Drinking Water and Potential Threats to Human Health in Nunavik: Adaptation Strategies under Climate Change Conditions

In Nunavik, chlorine-treated water is delivered daily, by tank truck, to the houses, where it is stored in tanks. A large part of the Inuit population continues to depend on an untreated water supply, however. This traditional activity poses certain risks in a region with an abundant presence of migratory animals. Nunavik has also experienced significant climate warming since the beginning of the last decade. The main goal of this study, which took place in 2003 and 2004, was to evaluate drinking habits that may place Nunavik residents at an increased risk of gastroenteric diseases in the context of climate change. During the Amundsen cruise in fall 2004, we observed that raw water from the collection sites most frequently visited (brooks, lakes, rivers) was of good quality in most of the villages. Regular monitoring of these sites is necessary, however, and the public should be warned when the sites become contaminated. Of particular concern was the water from the individual storage containers, which was much more contaminated than the water at the collection sites. To develop or improve the climate change adaptation strategies in this area, we propose 1) establishing an appropriate environmental monitoring system, 2) improving wastewater disposal and municipal water systems, 3) involving nursing staff in microbiological testing of the water at community sites, 4) raising public awareness of the risks related to raw water consumption, and 5) gathering strategic health information during the periods of the year when cases of gastroenteric diseases are most frequent, in order to establish whether there is a link between these disorders and water quality. /// Au Nunavik, de l'eau traitée par chloration est livrée à domicile tous les jours au moyen d'un camion-citerne, après quoi cette eau est stockée dans des réservoirs. Cependant, une grande partie de la population inuite continue de s'approvisionner en eau non traitée. Cette activité traditionnelle pose certains risques dans une région caractérisée par une abondance d'animaux en migration. Aussi, depuis le début de la dernière décennie, le Nunavik a enregistré un réchauffement climatique considérable. Cette étude, qui s'est déroulée de 2003 à 2004, avait pour but principal d'évaluer les habitudes de consommation d'eau qui sont susceptibles de mettre les habitants du Nunavik davantage à risque de subir des maladies gastro-entériques dans le contexte du changement climatique. Dans le cadre de la croisière de