Water testing increased after 96-litre fuel spill in Baker Lake, Nunavut
There's been a boil water advisory in Baker Lake since late February
Residents in Baker Lake, Nunavut, are being told to keep boiling their water after 96 litres of heating fuel was spilled at the tank farm — downstream from a water intake line — earlier this month.
An announcement from the territory's new Department of Transportation and Infrastructure says the spill happened on April 4 while a fuel delivery truck was being filled, and that it was the result of human error.
The government said it didn't become aware of the spill until nearly a week later, on April 9.
It said the contractor responsible is working under the Department of Environment to contain the spill and remediate the area. The advisory said that it had also increased routine water sample testing during the cleanup.
The territory issued a boil water advisory on Feb. 26 because of a mechanical issue at the water treatment plant. That advisory remains in place, and residents are being told to continue boiling all water for consumption for at least one minute.
The government said that the Department of Health would get results from raw and treated drinking water from an independent lab.
It did not say when it expected to receive those results.
The department said it will update residents of Baker Lake if there are changes or new information.