April 27, 2009

Wastewater Treatment

Kamloops and Tla-o-qui-aht reserves now in line for water and sewer upgrades

Brian Martin

correspondent

The water and sewer systems in Canada’s First Nations community have been a national embarrassment for many years.

Often correctly, they have been described as hitting Third World standards.

The federal government, however, is making some progress in addressing the situation.

Recently, financing for new water and sewer systems on two British Columbia native reserves was announced.

The Kamloops Indian Reserve in the Southern Interior and the Tla-o-qui-aht Reserve near Tofino on the west coast of Vancouver Island are in line for upgrades.

A spokesman for the federal Ministry of Indian Affairs and Northern Development said it will be up to each individual community to tender and oversee the projects.

No figures have been announced, pending the awarding of tenders, but that is expected to change later this spring.

The projects were announced by Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl during a press conference in Vancouver in late March.

The work at Kamloops, he said, involves an investment in a wastewater project and the second project provides resources for the drinking water component of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation’s community development project.

“These investments will not only improve the quality of life on the reserves but will also stimulate economic growth in these communities,” he said.

“This is particularly true for the Kamloops Indian Band. The construction of a wastewater treatment plant will enable the community to create and attract businesses.”

The Kamloops band already has a golf course, a large ranch and three mobile home parks, in addition to more than 200 businesses in its Mount Paul industrial park.

It is expected that the wastewater plant will allow it to expand the industrial park.

Band councillor Fred Seymour said the Kamloops band has had to turn developments away because it didn’t have adequate sewage facilities.

The Kamloops band currently has about 700 members living on its reserve. The island band plans to build 160 new homes over the next four years.

The projects are being funded by a $165 million portion of this year’s federal budget, which is specifically targeting water and sewer projects on native reserves right across Canada.

The investments, said Strahl, build on about $368 million that was committed last year to address water issues in First Nation communities.

Through contribution agreements with First Nations, Indian Affairs will fund construction and upgrading where high risk and medium risk water and wastewater infrastructure systems exist.

This will include water intakes, water and wastewater treatment and distribution systems.

He said that First Nations are accessing funds to upgrade water and wastewater plants on reserves, maintain and operate treatment facilities and to train staff.

From figures supplied by the Ministry of Indian Affairs and Northern Development it would appear the government’s effort at improving the situation on native reserves is showing progress.

Strahl said that in 2006 some 193 First Nations’ water systems were identified as high risk.

That number has now dropped to 58.

Of the 21 communities that had both high-risk systems and drinking water advisories in place only four communities still remain in that situation.

Running the plants and training operators is every bit as important as building the plants in the first place, of course.

To address those challenges the government is providing a 24-hour technical support hotline for operators and an expanded training plan.

Currently the percentage of operators in First Nation communities with at least level-one certification stands at 61 percent.

Only 18 months ago it was 41 percent.

A national assessment is being undertaken to evaluate water and wastewater services in all First Nations communities.

It will recommend the best options for future service in each community.

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