Residents were told Friday their tap water had potentially
harmful levels of trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs) —
which are byproducts produced by the water treatment process when
chlorine interacts with the high level of organic materials in the
community’s water source.

Drinking water in Attawapiskat is
supplied through a separate reverse-osmosis filtration system. Two
watering stations in the community provide drinking water where
residents fill up jugs to take home.

While levels of THMs and
HAAs are trending up in the drinking water, it is still safe to drink,
according to recent testing done by the First Nations Inuit and Health
Branch, which is part of Indigenous Services.