Members of the Little Salmon-Carmacks First Nation area have to boil their water because it's infected with E. Coli.

In a news release issued Tuesday afternoon, the first nation said that due to testing which concluded there may be contamination in many of the wells in the area, it's advising area residents to boil their water before using for it.

'Residents of Little Salmon-Carmacks First Nations living in the main village area have been advised to boil their water before using it for drinking, food preparation, dishwashing or for toothbrushing,' the release stated.

'The concern is based on repeated hits of Total Coliform and E. Coli (which contains fecal matter) in many of the wells that serve residents living in the area,' the statement added.

The release also stated that similar contamination was detected in at least 10 wells, which service 100 people, in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

'Repeated attempts by Little Salmon First Nation staff to clean and disinfect the contaminated wells has not rectified the situation, therefore all residents must boil their water prior to consumption.'

The release also stated a band feasibility study showed that a piped water system is the best way to correct the problem.

However, the first nation's applications to the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund, administered by the Yukon government, and the First Nation Water Management Strategy, administered by the federal government, had been turned down.

This morning, Yukon Community Services spokesman Doug Caldwell said the applications had been deferred rather than rejected. 'It was deferred because what they are proposing is a low flow water system that has not been proven in the North.'

Caldwell also said the first nation's application did not show it was able to make the financial contributions to the project required under the program.

In an interview this morning, Dr. Bryce Larke, the Yukon's medical officer of health, said he is aware of the well problem at Little Salmon-Carmacks but he is still not sure who issued the boil water advisory.

'I'm not sure if this was officially from the band or from a consultant,' he said.

The release has the first nation's name across the top of it.

Yukon health authorities are examining the problem, Larke said, but it's likely not within their mandate to address the problem.

'It's my understanding that the wells in question are on private property ... (so)Yukon Health would not be the authority,' he said.

Larke said he is aware that private wells on Little Salmon-Carmacks land have deficient well heads and were built too close to septic systems, making them susceptible to contamination.

To his knowledge, Larke added, two community wells, subject to Yukon government authority, are working properly and are not subject to contamination.

Larke said if the wells are indeed contaminated, then the boil water advisory, issued either by the first nation or its consultant, was the right decision to make.

Larke agreed a piped water system is the best solution to correct the problem.

Little Salmon-Carmacks First Nations officials, their consultant, and federal authorities could not be reached for comment this morning or early this afternoon.