First Nations and Water
Access to clean water is not only an issue in the developing world; it is also a problem in many communities across Canada – particularly on First Nations Reserves. Responsibility for drinking water on reserves is shared between many players: First Nation Band Councils, the Federal Government, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), Health Canada, and provincial and territorial governments.
- Of the 89,897 houses on reserves, approximately 2,145 homes have no water service and 4,668 have no sewage service. These homes are located in a number of remote communities.
- In April 2008, more than a year after the federal Conservative government promised to draft drinking water standards for First Nations communities, there is still no bill before the House of Commons — and boil-water advisories remain in place on more than 90 Canadian reserves.
- As of February, 2008, there were 93 First Nations communities living under either boil-water advisories or "Do Not Consume" orders. Some have been living under them for over ten years!
- There has been progress: in March 2006, 193 First Nations communities were identified as having high-risk drinking water systems and this number has now decreased to 85, according to an INAC report issued January 17, 2008.
- However, 62% of First Nations water operators are still not properly certified. This makes it difficult to ensure that the water in these communities is tested and safe for drinking.
- Additionally, as of May 2003, approximately ¼ of water treatment systems on-reserve pose a high risk to human health, and almost 25% of First Nations water infrastructures are at high risk of contamination.
- Evidence from case studies can be found in a recent report: “Boiling Point: Six community profiles of the water crisis facing First Nations within Canada”. The report was prepared by the Polaris Institute in collaboration with the Assembly of First Nations and supported by the Canadian Labour Congress.
- For a Q&A on Drinking Water Quality Monitoring in Canada, visit Health Canada
