IC-IMPACTS Providing Clean Water to First Nations Communities

IC-IMPACTS Providing Clean Water to First Nations Communities

Over 5 million Canadians lack access to a reliable source of safe drinking water, many of whom live in rural or First Nation communities.

A recent investigation led by the CBC revealed that out of the 618 First Nations in Canada, 400 communities reported water-related issues at sometime between 2004 and 2014, in some cases for more than 15 years.

Making a Difference

IC-IMPACTS researchers are partnering with First Nation communities to address these water quality issues and are helping deliver safer and cleaner water to communities in Canada.  The Centre is currently funding 14 projects that are tackling different aspects of delivering cleaner water to communities in need.

One such project is being led by Dr. Madjid Mohseni and Dr. Pierre Berube from The University of British Columbia.  Mohseni and Berube are working on creating innovative and robust water treatment technologies that can be used in communities across Canada.  The researchers are using two technologies commonly found in complex water treatment systems and retooling them to be more user-friendly and cost-efficient on a smaller scale.  Berube is focusing on using Membrane technology while Mohseni is focusing on Vacuum Ultraviolet Technology to achieve simultaneous disinfection and organic contaminant removal.

Transforming a Small First Nation Reserve

Through consultation with 8 different First Nation communities and assessing the needs of their water-related issues, it was clear that a new solution for water treatment solution was needed.

With the help of BI Pure Water, GE Water, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC), and 8 student researchers, Mohseni and Berube created a fully mobile, water treatment facility that could be driven to various communities.  Appearing like a normal truck from the outside, it actually houses the advanced water treatment technologies the group had been working on.

The mobile treatment system was deployed at one of the reserves within the Lytton First Nation in the Fall of 2014 where it was hooked up to the community’s water supply – allowing for the evaluation of various alternative treatment options.  This strategy not only provided an opportunity to the team on the best treatment strategy suitable for the community’s water, but also helped the community water operators to become acquainted with the proposed solutions and offer feedback towards optimizing the process.

This successful pilot demonstration led to the permanent installation of the technologies at the community, through capital infrastructure funding from AANDC.   This has resulted in the elimination of seasonal boil water advisories that the community had to deal with over the years.

Extending to other Communities

Mohseni and Berube are now actively working with 2 other communities in BC: Tl’azt’en Nation and Texada Island, a non-First Nation community.  “The problem isn’t a lack of financial investment”, says Berube. “It’s a lack of proper consultation with First Nations and other community members on a sustainable solution.”

By directly working with communities, the researchers have come to understand that the issue is more than just technology – affordability, usability, and awareness are also key in creating a sustainable solution.  They’ve made sure that community involvement and education are a key component of their project.  “Community members need to be participating in the research to ensure the project is successful” says Mohseni.  “They have a lot of indigenous knowledge that could be of great value.”

By involving community members early on in a meaningful manner, Mohseni and Berube are helping empower First Nations by giving them an active role in creating a solution for their community.

Moving Forward

The current water quality crisis in First Nation communities across Canada is complex but IC-IMPACTS is taking significant strides forward in providing communities with safe and clean drinking water.

As a Centre focused on building healthier communities, IC-IMPACTS openly invites other communities to connect with the Centre to help create solutions.  For more information, please contact Sue Roppel.