Drinking Water Issues and Options in Indigenous Households in Communities near Grande Cache, Alberta

Abstract

Reliable access to clean drinking water remains a complex challenge for many rural Indigenous communities across Canada. This project engaged selected households in a group of non-status Indigenous communities who live on land settlements near Grande Cache, Alberta, to understand their water issues and barriers to sustainable solutions. Many household members live with well water on the land that has high hardness and iron levels, but use purchased water for drinking and cooking. Based on community data available in public sources and interviews with the household members, the findings show a lack of current water quality data to determine if the water is safe to use and broken governance for clean drinking water access. The study recommends developing i) a thorough water testing program to understand the current state, and ii) a clear information management plan for community knowledge building and information sharing to move towards a sustainable water solution.