water.

This, after the community Northwest Angle #33 issued a Do Not Consume Water order earlier this month, on the advice of Health Canada.

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The First Nation's land manager, NormaGirard, saidthe chief and council are especially concerned about the presence of radionuclides in one of their water sources due to the community's cancer history.

"Our community out there has been plagued with a high cancer rate. So Northwest Angle 33 was just recently approved by Health Canada for a cancer study."

Girard saidthe community is receiving shipments of bottled water due to ongoing fears about their water.

The First Nation, which has about 30 full-time residents, has been under boil-water advisories at all three of its water stations, since 2011.

The "do not consume" water advisory issued is for the West Pumphouse plant public water system only.

Northwest Angle #33 map