Pond Inlet declares state of emergency over water, sewage crisis

The Hamlet of Pond Inlet has declared a state of emergency because of a lack of water and sewage services.

Hamlet officials say there is only one small sewage truck on the road as the other two have broken down.

Also, the generator that pumps the hamlet's drinking water from a lake is not working, although they hope to repair it later today.

The hamlet is now manually filling water trucks and ensuring chlorination. It is asking people to conserve water. 

Tununiq MLA Joe Enook says this is a serious and urgent situation.

"We have spilled sewage all over the community in different spots," he said.

"We decided that one immediate solution that can be looked after right now, right here, is to try and get two sewage trucks into our community and then we can start to deal with the other mess that is spilled sewage." 

Enook says if this situation was happening in a southern municipality it would be dealt with right away.

He is calling on the territorial and federal governments to take quick action.