1/3 First Nations Feel water is unsafe to drink

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October 28, 2005

Press Release
First Nations Regional Longitudinal Health Survey

One-third of First Nations adults consider their household water unsafe to drink, according to
the RHS report




Ottawa, ON – Results from the First Nations Regional Longitudinal Health Survey
(RHS) 2002/03 show that water quality is an important concern for First Nations adults.
“The RHS findings confirm that serious concerns about First Nations water, recently
brought to Canada’s attention by the crisis at Kashechewan First Nation, are widespread,”
said Jane Gray, RHS National Coordinator.
“Some of our communities look for alternate sources for drinking water because they feel
their main water supply is unsafe to drink,” Gray said, “Sadly, it’s a good thing to do
because drinking water treatment systems in our communities are at high risk of
contamination.”
The RHS results indicate that:

About one-third (32.2%) of First Nations adults consider their household water
unsafe to drink.
Seven in ten adults (70.8%) resorted to alternative sources for drinking water. The
proportion increases to 9 in 10 among those who consider their water unsafe.
While most (63.2%) get water by pipe from a local source, about one in six get it
from a well (16.5%) or delivered by truck (15.9%).
Despite being their main supply, about one in thirty (3.4%) collect it themselves
from rivers, lakes or ponds (0.9%), from the water plant (1.8%) or from a
neighbour’s house (0.7%).
The most common alternate source of drinking water was bottled water, mentioned
by 61.7% of all respondents. This compares with 35% of Canadians who report
drinking bottled water at least once a week.
“We will be releasing the final national results in the RHS 2002/03 Peoples’ Report at
our upcoming conference in two weeks. The report will address many more determinants
impacting our people, including housing, education, language and the residential school
experience. We are optimistic, given the RHS objectives—to collect information about
the health of First Nations as a means of improving their own health and living
conditions—the Peoples’ Report will be promising.”

The survey was conducted in 238 First Nations on-reserve and other communities
between August 2002 and November 2003, with more than 22, 000 participants across
the country. The RHS includes three questionnaires designed for adults (18 years and
over), youth (12 to 17 years), and children (0 to 11 years).
The RHS final national report and regional preliminary reports will be released in Ottawa
on November 13–15, 2005 at the upcoming First Nations Research Conference, “Doing
Research Our Way–Celebrating 10 Years of RHS.”
(http://www.naho.ca/firstnations/english/regional_health.php)

For more information:

Colleen Toulouse, Communications
Officer
First Nations Centre
National Aboriginal Health Organization
220 Laurier Ave., West, Suite 1200
Ottawa, ON K1P 5Z9
Tel.: [phone] ext. 500
Email: [e-mail] Jane Gray, National Coordinator
First Nations Regional Longitudinal
Health Survey (RHS)
85 Boulevard Bastien
Wendake, Quebec G0C 4V0
Tel.: [phone]
Cell: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]