Kashechewan First Nation, located on northern Ontario’s James Bay coast, is preparing to evacuate its residents in the next few days due to the deteriorating state of its water treatment system. Chief Hosea Wesley declared a local state of emergency on Sunday, emphasizing the safety of the community’s approximately 2,300 residents as the top priority.
The community is facing challenges in resuming normal water production, with uncertainties about when it will be restored. Efforts are underway to stabilize the situation and ensure access to safe drinking water for the residents. Technicians from Northern Waterworks have arrived in the remote community to assist in repairing the water treatment plant.
However, obtaining the necessary repair parts has proven difficult, and the aging plant is plagued with multiple issues, as stated by Tyson Wesley, Kashechewan’s executive director. The problems began in early December when the water treatment plant’s pumps failed, leading to the inability to mix chemicals for water treatment. Subsequently, the plant’s intake of raw sewage also started to fail.
Residents have been relying on bottled water for drinking, with a new shipment scheduled to arrive by air soon. For daily tasks like dishwashing and toilet flushing, residents have been collecting water from the nearby Albany River or melting snow as alternative sources.
The community is facing challenges compounded by an influenza outbreak due to the lack of running water. Chief Wesley highlighted the difficulties faced by residents and the urgent need for a resolution to the water treatment plant issues.
In March, Kashechewan received $1.7 million from Indigenous Services Canada for upgrades to the water treatment plant. However, the long-term fix may be delayed due to plans to relocate the flood-prone community 30 kilometers to the north. Previous plans under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau aimed to complete the relocation by 2029, but uncertainties loom under the new Liberal government led by Prime Minister Mark Carney.
The community awaits clarity on the relocation plans and continues to grapple with the ongoing water treatment challenges, with Chief Wesley expressing the prolonged struggle they have faced in addressing these critical issues.