Hopedale declares state of emergency as water supply threatened

The Town of Hopedale on Labrador's north coast is asking that the provincial government send potable water to the community after local leaders declared a state of emergency.

AngajukKâk Jimmie Tuttauk said there isn't enough water in the community's reservoir, and that some households are down to a trickle. 

"I'm saying at least 25 per cent of the households here either have very little water or none sufficient enough to even have a bath," Tuttauk said. 

Tuttauk said the reservoir was built by the Americans for about 200 people but it's not sufficient for a town that has grown to about 700 residents.

The community started losing water pressure in December, but the problem has been getting worse in recent days. 

Bad weather is hampering efforts to pump water from another pond into the reservoir, he said.

'Hang in there'

"When the weather clears up we'll start helping households with water through barrels that they can pump into their bath tubs so that they can wash clothes, or do whatever they need to do," Tuttauk said.

"It's going to be a tough one. We're asking them to conserve water as much as possible, try and hold off having showers and washing clothes as much as possible."

Tuttauk is asking the province to send potable drinking water on the next available flights.

However, poor weather is keeping flights out of the community. 

"Hang in there, we are working on this," Tuttauk assured.

"This has been an ongoing issue in Hopedale for a number of years now, and it's high time to get this settled."

Tuttauk said he cannot give a time as to when residents will receive shipments of water. 

In the long term, Tuttauk said the community needs a new water and sewer system.