Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Gjoa Haven (Mar 25/02) - It's official. The desalination plant once promised Gjoa Haven will not be built.

Mayor Joseph Aglukkaq said in light of a presentation given to hamlet councillors by the Department of Community Government and Transportation, they planned to pass a resolution Thursday afternoon, March 21, choosing a new pipeline instead.

Department officials told Gjoa Haven residents last year they could expect a desalination plant to be operational in the Kitikmeot hamlet by 2004.

Desalination removes salt from seawater and makes it drinkable.

But when the government looked more closely at the option, they realized it would cost more than $5 million -- twice as much as first thought.

Government officials met with councillors last Tuesday to advise them on the merits two different pipeline options.

While they will comply with the government's wishes, Aglukkaq said council wasn't particularly pleased at the prospect of seeing a 4.5-kilometre pipeline hooked up to a lake that is already used by residents for fishing and recreational purposes.

"We really have no choice," said Aglukkaq. "De-salination didn't look like it was going to go through so we chose a pipeline from a lake."

The pipeline's price tag rings in at roughly $4 million.

Aglukkaq said he just wants the work to get done so hamlet officials can begin to focus on other pressing issues. The water supply in Gjoa Haven has been plagued by problems for more than two decades and avoided by successive governments for the same amount of time.

"There are other things we need and this is taking too much time. Let's get this over with," said Aglukkaq.

"Now, it looks like it will be another year and a half before anything happens. I don't know why. I guess they need another study. I guess they have to come in and figure out where to put the pipe," said Aglukkaq.

"It's frustrating. This should have been taken care of a long time ago."

Funding for the pipeline is provided in the hamlet's five-year capital plan.