Neskantaga evacuees relieved to be home, but distrust about water quality lingers
Even though repairs at the community's water treatment plant are complete and a 14-day performance test shows it's producing cleaner water than ever before, Neskantaga's 25-year-long boil water advisory — the longest of any First Nation in the country — remains in place. Samples taken from the plant by ALS Laboratories in Thunder Bay show the water does not contain any disease-causing bacteria, such as E. coli. Community members must bring their water to a full boil for at least one minute to brush their teeth, wash fruits and vegetables, or to cook. Neskantaga's water can be used fo...