Water First empowers First Nation communities to solve pressing water problems.
Through training and education, we build critical water skills locally, with a variety of drinking water and environmental water solutions. Our staff and partners bring expertise to northern First Nations in water science, water treatment engineering, water sampling, hydrology, biology, and leave it behind when we’re gone.
1) Water First Internship: Aspiring young water treatment plant operators monitor drinking water quality in their distribution system and at traditional sites on the land. In partnership with professional water treatment plant operators, interns gain skills that are critical to solving boil water advisories in remote communities.
2) Baseline Water Quality Study: Youth and young adults sample water at various sites identified by the community, testing for contaminants that affect drinking water and environmental water quality. The data collected belongs to the First Nation and helps guard against future water quality impacts.
3) Mercury in Fish Study: Water and fish samples are collected from lakes identified by the First Nation and analyzed in labs for water quality and mercury levels. Local fishers catch the fish and are trained in water and fish sampling techniques for analysis. The data is owned by the community and the results are clearly presented to community members.
4) Fish Habitat Restoration: Community members participate in assessment, planning and restoration phases of a fish habitat restoration project, in partnership with experts in biology and hydrology. Elder consultations are key to identifying historically active fish habitat and restoration sites. Local youth receive training to implement the project with expert guidance.
5) Water Science For Schools: Students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 in First Nation schools are engaged with fun, hands-on, curriculum based water science lessons. Activities include water sampling, capturing live specimens for viewing under a microscope, drone flights above watersheds, and community tree plantings.
Contact a Water First program specialist by leaving your contact information below. We’ll be in touch soon to discuss water solutions for your community.