"Public health officials have told residents of Canada’s northernmost capital not to use tap water for drinking and cooking because of suspected fuel contamination in the city’s water supply.

The city council of Iqaluit declared a state of emergency Monday and later urged its 7,000-plus residents not to swallow water when taking a shower. Municipal authorities said they were investigating “infiltration into underground chambers” at a city water treatment plant as the potential source of contamination but have not ruled out other possibilities.

Several residents of Iqaluit, which has a large Inuit population, complained earlier this month that water from their taps gave off a fuel-like odor. The city, located some 1,200 miles north of Montreal, said as recently as Oct. 4 that tests had indicated the quality was satisfactory, though it reversed course this week."

Amy Cheng reports for the Washington Post October 14, 2021. [2]