The Grassy Narrows First Nation says it has been under a boil-water advisory for more than a year, but even boiling won’t remove the chemicals. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh visited Grassy Narrows First Nation in northern Ontario on Saturday and answered questions about his party's strategy to combat boil water … Grassy Narrows members don't have to use bottled water anymore. Both provincial and federal governments have said they continue to work to address the issue of mercury contamination. The First Nation recently completed the interim solution of repairs and upgrades to the existing central water treatment plant, and the water has passed testing performed by the Kenora Chiefs Advisory. Randy Fobister has been elected as the new chief at Grassy Narrows. The piped water service extension to Mission Road and Snake Point cost $2.4M and was funded solely by Indigenous Services Canada. The plant had insufficient chlorine contact time (for disinfection), above guideline levels of chlorination by-products (THMs and HAAs), and was incapable of filtering out cryptosporidium (a parasite). They also say that government tests last year found the reserve’s drinking water was at 120 times the safe level for turgidity, a measure of the relative clarity or cloudiness of water. 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4. For the first time in over six years all households in Grassy Narrows can now drink water safely from their tap without boiling or other further treatment. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Despite the contamination, fish remains a staple for residents who are often unable to afford other food. BACKGROUND Grassy Narrows’ surface water treatment plan, which serves nearly the entire reserve, does not screen out many harmful protozoa. currently on a long-term boil water advisory to still be in that category in mid-2020. Boil water notice. GRASSY NARROWS, Ont. This initial progress is the result of First Nations' work with the Government of Canada and other partners towards a common goal: to end drinking water advisories that last more than one year by March 2021. “We have worked hard to reach this point, and I am looking forward to working with Minister Miller to build a new water treatment plant and upgraded wastewater treatment plant soon to meet our growing needs.”. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. The community near Kenora says testing this summer found tricholormethanes, haloacetic acids and hexaclorcyclopentadiene — all disinfectant byproducts considered possible carcinogens. A risk assessment done in 2001 rated the system a 10 out of 10 (very high) on risk to public health. The advisory had been in place since June 27, 2014. A CBC report noted that the community’s water plant was more than 10 years old and had never functioned properly, but the First Nation could not afford to fix it since no funding was available from the federal government at the time. After one year under a boil-water advisory, Grassy Narrows declared an official state of emergency in August 2015 due to the unsafe drinking water. Grassy Narrows has long asserted that the mercury poisoning of the English and Wabigoon rivers in Northwestern Ontario continues to impact new generations of their children, and are in Ottawa to call upon Prime Minister Trudeau to take action. Grassy Narrows declared a state of emergency over its unsafe drinking water in 2015, after a boil-water advisory had already been in place for nearly two years, as it tried to get more information from the federal government about the safety of its water. Project Description: S. Burnett & Associates Limited was retained by Asubpeeschoseewagong First Nation also known as Grassy Narrows First Nation to complete the design of the interim upgrades to existing water treatment plant (WTP) to remove the Boil Water Advisory. Three – in effect since 2013 – are due to unacceptable uranium levels in the well water. Grassy Narrows and Wauzhushk Onigum, two First Nations in northwestern Ontario, celebrated the ending of long-term boil water advisories at … On September 23rd, Environmental Health Officer Garry Tang from the Kenora Chiefs Advisory wrote to Grassy Narrows Chief and Council stating “All required conditions have been met to guarantee that, as of today September 23 2020, the water is safe for drinking… Therefore, I am officially recommending that the Boil Water Advisory that was in place in your community be lifted.”. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. GRASSY NARROWS – On September 29th Grassy Narrows First Nation lifted the long-term “boil water advisory” on its drinking water system. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), --------------------PLEASE REMEMBER: Members of the public, MP Carol Hughes Re: Combatting Racism (Français inclus), Chapleau/Wawa/White River/Dubreuilville/Hornepayne. “Moving forward Chief Turtle has great plans for drinking water, housing, and health services facility construction and I am eager to get the job done with Chief Turtle and Canada’s support.”. The community instituted a boil water advisory only in 2014 after the Council requested Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) initiate … Clean water. We encountered an issue signing you up. For now, Grassy Narrows says it is delivering bottled water door to door to ensure residents have safe drinking water. Please try again. The contamination has already had a long-term public health impact on-reserve. Read more about cookies here. Boil water advisory. Rudy Turtle said in a statement. Households in the Mission Road and Snake Point areas can now safely drink their tap water from the upgraded central water system. The next issue of Posted Newsletter will soon be in your inbox. Tags: boil water advisory, Grassy Narrows First Nation, Kenora Chiefs Advisory, mecury poisoning Posted in Health and Wellness, Indigenous Affairs, Kenora District, Municipal, Northern Ontario Headlines, Provincial, Thunder Bay | No Comments », Written by Press Release on 05 October 2020. The feasibility study also recommends an upgrade and expansion of Grassy Narrows’ wastewater treatment plant. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Grassy Narrows has also completed a Feasibility Study which recommends a new Water Treatment Plant be constructed to meet the demand for potable water in the growing First Nation. Details: Asubpeescho Seewagunk First Nation - Grassy Narows Public Water System No reason given - Affects 500-1000 6/27/2014; Mission Well Public Water System - Snake Point Well Public Water System - Teacherage … Advisories. GRASSY NARROWS – On September 29th Grassy Narrows First Nation lifted the long-term “boil water advisory” on its drinking water system. He succeeds Rudy Turtle, who had also run in the last federal election. Sign up to receive the daily top stories from the National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. The community says it lacks the funds to repair and upgrade its water treatment facility. © 2020 National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. The First Nation recently completed the interim solution of repairs and upgrades to the existing central water treatment plant, and the water has passed testing performed by the Kenora Chiefs Advisory. A recent report commissioned by the Ontario government and Grassy Narrows also found waterways in and around the community appear to have high mercury levels decades after they were polluted. Prior to the recently completed repairs and upgrades, the existing water treatment plant, built in 1993, did not meet modern water treatment standards. Additionally, the Ontario’s Ministry of Environment recently found the turbidity of Grassy Narrows’ water at 120 times Ontario guidelines for safe water, and that it contains potentially carcinogenic chemicals. Due to inadequate treatment of surface water and uranium-contaminated well water, there are currently four boil water advisories at Grassy Narrows. “Under Chief Turtle’s leadership we have made great progress in bringing safe drinking water and good infrastructure to our people,” said Grassy Narrows Project Manager Robert Williamson. If you don't see it please check your junk folder. The fourth was put into effect in 2014 because of contaminants – including disinfectant by-products – in the primary water supply. The Grassy Narrows First Nation says it has been under a boil-water advisory for more than a year, but even boiling won’t remove the chemicals. This has eliminated all long-term drinking water advisories affecting the community. — A northwestern Ontario First Nation has declared a state of emergency, saying its drinking water contains potentially dangerous chemicals. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! A letter from Chief Rudy Turtle says tap water is safe to use again. There was an error, please provide a valid email address. The Grassy Narrows First Nation says it has been under a boil-water advisory for more than a year, but even boiling won’t remove the chemicals. Grassy Narrows has also completed an extension of piped water service to two neighbourhoods which previously were serviced by well water and which had been on a “do not consume” order since May 24, 2013 due to above guideline levels of uranium. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Special Holiday Offers for Online Subscriptions! The community had been dealing with three boil water advisories, with some unable to use drinking water for seven years. “I am proud to tell my people that we can go ahead and drink the water from our taps safely,” said Chief Rudy Turtle of Grassy Narrows. Lesson 3: The Tale of Grassy Narrows Grade: 10-12 (Science, Health, Social Studies) Topic: The plight of Grassy Narrows and how their water being contaminated … Advisory for Grassy Narrows First Nation, Ontario [Return to Ontario | Return to province list] Grassy Narrows First Nation. There are four boil water advisories at Grassy Narrows. The community of about 1,200 members had been without clean drinking water for about seven years, before boil water advisories were lifted recently. Asubpeechoseewagong Netum Anishinabek (Grassy Narrows First Nation) has recently completed upgrades to its water treatment system. “We are scared that our drinking water has been unsafe for a long time now and the federal government does not seem to care at all,” Coun. “Our people have already been poisoned by mercury and now we have to deal with unsafe drinking water.”. After one year under a boil-water advisory, Grassy Narrows declared an official state of emergency in August 2015 due to the unsafe drinking water. The improved water treatment system now provides the community with clean and safe drinking water. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings. The Grassy Narrows First Nation says it has been under a boil-water advisory for more than a year, but even boiling won't remove the chemicals. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited. Type: Do Not Consume - Inactive Issued: 6/27/2014. Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. 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