Council announces aid for septic upgrades
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More than $3.2 million in funding towards a “first wave” of septic system upgrades for Kanehsata’kehró:non was announced by the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake (MCK) on July 23.
The investment by Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) will improve 17 percent of Kanesatake’s septic systems and is part of a long-term project expected to eventually upgrade all the community’s septic tank systems.
Those chosen to receive funding were selected on an “evaluation and prioritization process related to the risks of contamination of the territory’s water sources,” according to an MCK public statement.
This evaluation is based on an inspection and inventory of septic system in Kanesatake by the W8banaki Tribal Council that began last year and will last until 2027. W8banaki representatives mapped and assessed the condition, health, and environmental risks of septic systems in the community.
Upgrading all the septic tank systems in Kanesatake will take an investment of more than $17 million and more than five years, according to the MCK press release.
“In addition to improving the living conditions of the general population, this project will help protect the environment, preserve health and ensure long-term reliability,” reads the release.
“As the project progresses, community members will be contacted directly with information regarding the next steps and the project’s construction schedule. The work in the context of this first wave is expected to be completed by the end of March 2027.”
Hadassah Alencar, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
