Iqaluit closes its water treatment plant because of the smell of fuel

IQALUIT, Nunavut — The City of Iqaluit has shut down its water treatment plant after water was contaminated with fuel for the second time last week.

The city says it suspects a breach in the system caused Iqaluit residents to smell fuel in their water, with breaches detected last week and Wednesday.

The City now uses a diversion system to pump water to residents and the entire community is now under a boil water advisory.

Iqaluit residents weren’t able to drink tap water for two months last year after it was found to be contaminated with fuel.

The City said an old fuel tank buried next to the sewage treatment plant was the source of contamination last year and that residual traces of fuel re-entered the distribution system last year. last week.

The City says engineers and experts are on hand to find out how the fuel got back into the water.

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