Residents of Nova Scotia’s Potlotek First Nation say they are frustrated over the quality of their drinking water. The colour of the water in the community ranges from yellow to black.
On Tuesday, residents held a rally in the community, where people say they have been dealing with water problems for several years.
“For years they've been saying it has to do with this, this, and this. Well why isn't this getting fixed?,” says resident Carmen Marshall.
When chlorine is added to the water residents get out of their taps, the water turns a yellowish colour.
“For some reason, from climate change or what have you, the contact period from iron and manganese in the water is grown longer, so that's exacerbating the problem that exists already,” says band manager Lindsay Marshall.
“I feel really gross. It's disgusting. I showered with rust, metal, dirt, whatever it was,” says resident Patricia Paul.
On Tuesday, Paul's water was dark brown. She says her biggest worry for is her two young sons, who have had health problems since the water problems started.
“I don't know when it's going to stop. They say three to five years. Are we going to have to put up with that for that long? My kids are sick. It's gross,” says Paul.
During the election campaign in 2015, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to eliminate boil water advisories on reserves within five years. Residents in Potlotek First Nation say they can't wait that long and want the government to take action now.
“Our community isn't even 1,000 people and we have the biggest issue right now. And we are not getting help,” says Paul.
The band council says the water is safe to drink, but many residents say they aren't taking the chance and bottled water is being brought in for them.
As of Tuesday, there is no boil water advisory in place.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Kyle Moore.
