Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services

Coppermine (June 24/02) - The combination of cloudy water produced by the breakup of the Coppermine River and faulty filters at the community's water treatment plant have some people keeping their taps turned off.

"I'm using snow and ice," said M.J. Katiak, Kugluktuk resident and hamlet employee.

This spring's completion of a million-dollar treatment plant and reservoir was supposed to herald the advent of clear water during breakup, but the filters couldn't handle the increased sand and silt of spring melt.

"There was a design problem right from the start," said Kaine Tologanak, the Cambridge Bay-based director of operations for community government. "The consultants didn't provide the proper filters."

Tologanak said the contractors -- Kugluktuk-based Mulco -- will replace the filters.

Kugluktuk is not under a boil-water order because the chlorination system is still doing its job, said John Holland, Kugluktuk's senior administrative officer. Holland said the cloudy water, while not dangerous, is still annoying.

"It would have been nice if the filters worked properly," he said.

Tologanak said the cloudy water could have been avoided if the reservoir and water filtration system worked at the same time. The reservoir still has not been filled, but once it is, Tologanak said he doesn't expect Kugluktuk to have any more problems.

Divers will inspect the plant's intake pipes once the river clears up.

"We want to resolve the situation," said Tologanak.