A man waits for a water truck to arrive bringing water from the Sylvia Grinnell River in Iqaluit October 12, 2021. Soon after, a city by-law officer stopped to say that the truck would not be coming for some time. People were gathering at two locations to get water after the city declared they do not drink water order Tuesday night.Casey Lessard/The Globe and Mail
The City of Iqaluit has declared a local state of emergency after finding evidence of gasoline in its tap water.
All Iqaluit residents are being told not to drink, boil or cook with the city’s water.
A statement issued by the Nunavut government said there is observed evidence of petroleum hydrocarbons, or fuel chemicals, in the water. It also said newborns and infants should not be bathed in tap water.
Amy Elgersma, chief administrative officer for the city, told a council meeting Tuesday evening that the city is working to fix the issue and tests are being done.
“In this case, we suspect that there is … some type of petroleum product in the water,” Elgersma said.
The city ran tests last week and had said the water was safe to drink after residents complained on social media that their tap water smelled like fuel.
Tap water can still be used for bathing, showering and laundry, Elgersma said.
The city said an emergency water source is available and residents were asked to bring their own jugs.
Photos posted on social media Tuesday showed residents filling up jugs of water at Iqaluit’s Sylvia Grinnell river and buying bottles of water in bulk at the city’s two grocery stores.
The statement from the Nunavut government said tests are ongoing and results are expected back within five business days.
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