QAMANITTUAQ/BAKER LAKE - Kugaaruk is keeping a close eye on the only generator left functional in its water pump house, said the community's senior administrative officer.

Kugaaruk's water pump house is working on one generator after its backup was damaged in a fire earlier this year. The hamlet is expecting a replacement generator by Dec. 15. - photo courtesy of Nunavut's department of community and government services

The pump house, built in March 1988 with a capacity of 1,000 litres a minute, usually functions on one generator, with the second one acting as backup. The backup was damaged beyond repair in a fire earlier this year.

But Andre Larabie said the community does not want to go through winter with only one functional generator.

“We are at the pump house every evening and (on) weekends, after normal hours, to ensure that nothing happens to it,” he said. “We're babysitting the only generator that we have until Nov. 15, where … (a) mechanic will come in and do an overall on that unit. By Dec. 15, the new one will be installed, so there will be a regular one plus a backup.”

The mechanic inspected the remaining functional generator to ensure it will work properly until mid-December because some electrical wires are corroded due to chlorine exposure, said Roy Green, director of community infrastructure with the Department of Community and Government Services. He added once the new generator is installed the other one will also be repaired.

“By the end of December, we should have two (generator) sets running for the winter,” he said. “I am pretty confident the community will have potable water during the winter months.”

Larabie said he has a commitment from Minister of Community and Government Services Lorne Kusugak that a mechanic would inspect the generator by Nov. 15 and the community would receive a new generator by Dec. 15.

Kugaaruk's water pump house woes made it to the legislative assembly, with Kusugak saying on Oct. 26 an electrician was due to inspect the pump house and recommend ways to ensure it operates smoothly all winter. But on that day, he did not mention either of the two dates.

“With the additional repairs required to keep it operational, it would be much preferable to order a new pump house next year,” he said.

The department is planning to build a new pump house, re-using the design of the one in Taloyoak to speed things up, said Green. He added such a facility would cost about $3 million. Green said the territory is planning to issue a tender for the facility next March and install it during the 2011/12 fiscal year.

“By doing that, it would allow us to move the construction faster,” he said. “We know the pump house is nearing (the end of) its useful life cycle. We do have a plan to replace it.”

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