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IKAAHUK/SACHS HARBOUR - Scuba divers were sent into Sachs Harbour's raw water reservoir last week to determine why the hamlet's water treatment plant intake pipe has been plugged for two months, according to Duane Fleming, chief environmental health officer for the NWT.

A report on their findings was expected back last Friday and Priscilla Haogak, the community's mayor, said they will act as soon as possible once they find out what the problem is.

The hamlet of 120 residents has been following a precautionary boil water advisory since June 14.

Haogak said residents have been coping well with the changes, but said it makes life a bit more "tedious."

Under the advisory, residents have to boil water for everything from drinking and cooking to teeth brushing and ice cube making, and parents with young children have to be especially careful

when preparing infant formula.

Before the boil water advisory is lifted, either the intake pipe will have to be unplugged or the reservoir, which has become cloudy because of spring breakup runoff, will have to clear.

The town hamlet office, and the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, are in charge of addressing the problem.

Haogak said they have hired Dowland Contracting, an Inuvik-based company, to carry out the work.

Alternatives to boiling water include buying bottled water or using water that has been properly distilled. Brita water filters are not a safe option, according to the advisory.

The boil water advisory doesn't extend to general household uses like showering, bathing and dish washing.

Fleming stressed the advisory was just precautionary and no related illnesses have been reported.

Adella Carpenter, acting senior administrative officer for Sachs Harbour, declined to comment.

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