Water quality and Inuit health: an examination of drinking water consumption, perceptions, and contamination in Rigolet, Canada

Carlee Wright

doi:10.1080/22423982.2017.1335149

Abstract

ABSTRACTCanadian Inuit have often reported concerns about the quality of their municipal drinking water; research has also shown that some Inuit communities experience some of the highest incidence rates of self-reported acute gastrointestinal illness (AGI) in Canada and globally. The goal of this thesis research was to investigate drinking water perceptions and consumption patterns, as well as water contamination and potential associations with AGI in the Inuit community of Rigolet, Canada. Three census cross-sectional surveys captured data on AGI, drinking water, and water storage (2012–2014); additionally, bacterial contamination of household drinking water was assessed alongside the 2014 survey. Concerns regarding the taste, smell, and colour of tap water were associated with lower odds of consuming tap water. The use of transfer devices (i.e. small bowls or measuring cups) was associated with household water contamination; while no water-related risk factors for AGI were identified, incidence of AGI was high compared with southern Canada. This thesis research provides a valuable contribution to the limited literature assessing drinking water and health in the Arctic. Ultimately, this work is intended to inform safe water management practices, as well as contextually appropriate drinking water interventions, risk assessments, and public health messaging in the Canadian Arctic.

Highlights

AND LITERATURE REVIEW: CRITICAL REVIEW OF DRINKING WATER IN NORTH AMERICA WITH A FOCUS ON INUIT NUNANGAT
I designed informational packages that were disseminated in Rigolet at the conclusion of the June 2014 survey, as well as the infographic and stickers distributed in the community
Considering the high prevalence of, and risk factors associated with, indicator bacteria in drinking water stored in containers, potential exposure to waterborne pathogens may be minimized through interventions at the household level

Summary

Introduction

AND LITERATURE REVIEW: CRITICAL REVIEW OF DRINKING WATER IN NORTH AMERICA WITH A FOCUS ON INUIT NUNANGAT. First Nations, Métis, and Inuit are the three constitutionally recognized groups of Indigenous peoples in Canada. In 2011, over 1.4 million people identified as Indigenous, which was 4.3% of the total Canadian population:5 60.8% of these individuals identified as First Nations, 32.3% as Métis, and 4.2% as Inuit (the remaining 2.7% identified as another Indigenous identity, or reported more than one Indigenous identity).. The geographic distribution of people within these diverse groups ranges across all territories and provinces throughout Canada, in both urban, rural, and remote locations. In the 2011 National Household Survey (NHS), over 80% of First Nations and Métis people reported living in Ontario or the Western provinces.. 30-50% of Indigenous communities are remotely located, with many of them accessible only by airplane. In the 2011 National Household Survey (NHS), over 80% of First Nations and Métis people reported living in Ontario or the Western provinces. In contrast, approximately three quarters of Inuit lived in Inuit Nunangat (“the place where Inuit live” in Inukitut); an area covering over 31% of Canada’s landmass, which is comprised of four settled Inuit Land Claim Areas, extending from the east to north to west coast of Canada (Nunatsiavut, Nunavik, Nunavut, and the Inuvialuit region) (Figure 1.1).

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