Public Notice

Pikangikum First Nation - Short Term Water and Wastewater Upgrades – Public Comments Invited

July 20, 2026 – Indigenous Services Canada must determine whether the proposed Short Term Water and Wastewater Upgrades, located in Pikangikum First Nation is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

To help inform this determination, Indigenous Services Canada is inviting comments from the public respecting that determination. All comments received will be considered public and may be posted online.

Written comments must be submitted by August 21, 2026 to:

MaryJane Moses
100 Anemki Place, Suite 101
Fort William First Nation, Ontario P7J 1A5
873-425-2426
maryjane.moses@sac-isc.gc.ca 
 

The Proposed Project

Pikangikum First Nation requires upgrades and repairs to existing water and wastewater infrastructure with short-term work being conducted in a two-phased approach. The Water Treatment Plant is over 30 years old, in poor condition, and under capacity to meet community demands. Similarily, the Wastewater Treatment System is older and in poor condition.

Phase 1: Immediate upgrades to the Water Treatment Plant will include replacement of existing mechanical and electrical components to ensure the systems remain operational with no increased capacity or improvement to treatment/automation. The Wastewater system needs replacement of existing components to ensure operations and improve the working conditions (i.e., health and safety) for operators. 

Phase 2: Interim upgrades include the design and installation of a new containerized  water treatment system with membrane filtration (10 Litres per second) adjacent to the existing Water Treatment Plant which will be connected to the community's water reservoir and distribution system. The Wastewater system will also have design and installation of a new containerized wastewater treatment system (Moving Bed Biolfilm Reactor) which will receive wastewater from a new sewage pumping station, re-routed forcemain and a new maintenance hole. This work will result in moderate increased capacity with a significant improvement in treatment, redundancy, and automation of both the Water and Wastewater Systems. 

Longer term recommendations include design and construction of new infrastructure and collection systems which is anticipated to take approximately five to seven years following the completion of the phase 1 and 2 works described above.