Combating Boil Water Advisories in First Nation Reserves

Drinking water advisories are preventive measures put in place to protect public health from drinking water that could be contaminated. Currently 92 First Nation communities across Canada are suffering from drinking water advisories. "We live in Canada but on reserve it feels like Third World conditions,"

said Nazko Chief Stuart Alec.  

There are water treatment systems available that are vastly more technologically superior to the  systems of the past. Historically water treatment has been done with filtration and chlorination. The problem with that, is that they are generally complex and cost prohibited. Not all reserves are the same size, therefore a one size fits all approach doesn't work. My plan is to use the latest generation technology such as UV and ozonation and combine that with traditional filtration technology to solve water purification needs. This system can be implemented on a either a residential or a community building scale.

However, this project is not just a technological issue, it is an educational issue. Community involvement always works to the advantage. Therefore, my plan is to get the Aboriginal community involved. How? I plan on educating Junior High and High School students within the communities on what it means to have pure water. Not only will I educate youth on what it means to have pure water, but I will educate youth on how to get purified water. I plan on educating our  future generations. However, education alone cannot solve all problems. I will also provide the necessary resources to test and verify water quality with the aid of industry partners, especially lab companies who are willing to provide testing equipment and training. But it does not stop there. My plan also includes teaching youth how to produce clean water using the latest water purification technology. As part of an Aboriginal Youth Employment Opportunity, youth will be employed to test and produce purified water.

This plan provides a technological solution, education, production, as well as employment opportunities for an Aboriginal community. "The life of a person is a circle for childhood to childhood. Within each child lies our future and our past."