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NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Community leaders in the NWT have mixed reviews of the territory's drinking water, which was recently given a C by environmental organization Ecojustice.

"The water's always been really good-quality water," said Janet Kanayok, mayor of Ulukhaktok.

The relatively untainted wilderness of Victoria Island is one of the main reasons residents are happy with their water, she said.

With low pollution and development levels, the only complaint Kanayok said she has ever heard is that once every few years she can smell chlorine in the water.

"But that's about it," she said.

Water in the hamlet is sourced from Air Force Lake, but more than half the town drinks ice water they melt at home themselves.

"I'm not too sure about the rest of the NWT but I think the water up in the North is probably a lot better than other parts of Canada," she said, adding she would give the territory an A for its drinking water quality.

Enterprise Mayor Allan Flamand had a different take on water quality levels. "C sounds good to me," he said.

The community was placed on a boil water advisory in May because of muddy water caused by spring break-up.

"We're still alive," he said, adding that the advisory is expected every year.

In Whati, residents drink well water, which Chief Alfonz Nitsiza said is monitored and tested on a regular basis.

He said when the community's water source switched from Lac La Martre, residents complained that their food tasted different and their water wasn't as fresh.

"I haven't heard much complaints about it now, but people really want to get the water from the lake," he said, adding that the community government is looking at options, but it would be costly.

Nitsiza called the water quality in Whati "average," but was hesitant to assign a grade.

"I was not surprised when the report came out giving the territory a C," he said.

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