Health officials in Igloolik, Nunavut, issued an urgent boil water advisory on January 9, 2026, after bacteria were detected in the local water supply. The warning affects several critical sites, including the Igloolik Health Centre, the Tuktujuaq community complex, the hamlet office, and 26 private residences. The advisory was triggered by a water sample reported to have come from the Kendall Inlet area that tested positive for total coliform bacteria.
The Government of Nunavut Department of Health is telling residents in the affected areas to boil their water before using it for drinking, cooking, or brushing teeth. As the Department’s standard public-health guidance states: “All water for consumption must be brought to a rolling boil for a minimum of one full minute.” It is also necessary to boil water used for cleaning baby feeding equipment, such as bottles or spoons. People who are considered vulnerable, such as infants or older adults, are advised to use bottled water until the advisory is lifted.
This latest water issue follows a similar situation in late 2024 when the community was under a boil-water advisory for nearly five months. While the Government of Nunavut recently announced $2 million for design and technical upgrades to water treatment facilities (announced late 2025), the local trucked-water system continues to face operational challenges. Information from the IMIQ Drinking Water Database shows that Igloolik relies on a trucked-water system that draws from local reservoirs and lakes.
The Hamlet of Igloolik is working with the territorial government to test the water and coordinate a response. Officials said updates will be issued when further information is available. The advisory will remain in effect until the water returns two consecutive clean samples (two consecutive safety tests), at which point authorities will lift the notice and inform residents.
