Sault native part of military mission to provide clean water to Iqaluit

Sault native, Corporal (Cpl) Dustin Proulx, was part of a Canadian Armed Forces operation (Op LENTUS) that provided important support in Nunavut.

Proulx is a Medical Technician based at 2 Field Ambulance in Petawawa, Ont.

In October, the City of Iqaluit in Nunavut declared a local state of emergency due to contamination of the municipal drinking water supply and issued a “do not consume” order on tap water.

After the water order was declared, the city began bringing in shipments of potable water by air for Iqaluit residents. Some residents were collecting water from the local river.

The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) was called on to provide Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Units (ROWPU)’s units and operators to the city. 

On Dec. 10, Nunavut’s chief public health officer lifted the do not consume order for Iqaluit’s drinking water. 

That same day the city collected 40,000 litres of Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Unit (ROWPU) purified river water - their final collection. As Canadian Armed Forces water production is no longer required, ROWPU operations ceased on Dec. 11.

The ROWPU produced approximately 307,650 litres of potable water for Iqaluit.

Op LENTUS is the first time Proulx deployed with a Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Unit in a sub-arctic environment.