Iqaluit residents collect river water, city fills up tanks as tap water may be unsafe

Photo: The Canadian Press

Residents collect water from the Sylvia Grinnell River near Iqaluit, Nunavut on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021, after potential petroleum was discovered in the city's tap water, making it undrinkable. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Emma Tranter

Iqaluit residents are filling jugs and bottles at a river outside the city after they were told tap water in the Nunavut capital may be unsafe to drink.

The city declared a local state of emergency last night saying its water supply potentially contains gasoline.

Some residents complained on social media last week about a fuel smell in the water, but the city said the water had gone through regular testing and was safe.

The city then announced there was observed evidence of possible petroleum hydrocarbons, or fuel, at its water treatment plant.

The city says treated water is available at a water filling depot station, but it needs to be boiled.

City water trucks were pumping water from the Sylvia Grinnell river late last night and early this morning.