More than 10 years ago, in the small Northern Ontario First
Nations community of North Spirit Lake, a circuit board broke in
the water treatment plant, and the population had to start
boiling their drinking water. Now, a decade later, the circuit
board has been fixed, but continuing issues with low chlorine
levels mean that the water is still unsafe to drink. So, all of
the approximately 460 residents are still boiling their water,
said Chief Rita Thompson. JUMP TO MAP OF WATER ADVISORIES IN
FIRST NATIONS COMMUNITIES In 1995, another Northern Ontario
community, Neskantaga, had to start boiling its water because of
inadequate disinfection in its water distribution lines. Despite
government investment, the problem remains. A temporary
solution, a reverse osmosis purification unit, was put in place
to provide drinking water until the water system is fixed. In
Pikangikum, Ontario, almost none of the 2400 residents have tap
water in their homes. Most people visit one of a few water
distribution points in the commu