Aging infrastructure causing water problems in Behchokǫ̀

A problem with aging infrastructure at the water treatment plant in Edzo, N.W.T. over the weekend has led to brown water — and in some cases, no water — flowing from people's taps, according to Behchokǫ̀ Chief Clifford Daniels. 

People using Edzo's piped water system were told to start conserving water as of Friday, according to a post on the Tłı̨chǫ  Government's website, because the plant was experiencing "technical difficulties." 

"Some of that old equipment, it failed," Daniels said.

About 200 people live in Edzo, according to Daniels. 

Daniels said water flowing from the treatment plant into the reservoir wasn't being filtered properly, and that maintenance staff and contractors had been working to resolve the problem all weekend. 

Part of the interim solution, he said, was for water trucks to haul treated water 15 kilometres from Rae to Edzo to keep the water levels in the Edzo reservoir from dropping too low while new parts were shipped north. 

"The [conservation] notice was put up due to the fact we don't have that much water in the reservoir. As the water gets low, it starts taking in the silt at the lower end, and then it gets silty obviously and then the water turns discoloured."

Daniels says houses furthest away from the reservoir aren't getting water at all.

The fact people are getting brown water, or aren't getting water at all, is a sign the community isn't doing enough to conserve, he said — adding that the situation is "serious."

"The reason we try to keep a certain level at the reservoirs [is] in case there is a fire in the community, so when the fire trucks have to hook up, they know there's a certain level of water that can be accessed through the hydrants. 

Daniels said replacement parts have been shipped up from the south, and as of Monday morning they had been installed. 

He expects water levels in Edzo's reservoirs to be restored by the end of the day.