Cold spring weather creates water problems in Igloolik

Residents in Igloolik are being asked to conserve water because of problems with the community's fresh water reservoir.

They blame along, cold spring this year that's left a lot of ice in the pumping system.

"Our current reservoir has no water because there is a lot of ice that has not melted this spring,"Joasai Kublu,the director of public works in Igloolik, said in Inuktitut."Plus, the winter was very cold as well."

IgloolikSenior Administrative OfficerBrian Flemingsays they could pipe water from a nearby lake, but it would takeweeks to fill the reservoir.

"The lake that we usually draw water from, it's just not possible to chlorinate because its organic matter is too high," says Fleming.

He says they are still servicing the communitybut running low on water.

Meanwhile, workers arebuilding an ice roadacross the harbourtoFish Lake,about 4 kilometres away from the community, where they hope to establish a temporary pipeline to service the community's fresh water needs.