https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/lake-geraldine-city-iqaluit-water-emergency-1.5235383
City of Iqaluit declares 2nd water emergency in 2 years
The city's reservoir is at an all time low and so is the river that
refills it
Jackie McKay · CBC News · Posted: Aug 06, 2019
The city of Iqaluit has declared a water emergency, for the second time
in two years.
Lake Geraldine— the reservoir for the city's potable water— is at a
"historic low."
There is less water in Lake Geraldine now than there was when the city
declared a water emergency in 2018.
The City of Iqaluit's potable water supply has not been recharging due
to a lack of precipitation, population growth and leaky infrastructure,
according to the city.
To make matters worse, the Apex River, meant to supplement the
reservoir, is also at a historic low and will not be able to refill Lake
Geraldine.
The Apex River is meant to be used to supplement the reservoir for the
next seven years until the city can find a long-term solution to its
water problem.
Now, the city will get water from Unnamed Lake to fill the reservoir. It
has just gotten approval from the minister of community and government
services.
"We need to supplement water, this is the closest source to do that,"
said Matthew Hamp, director of engineering and public works for the city.
Unnamed Lake is three kilometres from the pumping station at the Apex
River and is a source of water the city has been considering as a
long-term solution to its water shortage. But city officials aren't sure
what impact more regular draws would have on the lake.
"As a one-time use we don't expect there to be any long-term impacts [on
Unnamed Lake]," said Hamp.
"If the entire amount we take out isn't recharged in one year, that will
give us a good idea of what flows in and out of that lake are."
If there is no rain to help fill up the reservoir before the end of
October, the city will need 700 million litres of water to get through
the winter. The original application was for 500-million litres.
Last summer, the city pumped 194 million litres of water from the Apex
River over 33 days, from Aug. 9 to Sept. 20.
The city will start pumping water from Unnamed Lake and the Apex River
on Aug. 15.
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