Six Nations water ‘not safe to drink,’ health officials say

Six Nations residents started the week still unable to drink the water from their taps.

Article content Six Nations residents started the week still unable to drink the water from their taps. “The community water is not safe to drink,” residents of Canada’s most populous First Nation were told in a community bulletin on Monday. Recommended Videos “You must boil the water from your community water supply before using it.”

Six Nations has been under a boil-water advisory since Thursday after a watermain break caused a drop in water pressure for band members connected to the reserve’s water. Residents were told to brace for a boil-water advisory while public works staff searched for the break. The advisory came a few hours later, with residents and businesses told to bring all water used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth and preparing food to a “rolling boil” for at least one minute.

This is a necessary step to avoid consuming contaminated water, Six Nations told band members. “Loss of water pressure can increase the risk of contaminants,” the band office said, advising residents to boil water “as a precautionary measure” and “limit non-essential water use until further notice.” Band members were also told to avoid using public drinking fountains and to sponge bathe infants and toddlers to keep them from accidentally swallowing water and getting sick.

Public works staff found and isolated the watermain break within a day, but the boil-water advisory will stay in place until a pair of water quality tests come back clear. “The lab results are expected to be received early this week, and any further updates will be shared when available,” Six Nations said on Monday. Further complicating access to clean water, a truck fill station at the public works facility on Fourth Line is unavailable until the boil-water advisory is lifted.

The Six Nations public works and natural gas offices had to close to the public due to what the band called “unexpected construction related to the waterline break.” Six Nations did not respond to a question about how many properties are connected to the water system. Less than half of on-reserve band members get their water from the reserve’s water treatment plant.

The balance have water delivered, use wells or rely on bottled water. J.P. Antonacci is a Local Journalism Initiative Reporter based at the Hamilton Spectator. The initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.