Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Gjoa Haven (Mar 18/02) - It seemed that a desalination plant was the answer to Gjoa Haven's prayers.

But, as it turns out, removing the salt from seawater will cost twice as much as the Department of Community Government and Transportation once thought.

Desalination is the process of removing the salt from seawater. Last September, the government announced the plant would be operational by 2004.

But according to Doug Sitland, the manager of capital programs for the department, when the government looked more closely at the details, it realized it would cost more than $5 million -- almost twice the original budget of $2.6 million.

"After further study, it became clear a desalination plant was not the preferred option," said Sitland. "The capital costs essentially doubled."

Furthermore, Sitland said department officials were concerned because the desalination process had never been tested in the Arctic.

The hamlet's water supply has been plagued by problems for more than two decades. The desalination plant was expected to take care of the troubles -- including the presence of bloodworms in the drinking water -- and provide residents with a new 20-year water supply.

Armed with the new information, department officials plan to return to Gjoa Haven this week to present a new series of options to hamlet council members.

Sitland said that, as well as showing council the true cost of a properly engineered desalination plant, government officials would present two pipeline options.

The first would pipe in water from the lake 4.5 kilometres away and the second, from a lake 5.5 kilometres distant.

Both pipelines will cost roughly about $4 million.

Sitland said the community could choose between different kinds of pipe.

"The pipelines will give them more than a 20-year supply of water ... and will fix all their problems," said Sitland.

Council is to review the three different options, make a motion on the preferred solution and take it from there. Timelines are tight Sitland said, because the money is earmarked in the hamlet's five-year capital plan.

Mayor Joseph Aglukkaq, meanwhile, said he is frustrated by what he sees as constant delays caused by the governments of the Northwest Territories and now Nunavut.

He said he'll be happy when the community finally has access to clean water.

"This should have been done a long time ago," said Aglukkaq.

He also said residents are critical of the pipeline option because both lakes in question are used recreationally by residents.