Terry Halifax
Northern News Services

Fort McPherson (Apr 24/00) - In Fort McPherson it's how the water is treated that's causing concern.

High levels of Trihalomethanes (THMs) were detected in the hamlet's water supply.

The problem in McPherson is believed to be caused by insufficient snow over the past few years to flood the hamlet's water supply. The stagnant water causes a high build up of organic material. Town officials say the THMs are formed when this water is treated with chlorine.

Studies have indicated a possible link between high THMs and some forms of cancer, said director of communications and planning for the Inuvik regional health and social services board, Deborah McLeod.

"Over extended exposure to THMs, some studies indicate there may be a possible link to some forms of cancer," McLeod said. "There is no immediate concern, but we are encouraging the hamlet to find another source."

New Canadian guidelines recommend maximum to be below 100 parts per billion (ppb), but in the past year or so, McLeod said readings have spiked been into the 200s. The cancer link has caused a great deal of concern in the community, but she said the risk is limited.

"It's this part-per-billion thing people don't understand," she said. "At one of the meetings, our CEO (Ray Scott) said that if there were glasses of water all over the hall and you drank every one of them, it would be less harmful than smoking one cigarette."

Duane Fleming environmental health consultant for health and social services, said the government is still studying the effects of THMs, but to be on the safe side have set the new guideline of 100 ppb.

"The level used to be 300 parts per billion, but Health Canada has set an interim level of 100 parts per billion," Fleming said. "They're still studying it, the results are still not in yet."

Currently McPherson gets their water from Water Lake. Mayor William Koe said the town is in the early stages of testing a new source at

Deep Water Lake -- about 30 kilometres from the hamlet.

Koe said the town is working closely with MACA and hopes to have a new source on line in less than two years.

"We have meetings every month now and give us an update on what they are doing," Koe said. "They (MACA) have a team of experts they've brought in to work in that area."

"We're hoping that in about a year-and-a-half, we're going to have a new water source," he said.

Koe said in the interim, MACA has purchased home filtration systems for every household and the filters are working well, removing about two-thirds of THMs from the drinking water.