Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Aug 14/00) - The window was half open on the passenger side of the truck. The wind blew the faint, unmistakable scent of raw sewage through the opening.

Ian Dart, the driver, said he didn't notice the smell any more. Outside, Michael Mike waited for the septic tank to empty.

The hose, with its nozzle connected to a pipe leading into the septic tanks, shivered as two days of sewage gushed into the huge tank on the back of the sewage truck.

At 8 a.m., almost every morning of the year, the Town of Iqaluit's public works sewer trucks make their rounds, cleaning a part of the community that's often forgotten about or just not mentioned.

Dart has been on the sewage trucks for two years. He joined public works after he took a course in heavy equipment through Nunavut Arctic College.

Now he wields the clunky sewage truck like a small car, turning and backing out of tight corners without touching a thing.

"It's a living," said Dart. "If I wasn't doing this, someone else would be. This job is a necessity," he said.

Dart and Mike work from 8 a.m. until they are done their rounds, which includes a good chunk of Iqaluit's downtown and beach area.

While Mike unhooked the hose from the truck, slung it over his shoulder and latched the nozzle to a septic tank pipe coming from a house, he recounted an accident that turned messy.

"I hadn't hooked the hose up properly to the pipe and the pressure pulled the pipe off," he said, adding: "It was a mess."

Both Dart and Mike believe their working relationship is important.

"You have to have a worker who is quick and efficient," said Dart, who moved to Iqaluit 10 years ago. He had planned to stay for just three months.

"You have to get along for things to work," piped up Mike, who has worked on the sewer truck since February.

Dart said that some of the toughest days are after holidays because the sewage piles up.

"Apartment buildings take a long time to clean too, because all the apartments usually share the same tank," he said.

At around 10 a.m., the sewer truck pulls into the Grind and Brew. Dart goes for coffee, Mike for potato chips.

"In the winter things go slower, and the heaters struggle in the truck," said Dart, coffee in hand. "In the summer, you'd rather be out fishing."

"I don't mind doing this," he added, "it keeps the wolves away from the door."

At 10:15 a.m. he hops up into the driver's seat, gives the horn a quick honk to signal Mike, it's time to go back to work.