Approximately 60 people turned out for a public meeting last night on the contaminated water supply at Champagne, as well as representatives from several agencies.

Lawrence Joe of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations said today test results that were anticipated Monday, and were expected to indicate if the source of radiation in the water was natural or artificial, did not arrive.

Joe said that frankly, there is not a lot that is known at this point about the source of the contamination nor the potential impact on permanent Champagne residents and the large number who frequent the community on the weekends.

'We have a lot of unknown questions, and we are hoping the testing program will provide us with some of those answers in the coming weeks and months,' said the first nations' director of lands, heritage and renewable resources.

The first nations are now installing the infrastructure required for permanent water delivery, Joe pointed out. Residents were advised last week to stop using the water after tests revealed the presence of radiation in the water.

He said while many residents already haul their own water because water from their wells is naturally discoloured with an odour to it, some residents do consume water from their wells, he said.

Joe said residents raised the question last night if there are tests they could undergo to determine if any trace or concentration of the Gross Alpha and Gross Beta radionuclide has built up in their bodies.

Dr. Robert Bousquet, the Yukon's acting medical health officer who attended last night's meeting, told the audience he will do the research to find out what information is available from a medical health point of view, Joe said.

He said there is simply not a lot of information in the Yukon on the subject.

Bousquet explained this afternoon he is not aware of good tests to check for levels of radioactive concentration inside humans, though he's planning to do the research.

The acting medical officer said before he can adequately assess the level of concern that should be attached to the situation, he first needs further test results that he expects Thursday.

Different material emits radiation naturally, he said.

Bousquet said the level of Gross Alpha radionuclides detected in the water at Champagne is just above the safe limits. The safe limit, he said, is extremely conservative, and is based on an individual being able to drink two litres of the slightly contaminated water over 70 years, and still be OK.

But precautions need to be taken until more is known, he said.

'We do not know even if we have a problem,' Bousquet said. 'We have a screening test that was suggestive of a problem, but we have to wait for the actual measurements of the compounds.'

Joe noted that test results so far also indicate the presence of engine coolant and pain thinner.

There's been some suggestion that the source of the contaminants could be an old military dump used during the 1940s construction of the Alaska Highway, or even the landfill down the road that is shared by the residents of Champagne and Mendenhall, he said.

The additional emphasis on water sampling was raised this past summer at the first nations' annual general assembly by those concerned that there was a higher-than-usual number of health problems among community residents.

Water sampling for Champagne-Aishihik became a higher priority after the 2000 Walkerton, Ont. tragedy, though this year's program was the first to test for the presence of radiation.

The well serving the community hall, and seven of 11 household wells tested positive for the radionuclide. Another five wells will be tested this week, he said.

Joe also noted that of 15 soil samples taken from different sites, five tested positive for Gross Alpha and 14 tested positive for Gross Beta.

'Now we know we have to do additional testing to find out what means because we don't know what that means.'

In June 2005, the Yukon government issued a no-use order for the community well at Mendenhall subdivision after traces of uranium came in higher than acceptable standards.

The well remains closed.