Ottawa is taking action to normalize the water supply on a small Cape Breton, N.S. First Nation after years of odorous, thick, brown liquid flowing from fixtures, and concerns about long-term health consequences.

Design work is set to begin as early as this month on new multimillion-dollar treatment plant that will help remove iron and manganese from the Potlotek First Nation鈥檚 water supply. A permanent solution could take years to complete. Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada has not offered specifics on a timeline.

Many in the community have refused to drink the water -- which ranges in colour from a dull yellow to a dark black depending on the day.

鈥淒rinking all this water over the years got me sick,鈥� said one resident at a meeting held Tuesday. 鈥淚鈥檓 48 years old, and I鈥檓 disabled.鈥�

Chris McDonell, the regional director general for Indigenous and Northern Affairs, says the first step is to determine the best water source to serve the community. Residents are adamant that they don鈥檛 want the water to be drawn from a nearby lake any longer.

鈥淓xperts will be on site. They will be drilling. They will be doing a lot of analysis,鈥� said McDonell.

In the meantime, limestone will be added to reduce manganese levels and hopefully return the water to a more familiar colour and smell.

The water is safe despite its unrefreshing appearance, according to the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada. Dr. David Butler-Jones took a sip from a glass of local water that was clear in appearance while speaking at the meeting to prove his point.

鈥淭he discolouration will, especially when it gets bad, stain your clothes when you do the laundry. It tastes bad. It looks bad. It is not, however, dangerous,鈥� he said.

Dr. Butler-Jones鈥� reassurances of safety did not sit well with residents. They say one glass may not hurt, but years of consumption will.

鈥淣ot you doctor, or anyone else in Canada, is going to convince me there's nothing wrong with our water,鈥� said one resident.

鈥淲e trusted you guys too long and look at us today,鈥� said resident Bernadette Marshall. 鈥淭here are so many sick people in my community. If only you knew.鈥�

For now, residents will continue to have access to clean bottled water provided by Northern Affairs.

Officials will continue to flush lines and test the water for the next few weeks.

With a report from CTV Atlantic's Kyle Moore