Oneida water: 'Would you want your parents to live like this?' - Action News
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London

Oneida water: 'Would you want your parents to live like this?'

An Oneida resident who's faced health issues due to poor water quality in the community is hoping the federal government will pay for a new pipeline to bring treated water to a community that's been under a boil water advisory since 2019.

Lifelong resident says poor water quality has caused her health issues

Luann Smith, 67, has had health issues she says were caused by the poor water quality at Onedia Nation of the Thames. 'It makes me upset,' she said. 'Not even 20 kilometres away somebody else is able to use their water whenever they want.'
Luann Smith, 67, has had health issues she says were caused by the poor water quality at Oneida Nation of the Thames. 'It makes me upset,' she said. 'Not even 20 kilometres away, somebody else is able to use their water whenever they want.' (Andrew Lupton/CBC)

Luann Smith will be paying close attention to what Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu has to say on Monday about the federal government's willingness to fund a pipeline that will bring clean drinking water to Oneida Nation of the Thames.

Smith, 67, is a lifelong resident of Oneida, a community that has been under a boil water advisory since 2019.

Hajdu is scheduled to be a guest on Monday's edition ofLondon Morningand will speak with host Rebecca Zandbergen about the situation.

Poor quality of water in the community of 2,000 has left Smith with health issues. She says the water quality was a factor in her daughter choosing to leave Onedia for London.

"It makes me upset," said Smith. "Not even 20 kilometres away, somebody else is able to use their water whenever they want. Just turn the tap on, and water's right there, whereas we live our lives not having water like that."

Supply pipeline 18 km away

Oneida leaders have negotiated a water supply agreement with the Lake Huron Primary Water Supply System. It's the same entity that supplies treated Lake Huron drinking water to municipalities across much of southwestern Ontario, including north London.

The proposed water pipe extension would bring treated Lake Huron water to Oneida Nation of the Thames from a connection point near Mt. Brydges.
The proposed water pipe extension would bring treated Lake Huron water to Oneida Nation of the Thames from a connection point near Mt. Brydges. (News Graphics/Frederic Demers)

The problem is the closest connection point is near Mt. Brydges, 18 kilometres away. Building a pipeline to connect the community will cost an estimated $57 million, a price that includes building the pipe to Oneida and upgrading its water distribution system.

Oneida Nation and Lake Huron supply have signed the agreement, the only missing signatory is the federal government, but that would also require the funding.

Smith says she'd like to see it happen so the next generation won't have to rely on boiled or bottled water. Prior to the boil advisory being put in place, she had health problems she says were directly related to the water problems.

They included H. pylori, a stomach bacteria that can cause ulcers andhas been linked to stomach cancer.

"I've had all kinds of stomach issues from drinking that water," she said.

The question for Hajdu?

"I would just ask: 'Would you want your parents to live like this?'" she said.

"I know it's not a nice thing to think but there's a lot of grandparents that live like this. We have to live like this because there's nothing else."

A statement from Oneida says the water levels in this tower are at
Oneida has been under a boil water advisory since 2019. (Andrew Lupton/CBC)

Administrators at Oneida say clean drinking water isn't the only reason they want the pipeline built.

The connection would also give the community enough pressurized water to supply fire hydrants.

A father and four childrendied in a house firein the community in 2016, a tragedy that highlighted the need for better fire protection.

In August, Hajdu said she expects Canada will be able to lift its remaining long-term drinking water advisories by 2025.