Water shortage prompts Iqaluit to declare state of emergency

The city of Iqaluit is declaring a state of emergency due to historically low water levels caused by a lack of rain this summer.

The move allows the municipality to begin pumping water from a nearby lake, referred to as Unnamed Lake or Qikiqtalik Lake, to fill the water reservoir in Lake Geraldine ahead of freeze-up.

Amy Elgersma, the city’s chief administrative officer and emergency management co-ordinator, told city council Friday the reservoir needs to make up around 413,000 cubic metres to have enough water for the winter. 

That’s more than double its current amount. 

Lake Geraldine, which supplies the City of Iqaluit, sits above the city near