Schools and government offices in Pangnirtung, Nunavut, have been shut down indefinitely due to a water service disruption, now entering its third day. Nunavut Emergency Management (NEM) made the closure announcement through a press release on Saturday. The community, with a population exceeding 1,500, declared a state of emergency on Thursday following a pipe failure at the water treatment plant, which is hindering the filling of water delivery trucks.
Health and Family Services will maintain limited operations, as shared by the Health department to CBC News, stating that the local health center is currently operating under emergency protocols. Residents can still access essential services such as on-call social work, income assistance, and nursing support.
The Nunavut government is actively dispatching bottled water supplies and stainless steel pumps to extract water directly from the reservoir. Additionally, the Department of Transportation is providing technical assistance concerning the community’s water treatment facilities. A plumber has been deployed to Pangnirtung to address the issue, with water treatment plant engineers set to arrive by Monday evening.
Water trucks are now being filled from the river, as per the hamlet’s update. A boil water advisory remains in effect, encompassing water sourced from lakes and rivers. The advisory mandates that all water intended for consumption must be boiled for a minimum of one minute, encompassing drinking water, food preparation, and oral hygiene.
NEM is advising residents to conserve bottled water for essential needs and prepare for a potential 72-hour period with existing supplies.