The Office of the Auditor General of Canada has announced it will conduct a review of how drinking water is managed across Nunavut, a move that comes after years of documented shortages, treatment-plant failures and repeated boil-water advisories in many communities.
Scope and timing still to be set
Officials say the audit is expected to be released in 2027, but the office has not yet finalised the review’s scope, methodology or timetable. In an acknowledgement to communities and stakeholders, a spokesperson for the auditor general confirmed the examination is under way, while details will be developed in coming months.
The announcement follows a string of incidents that have drawn attention to the territory’s water systems: treatment plants failing to meet health inspections, long-standing advisories, infrastructure damaged by extreme weather and a shortage of certified operators in several communities.
Systemic problems in many communities
Recent public-health inspections and local emergencies illustrate the uneven state of Nunavut’s water infrastructure:
- Only 8 of 25 territorial water-treatment plants passed their most recent inspections without health or safety deficiencies.
- At least 5 communities lacked a certified water-treatment operator at the time inspections were carried out.
- Boil-water advisories remained in effect in communities including Igloolik, Pond Inlet and Arctic Bay.
Specific episodes include a nearly seven-month boil-water advisory in Gjoa Haven after a break was found in the water main connecting Swan Lake to the community’s treatment plant, and the disabling of Kugaaruk’s treatment plant in December 2025 when seawater entered the system during an unusually high tide.
Past emergencies underscore vulnerability
Several larger centres have also been affected in recent years. Pangnirtung declared a state of emergency in September 2025 when its plant stopped producing treated water. Iqaluit declared a state of emergency in late 2021 after fuel contaminated its supply — an incident that reappeared in early 2022 and required more than a year to fully resolve, with the plant not returning to service until April 2023.
Sanikiluaq has not had potable municipal water since 2016 because of high salinity in the source, forcing residents to rely on alternative supplies for years.
What the audit could examine
Audits of this nature typically look at whether responsibilities are clear among federal, territorial and municipal authorities, whether funding is aligned with needs, and whether there are reliable systems for maintaining and operating critical infrastructure. In Nunavut, key issues that may receive scrutiny include operator certification and training, the robustness of emergency response plans, asset management and the adequacy of funding for repairs and upgrades.
| Issue | Example communities |
|---|---|
| Failing inspections | Pangnirtung, Baker Lake, Coral Harbour |
| No certified operators | Five unnamed communities at time of inspections |
| Long boil-water advisories | Gjoa Haven (seven months), Igloolik, Pond Inlet, Arctic Bay |
Local impact and practical concerns
For households across Nunavut, unreliable municipal water can mean extra expense, health risk and disruption to daily life. Where municipal supplies are unsafe or unavailable, people depend on purchased bottled water, water delivered by truck, hauled from private wells or treated at home — all of which strain household budgets and community services. Health-care facilities, schools and businesses are also affected when reliable potable water cannot be guaranteed.
Residents and hamlet governments will likely be watching the audit closely for clear recommendations and timelines. An external review can identify root causes, but communities will need concrete commitments on funding, training and construction to translate findings into safer, more reliable water systems.
What residents can expect next
- The auditor general’s office will finalise the audit plan over the coming months; the public can expect a report in 2027.
- Communities with ongoing advisories should continue to follow local public-health guidance and contact hamlet offices for updates.
- Those concerned about water quality can seek testing information from their local public health authority and inquire about emergency supply options.
The announcement of a formal federal review marks a significant step toward addressing long-standing water-security challenges in Nunavut. For many residents, however, improvements will only be evident when investments, training and repairs are implemented on the ground.
Reporting for this article drew on recent public-health inspection findings and community incident reports that document the territory’s ongoing struggles to provide safe and reliable municipal drinking water.
