City of Iqaluit says historical fuel spill likely source of drinking water contamination

An Iqaluit city official told CBC News that an underground fuel spill found near the water treatment plant could explain why the city had to declare an emergency due to fuel-contaminated drinking water. 

"The team located an underground spill that showed signs of historic fuel adjacent to the water treatment plant in an inaccessible, below-ground void," Amy Elgersma, Iqaluit's chief administrative officer, told Mary Tatty, host of CBC's noon hour program, Nipivut. 

The city of nearly 8,000 people, has been in a state of emergency since Oct. 12, when staff confirmed evidence of the fuel contamination. Residents have been told the city's treated water is unsafe to drink even if it's filtered and boiled.

"Testing is underway that this is the source of the reported hydrocarbon contamination," Elgersma said. "But it's fair to say this is the source."

Elgersma said the contamination in the North tank likely came from that underground spill, and seems to have entered the North tank "in that way."

The city has reported the spill to the Nunavut government, she said, and a firm has been hired to manage and remove the spill.

She said it's hard to say when the spill happened, but that it is a historical spill that is being cleaned up "as we speak, and [is] contained."

Elgersma estimates the spill will be cleaned up from the site by the end of the week.

Residents and businesses in the city that receive water through city pipes (i.e. those whose water is not delivered by regularly scheduled trucks) remain under the do not consume order until further notice, Elgersma said.

People can now wash laundry, dishes and their hands with that tap water, but using it to drink or cook is still unsafe, however, she said people can now use tap water for showering and bathing, including those who are pregnant as well as infants and newborns. 

According to Elgersma, the affected tank was pumped out and bypassed to separate it from the rest of the treatment process earlier on in the crisis.

She said the water treatment plant "is still able to achieve its chlorine contact time and disinfectant requirements because we have the large potable treated water reservoir."

"The city has completed the remedial work to remove the hydrocarbons from the water treatment plants as well as any remaining hydrocarbons in the treated reservoir."

The city's engineers are working to develop a plan for site remediation, which Elgersma said will happen "later on."