A Nova Scotia First Nation that has had thick, murky water running from its taps for years has started receiving shipments of clean drinking water from nearby communities, but residents say the problem is far from resolved.
Members of the Potlotek First Nation in Cape Breton have held protests over the state of their water in hopes of pressuring the provincial and federal governments to take action on the longstanding issue.
The nearby community of St. Andrew鈥檚, N.S. -- about 10 kilometres west of Potlotek -- has clean, clear tap water.
Jugs of clean water arrived by the truckload on Thursday, and the government has arranged for portable showers to be brought in and for laundry to be washed in a nearby town.
鈥淚鈥檓 appalled. I鈥檓 sick to my stomach over this. And why did it take this long?鈥� Potlotek First Nation resident Bernadette Marshall told CTV Atlantic. 鈥淎t least now somebody is listening, but the problem has been here for years and years.鈥�
Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil said his government has been in touch with Ottawa and that a plan is in the works. In his 2015 campaign, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to end boil-water advisories on all First Nations reserves within five years.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e looking at what can we do now in the short-term. But also, this has quite frankly been going on for some time. We need a long-term fix. There鈥檚 a substantial amount of work that will be required,鈥� McNeil said.
In the meantime, members of the Potlotek First Nation plan to slow down a stretch of road Friday and hand out fliers in a bid to raise awareness about the problem.
Other First Nations have stepped up to help. A truckload of clean water is expected to be delivered from Eskasoni First Nation on Friday.
With files from CTV Atlantic
