Accessing clean drinking water in Iqaluit, the capital of Nunavut, remains a significant struggle, with one MLA stating that a resolution to the ongoing water crisis is likely still years away. Adam Arreak Lightstone, a member of the legislative assembly of Nunavut for Iqaluit-Manirajak, discussed the challenges facing the territory’s capital during an interview with CTV’s Your Morning on Wednesday.
In late May, the Iqaluit government announced a ban on using city-treated water for car washes as part of its efforts to conserve the local water supply and promote water-wise practices. This decision was made in the aftermath of the city’s water treatment plant shutdown in April due to fuel contamination.
Although the federal government allocated $214 million last year to address Iqaluit’s water infrastructure issues, Lightstone emphasized that the completion of the project will take time. He estimated that it will likely be three years before the water crisis is fully resolved.
The city previously declared a state of emergency in August 2022 due to a water shortage caused by a lack of precipitation that summer. This water scarcity has also had adverse effects on housing in Iqaluit. The city is unable to develop land for large residential buildings until it is confident that the water system can handle the additional demand without being further strained.
Lightstone highlighted the severity of the housing crisis in Iqaluit, with a significant number of homeless and near-homeless individuals, as well as overcrowding in existing accommodations. He emphasized that the situation will only worsen until the water crisis is effectively addressed.
The MLA also underscored the undeniable link between the water issues and climate change, suggesting that the ongoing water crisis is also connected to broader environmental challenges faced by the region.