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The community of Kugaaruk is getting federal help as a state of emergency enters its third day.
In a news release Tuesday, Eleanor Olszewski, the federal minister of emergency management, said she has approved a request for assistance from the Nunavut government. That’s to provide support in the logistics of transporting, distributing and pumping drinking water.
“The Government Operations Centre is working with federal and provincial partners, including the Canadian Armed Forces, to coordinate the response to the situation in Nunavut and mobilize all necessary federal resources,” she said.
The hamlet declared the emergency Sunday after sea water infiltrated its water treatment plant. Michelle Byers, the senior administrative officer, told CBC News on Monday that unusually high supermoon tides caused sea water to travel upriver and in to the water treatment plant. She said the plant automatically shut down, as designed, to protect the system.
In an update posted on Facebook, the hamlet said efforts to pump water from a secondary water source failed due to the extreme cold. Crews have built a shelter around the pumps and they’re working to heat the site, the post reads.
As well, the water treatment plant is being flushed to remove any salt before bringing the plant back into service.
The hamlet said it’s continuing to receive support from territorial and federal partners, including the Canadian Rangers, who are prepared to assist with fresh water access for roughly five days after operations stabilize.
