Hopedale water woes: No long-term fix in sight
Newfoundland and Labrador's minister of municipal affairs acknowledges Hopedale has a water emergency, but Keith Hutchings stopped short of promising a long-term fix this year.
The coastal Labrador community issued a state of emergency this week, after water levels in its reservoir dropped to dangerously low levels.
Some homes in the community of 600 had water down to a trickle.
AngajukKâk Jimmie Tuttauk said Hopedale started losing water pressure in December, and freezing temperatures have prevented crews from fixing a broke water line.
Hutchings told Labrador Morning the provincial government has brought in pumps to replenish the supply, but a permanent fix remains up in the air.
"I can't commit, as I have other communities that are in for water projects or road projects or other initiatives," Hutchings said.
"It certainly would be rated very high, but it would be inappropriate for me to commit right now because we have so many other projects there. But I'd certainly look at it very closely and see what we can do in the months ahead."
The Town of Hopedale has applied for funding for a capital works project to improve the water distribution system. Hutchings estimates it would cost $600,000 for the work.
In the meantime, it could be weeks before the water in the reservoir returns to stable levels.