After 5 years of no clean drinking water, Oneida pipeline project approved

Construction to build a water supply pipeline to the Oneida Nation of the Thames will soon be underway after a London, Ont., company was awarded the federal contract last week.

The $23.4 million project will extend the Lake Huron Primary Water Supply System (LHPWSS), which currently ends near Mount Brydges, to the settlement boundary of the territory located south of London, supplying it with clean drinking water.

“This project is about more than the pipeline, it reflects a growing recognition of First Nations [who] should be partners in the infrastructure that moves through our territories and supports the region as we all share,” Oneida’s Chief Todd Cornelius said.

“Many First Nations infrastructure projects have historically happened around us rather than with us. Opportunities to participate directly in the development and construction of major regional infrastructures have often been too limited. Today represents a step forward in changing that.”

Oneida has been under a boil-water advisory since September 2019. The aging water tower is the primary source of water for 550 homes and 26 community buildings buildings in the territory, according to data from Indigenous Services Canada (ISC).

The federal agency said Wednesday that construction is expected to take two years and will result in Oneida being able to lift the drinking water advisory by spring 2027.

The project has been in the works since March 2022, and will run in conjunction with a separate, on-reserve project to fix the water distribution system in Oneida. ISC approved the budgets for both projects in February.

“For Oneida, this work contributes not only to strengthening regional water infrastructure, but also to building capacity, creating opportunities for our people, and demonstrating the expertise and the access within our nation,” Cornelius said.

A total of six companies put in a bid for the project that was approved at a March 5 meeting by a board made up of neighbouring municipalities that also draw water from Lake Huron.

The Lake Huron Primary Water Supply System board includes the City of London, Bluewater, South Huron, Lambton Shores, North Middlesex, Lucan-Biddulph, Middlesex Centre and Strathroy-Caradoc.

Water trouble in Chippewas and Munsee

Mayor Cathy Burghardt-Jesson of Lucan-Biddulph said this pipeline has been a long time coming for Oneida and will be a boon to the region.

“This means so much obviously to Oneida and the people that live and call Oneida home, but to the region as well,” she said. “I’ve had the privilege of sitting on this board for a number of years so being able to see this day come really does mean a lot.”

Two First Nations situated next to Oneida continue to have long term boil-water advisories in place. Chippewas of the Thames First Nation first declared the drinking water unsafe in 2021 impacting 406 homes and 20 community buildings.

Munsee-Delaware Nation first reported problems in 2024, affecting 152 households.

In a statement to CBC News, ISC said it is working on a plan created by Chippewas to address the water problem. It said a bottling station is set up on the reserve while work is being done to fix leaks in the distribution system.

In Munsee, high levels of manganese was detected in the water, and repairs were made to fix it, ISC said. The issue was resolved but ISC said new problems have emerged and repair work is now underway again.

“We are fortunate to have three First Nations as our neighbours and I am aware of the challenges that Oneida and the other First Nations have with clean drinking water. So this is a great milestone day,” said Strathroy-Caradoc Mayor Colin Grantham, also vice-chair of the LHPWSS board.