Information from Past Booklets:

DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR WATER COMES FROM?

Where Does Garden River’s Water Come From?

Water is an essential part of life, but you may have never thought about where your water comes from.

Our water is drawn from two wells using large water pumps. The wells are located behind the Water Department building (beside Anishinabek Credit Union). One well is 550 feet deep and the other is 600 feet deep. They were dug in the 1950’s.

Why this location?

Ecological tests were completed by the government to find a large source of groundwater called an aquifer. An aquifer is an underground layer of water- bearing permeable rock (such as gravel, silt, sand or clay) from which groundwater can be extracted using a well. Garden River, Rankin, and Sault Ste. Marie draw water from the same aquifer, so it is quite large. The best place for Garden River to tap into the aquifer was located where the wells now stand.

How does water get to my taps?

First, the water is drawn from the wells using large pumps. Then, it is sent through a monitoring system at the Water Department building where it is treated with chlorine (a disinfectant), and tested regularly by workers, according to provincial and federal standards. It is then sent through pipes to the rest of the reserve.
Everything from chemicals in garbage at the landfill to cleaning products we use in our homes eventually gets washed into our groundwater and therefore, into the water we drink. This is one of the many reasons why this community should live “green” by developing a lasting recycling program, use natural cleaners, and keep hazardous materials out of the landfill

Bottled Water:

Media has made us think that bottled water is safer than tap water. A study by the Natural Resources Defence Council (NRDC) found plenty of bacteria and chemicals in bottled water. Yet there are currently no regulations in place for bottled water. Although there are no regulations on bottled water there are many safety regulations on tap water. If chlorine taste is a problem at your taps, purchase a Brita tap or jug filter. Using Brita filters will also reduce the amount of plastic water bottles that go into the landfill or have to be recycled. Over time, plastic breaks down and releases toxic chemicals into the water bottle. Don’t reuse plastic bottles made for single use. They are breeding grounds for bacteria and will also start to break down quickly, releasing chemicals. If your bottled water smells like plastic, do not drink it When using a reusable water bottle, purchase stainless steel. This will protect your water from leaking chemicals, and the bottle will last a lifetime.

The Effects of the Garden River First Nation Landfill Site on Air, Soil, and  Groundwater Quality

The Garden River First Nation landfill poses a great threat to local water, air, and soil quality, and therefore our health.
The operation of this facility does not meet regulatory standards as directed by the CEPA (Canadian Environmental Protection Act), OWRA (Ontario Water Resources Act), and Ministry of the Environment.

By the year 2000, there was enough scientific evidence to conclude that burning household garbage was a significant contributor to the North American emissions of dioxin, a potent endocrine (hormone) disruptor, and a cause of cancer.

We need to improve how we use our landfill  to have a safer and cleaner community

  Do you want your kids swimming in nearby rivers where runoff from the landfill is entering it everyday? Harmful runoff including acid from thrown away batteries, and toxic chemicals from burnt plastics are entering our waterways everyday from our own landfill.

Some ways that we can achieve this would be to establish a more liable waste management facility and create a recycling program.

  Health Canada had completed an inspection in 2009 of our landfill site and indicated to Chief and Council that they attend to the recommendations listed.  Here are some of the recommendations made by Health Canada (2009):
- Hazardous waste disposal should be prohibited at this site – a sign should be posted to inform the public.
- More frequent soil cover and compaction should be provided over refuse.
- Signage should be provided to indicate disposal areas and segregated waste (e.g., appliances, metals, tins, etc.)
- Signage should be posted to prohibit burning of refuse.  Burning refuse creates toxic emissions and also attracts wildlife, such as bears.
- Litter control should be improved.  Litter blown off-site should be cleaned up.
- The pile of tires should be removed by a recycling company.
- Consideration should be given to site fencing, gates, and providing a daily site operator during hours of operation.


   It is our goal as the green plan, to inform the community of the detrimental effects of our landfill
site and how we, as a community, can create a constructive waste management plan that will allow us to make a positive ecological footprint across Canada.