NEW
Cryofront: News and Views from the Far North
Grise Fiord water supply 2008 – iceberg harvesting
Climate change and water supply in the far north By Ken Johnson, NTWWA Director
An introduction to a new feature in WCW Magazine By definition, cryofront is the “zero degree isotherm in a soil profile” or what may be referred as the “leading edge of the cold.” For the purposes of this new, and hopefully continuing presentation in Western Canada Water, Cryofront is intended to provide news, and perspectives on the technical, administrative and political aspects of water, and waste in the far north of Canada. And, on occasion, Cryofront will venture to other countries, and continents in the wide world of cold. This is a timely start to this WCW presentation, as Canada copes with a new era in the visibility and importance of its cold region. From climate change to sovereignty, and all points in between, the Canadian north has not been on the national radar to such an extent since the “Roads to Resources” initiative by John Diefenbaker 50 years ago. From a global perspective, the Canadian north has probably not seen as much attention since the search for the ill fated Franklin expedition almost 160 years ago. Water resources and climate adaptation Water resources have been identified as one of the highest priority issues for climate change adaptation in Canada. Water infrastructure is probably the most vulnerable to climate change, and the importance of water to human health, the economy and the environment probably make it the most critical type of infrastructure. The impacts of climate change on water infrastructure could result in multiple problems such as increased water demand, water apportionment issues, loss of potable water, increased water quality problems, and increased risk of flooding, just to name a few. 20 | Western Canada Water | Spring 2009
Now apply this same basic reasoning to northern latitudes, and the potential problems profoundly increase because of the underlying challenges associated with climate, geography, culture, and cost. Hamlet of Grise Fiord’s water supply challenges Grise Fiord, Nunavut is Canada’s most northern community, and the permanent home to 140 Canadians. Community infrastructure is tough to maintain at this latitude, and it was made “tougher” in spring of 2008, when residents of the community were forced to use icebergs as their potable water supply as they dealt with a severe water shortage. Grise Fiord must replenish its water supply during a brief three-week window in the summer when glacier melt flows sufficiently to fill several large tanks with capacity enough to supply the community for 12 months. Grise Fiord has some of the highest water rates in the country with a rate of approximately 4.5 cents per litre – the cost of water in Ottawa is approximately 0.1 cents per litre. Up to the late 1970s iceberg ice was the community’s sole water supply from late September through June. Thirty years later, the community was once again reverting to this “old technology” for an interim potable water supply. The community would normally have the two huge water tanks filled with glacial runoff to last them for 12 months from the tank filling in June of each year. Unfortunately maintenance work and a lack of rain in the summer of 2007 left the tanks under-filled. Grise Fiord officials issued an advisory urging residents to conserve water, while a six-kilometre ice road was built to the Hamlet’s new water Click here to return to Table of Contents