Supervised by:

Stéphanie Guilherme (Regular member)

Research project description

Drinking water supply in Indigenous communities in the Arctic: Monitoring and assessment of water safety

IntroductionDrinking water supply remains an important concern in the Arctic region, particularly in remote Indigenous communities. The presence of permafrost generally restrains from providing an underground distribution network and leave communities little options to supply water to households; communities are generally supplied by truck-to-cistern systems. Distributed through tanker trucks, water delivery may compromise compliance with water quality standards as well as increasing risks of contamination from the point of entry into the distribution system to the point of use, i.e., households’ cisterns. In addition, perceptions associated with water distribution along with water advisories intensify the rejection of chlorinated water by the communities and lead households to commonly use alternative water sources to meet their needs in water, i.e., collecting water from natural sources or directly from the treatment plant, as purchasing water bottles. ObjectivesThe overall objective of this study is to optimize drinking water supply services management in Indigenous communities. The specific objectives are to: Improve understanding of access to safe water, including the use of alternative sources, as well as practices and preferences for water consumption and use; Evaluate the quality of the water at different stages of the supply process and the quantity of water available at the point of use for consumption and hygiene; Identify the sources of contamination and assess the risks to human health attributed to insufficient quality and/or quantity of water; Develop a water safety management plan for remote communities in the Arctic. Study sitesThis research project will be conducted with communities of Inuit Nunangat. The communities are selected in close collaboration with our partners according to the geographic location as well as the type of distribution and drinking water supply network. Material and methodsThis research project uses a longitudinal methodological approach. A prospective cohort study will be conducted in different communities. Data collection includes different components, including household surveys, analysis of water quality (i.e., microbiological and physicochemical parameters) at different stages of the water supply, as well as the identification of sources of contamination and the assessment of risks for human health. A water safety management plan (WSPM) for remote indigenous communities, aiming at reducing the risks associated with water supply, will be developed. Expected resultsThis research project will generate evidence to optimize drinking water supply services management in remote Indigenous communities. This project will document households water practices and assess the risks to human health in relation to water quality and availability. The results will help to identify appropriate strategies for the supply, treatment and management of water from the water source to the point of use, as well as to develop national and regional public health interventions to monitor and assess health risks. It is expected that the development of a water safety management plan at the household level will promote subsequent implementation of research and development programs in communities.

Research Site Coordinates