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SANIRAJAK/HALL BEACH - Sewage has been seeping through a leak in one of Hall Beach's sewage lagoon cells into an adjacent wetland all summer.

From the time the leak was first noticed in cell one on June 30 until Aug. 14, approximately 13,552 cubic metres of sewage is estimated to have seeped through a crushed gravel containment wall.

Michelle Hart, the hamlet's senior administrative officer, said hamlet officials noticed the sewage from the lagoon was not dark.

"It wasn't cloudy," she said. "It appeared to be clear."

The seepage continues.

Two lagoon cells built with crushed gravel containment walls, or berms, allow sewage stored inside to be broken down by UV rays from sunlight and naturally filter out into a wetland area.

Typically, the gravel wall filters water, which is guided into a wetland area, in a form where it can be further broken down by the environment.

"We sensed that something may not be right because (the seepage) appeared to be happening too fast,"said Hart.

The two-cell sewage lagoon is located north of the community, far removed from the more than 650 residents of the hamlet, said Hart.

Hart said the seepage had not reached the ocean.

She could not say for certain what had caused the leak or the faster than usual seepage.

"We received higher than normal temperatures in June - if that has anything to do with it. I can't speculate,"she said.

Currently, cell two is being used to store sewage while repairs are being planned.

Cell one is five to six years old, said Hart, adding the cell being used right now does not have the capacity to fulfil the needs of the community for the entire year.

Hamlet staff notified Nunavut's Department of Environment and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) of the leak.

Michael Nadler, Nunavut Region Director General with INAC, said his agency was contacted in July, and inspectors visited Hall Beach in August for a regular inspection.

Nadler confirmed there is a subsurface leak in the lagoon cell.

Tests have not yet been concluded to determine whether the seeping liquid is contaminating the wetland.

"The reality is if this seepage continues, what we will have is a continuous situation where we would have unprocessed sewage entering the environment," he said.

Nadler said Hall Beach's drinking water was not being threatened.

"The one thing we know is the fresh water source is not in jeopardy in Hall Beach,"he said.

Nadler said INAC officials will be sitting down with GN and hamlet representatives to find a solution to the problem.