'We took a lot of heat': Emails show how city, Nunavut handled Iqaluit water crisis

Emails between the City of Iqaluit and Nunavut Health Department staff show there was a debate over how to respond to the capital's water emergency last year.

Some 8,000 Iqaluit residents couldn't drink tap water for nearly two months after it was found to be contaminated with fuel.

Trace amounts of fuel were also found in January when residents again reported smelling it in the water.

The city and Health Department faced hurdles in co-ordinating a response as questions arose about what was and wasn't safe with the water, indicate the emails obtained by The Canadian Press under Nunavut's access-to-information legislation.

The emails show there was an emergency meeting early in the afternoon of Oct. 12 before a do-not-consume order was issued around 6 p.m.