Grant: Project Grant

Data from the past two decades indicate that approximately 1 in 5 First Nation communities in Canada are under a drinking water advisory at any given time. Most of the drinking water advisories are due to microbial contaminants. Many First Nations homes rely on cisterns (water-holding tanks) for home storage of drinking water and Canadian experts identified in 2013 the urgent need for science research on these systems. In a pilot study carried out by us in a First Nation community, we found significant numbers of coliforms, E. coli, and also antibiotic resistance genes drinking water supply. In this project, we will expand our study to four different communities and compare piped and cistern water distribution systems using state-of-the-art analytical chemistry and molecular biology methods to provide for detailed water quality measurements. Water samples collected along distribution pathways will be analyzed on a seasonal basis for chlorine concentrations, the presence of coliforms (indicator of fecal contamination), total microbial community, and also for the presence of antibiotic resistance genes. In addition, an alternative in-house water treatment technology will be tested. This Project Grant application is a research collaboration between academic researchers, First Nations leaders, and four First Nations communities. These researchers have collaborated in preliminary studies (2014) that led to the development of the proposed research plan that will improve the drinking water quality in the participating communities and in other First Nations. Safe drinking water will not only improve the health of individuals and families in First Nations communities but will also result in reduced heath-care costs for Canada. It will also provide for greater opportunities for First Nation socio-economic development since most businesses require clean water.