Feds To Evaluate Reserves’ Water Systems
Tuesday, May 26, 2009 at 14:32
The federal government says it has hired a private contractor to carry out a nation-wide assessment of First Nations drinking water.
The government has contracted Neegan Burnside Ltd. to do the work.
Details are sketchy, but the company will apparently assess 1,300 water and wastewater systems, as well as sample over 70,000 wells, cisterns and septic fields. 607 First Nations communities will have evaluation work done.
The assessment is slated to take 18 months to complete.
The move comes on the heels of public meetings earlier this spring. That’s where Indian and Northern Affairs Canada officials got public feedback on proposed regulations for drinking water on-reserve.