KINNGAIT/CAPE DORSET - A temporary water supply line to bypass the main one that froze earlier this month became operational last week in Cape Dorset, said a spokeswoman with the territory's Department of Community and Government Services.

Elissa McKinnon added this is a temporary solution as the main stainless steel three-inch water pipe, which froze and cracked around April 14 because the heat tracer used to keep the pipe warm failed, will be fixed in the summer.

"As of yesterday (April 26), the secondary two-inch water line became operational for storing the community's main water supply from T Lake," said McKinnon. "Before that, they were getting rationed water in the amount of 500 litres per household approximately from Ice Lake. That rationing is now discontinued because they are receiving water from their regular water source at T Lake."

The community had been without water since April 14, with some residents resorting to melting snow and ice for water. The rationed water deliveries were daily.

The secondary pipe is older than the three-inch one, she added. It is unclear at this point whether the cracked pipe will need replacement, said McKinnon. She added CGS is receiving daily updates from the contractor and is working with the hamlet.

"The temporary solution is necessary because Ice Lake didn't have enough water to sustain the community for a long period of time," she said. "So the main objective of fixing this two-inch pipe and making it operational was so that the community could receive their regular water supply."

Olayuk Akesuk, the hamlet's senior administrative officer, said the temporary fix is a "big relief."

"We're back to normal water deliveries," he said.

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