Arctic Red River (May 26/03) - By next winter residents will see improvements in the quality of drinking water.

The Department of Public Works and Services has budgeted $1.2 million for the construction of a new water treatment plant.

Deputy minister Bruce Rattray said concern with drinking water quality in Tsiigehtchic has been a longstanding issue.

"The community has always been concerned about the colour and the taste of the water, which is not a health issue, except that people don't like to drink it," he said.

For the last year the department has been working to come up with a treatment that will improve the taste and colour of the water.

Ray Madore, senior administrative officer, said residents have been complaining about the water quality for many years and finally the government is doing something about it.

"It's just a matter of sediment in the water and it comes straight out of a lake, so now with a proper filtration system we are moving into the '80s, for lack of better words," he said.

Long-time resident Sheila Blake doesn't have a problem with the water, even though it is discoloured. She said she has been drinking the tap water for years.

"It's always been brown ever since I have lived here and I didn't think nothing of it ... so I don't know why they are putting up a big stink about it," she said.

But recently Blake got a new fridge with a water filter system in it.

"So I don't have to drink the tap water anymore, it just comes right out of my fridge," she said.

The contract for construction of the water treatment plant has not yet been awarded. However, it is expected Cabinet may direct Public Works to enter into a negotiated contract with a local Gwich'in company.