Water Quality

According to the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, temperatures in the Arctic are rising about twice as fast as the global average. This rapid change in temperature is expected to impact the biodiversity and hydrology of Arctic streams and rivers. Increased water temperature causes shifts in aquatic ecosystems and can favour the growth of temperature sensitive water-borne bacteria and aquatic plants (algae) which could potentially pose health risks.

Untreated natural water from local lakes, streams and rivers are important sources of water for northern communities. Many Nunavut residents perceive these sources to be healthier and cleaner than chlorinated tap water. However, there is little regular monitoring of the streams and rivers to verify the water quality over time. Community members wonder how changes will affect the quality of drinking water from these sources. Many regions are also interested in monitoring microbes and contaminants and are concerned at the potential health risks that they may pose.

“The rapid change in temperature is expected to impact the biodiversity and hydrology of Arctic streams and rivers.”- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

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Click on a link below to check out how these communities are engaging in climate change adaptation!

Inuvialiuit Settlement Region

Inuvialuit Regional Corporation

• Monitoring and Surveillance of Water Borne Diseases in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region: Adapting to a Changing Climate in the North (2009-2010)
  

Nunavut

Iqaluit

• Building Local Capacity to Monitor Microbiological Water Quality in the Streams and Rivers of Iqaluit Nunavut: towards protecting drinking water resources in a changing climate (2009-2010)
  

Pond Inlet

• Phase I: Building Capacity to monitor fresh water quality in Pond Inlet-community needs assessment in a changing climate (2014-2015)
  
• Phase II: Expanding leadership in community-based research: Developing advanced capacity to study the risk of climate change on water quality in Pond Inlet (2015-2016)
  

Yukon

Yukon River

• Phase I: Integrating Indigenous Knowledge and Public Health Concerns into a Community Contaminant and Climate Change Monitoring Program
• Phase II: Climate Adaptation Strategies: An Intergenerational Effort to Combine Indigenous Knowledge and Western Science
• Phase III: First Nation Climate Change Policy: a regional, Indigenous approach to climate change adaptation, health and water governance

Projects

Adaptation Planning

Food Security

Access to Land

Knowledge Sharing / Education

Mental Health

Traditional Medicine

Water Quality