Band-aid repairs to the sewage treatment facility at Kettle and Stony Point First Nation aren't cutting it anymore.
Chief Kimberly Bressette told Sarnia News Today the facility has two rotating biological contractor (RBC) systems. She said one had been out of service for a while, and the other has been doing all of the work to service the community's capacity on its own.
"We've had an application in to Indigenous Services Canada for close to two years for the funding for a new system," said Bressette. "Recently, [the current equipment] is failing more often."
The infrastructure concerns prompted a state of emergency, which will elevate the need for a new system and allow the First Nation to access additional resources and support while awaiting the project's approval.
"It's a very emergent situation and it can be an environmental catastrophe if the system does fail," Chief Bressette said. "We might have to ship the waste out of the community a few times a day, or possibly [call for] an evacuation. We're just trying to work out what that looks like right now, to be proactive in the event that something does happen while we're waiting."
Chief Bressette said they've already received a response from the federal government.
"They have reached out. Indigenous Services Canada, the emergency management team has reached out, to put in place any supports. So, we're being very proactive in that way. They're going to provide the support for any emergency plans that we put together, just incase there is a failure of the system," she said.
It's not known how long the declaration, which applies to anyone who uses their sewage system, will be in effect.
While waiting for a new system, Chief Bressette said the RBC replacement to repair the current infrastructure -- which took eight months to manufacture -- is expected to arrive within the next two weeks.
"This repair/replacement project is expected to take two to three months to complete as there are many electrical and mechanical components that require repairs and replacement in tandem for the new RBC to be fully operational in our sewage treatment facility," she said.
Chief Bressette is asking community members not to flush wipes -- baby wipes, cleaning wipes, flushable wipes, paper towels or feminine products -- down the toilet.
"No wipes actually dissolve, and they are a current serious stress to our sewage treatment facility," said Bressette.
She said drinking water is not impacted.