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Iqaluit confirms trace amounts of fuel back in water after residents complain of smell

Fuel back in Iqaluit water

UPDATE: 10:30 a.m.

The City of Iqaluit says trace amounts of fuel have been detected in the Nunavut capital's water supply.

The city says an initial review of data from its real-time monitoring station indicates fuel entered the water on Monday and Wednesday.

It says there have been no measurements above low-alarm thresholds, but the city is proactively opening distribution valves to flush the water.

The city had already confirmed it was investigating after residents complained they could smell fuel in their tap water again.

Its 8,000 people spent nearly two months under a do-not-consume order last fall after fuel was found in the water.

The city says in a release that it believes there may have been left over hydrocarbons that got into the water supply again.


ORIGINAL: 9 a.m.

The City of Iqaluit says it's investigating after receiving more than 20 complaints from residents who say they smell fuel in their tap water again.

The city of 8,000 people spent nearly two months under a do-not-consume order after fuel was found in the drinking water last October.

That order was lifted on Dec. 10 and the city installed two real-time water monitoring systems at its treatment plant.

Dozens of residents have posted to social media complaining their tap water smells like fuel again.

The city says staff are collecting samples but can't enter people's homes to test tap water, because of Nunavut's COVID-19 lockdown, so staff are testing at the nearest site.

The city says staff are also analyzing samples collected from the monitoring system and from around town.

There is no timeline for when results will be available.



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