DIHE WATERLINE CONNECTIONS UPDATE

The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne’s Department of Infrastructure, Housing & Environment (DIHE) is pleased to provide an update on the ongoing community waterline connection projects.

With the continued support of Council, funding has been approved to move forward with residential water service connections for those currently on the waiting list. This list includes:

• Community members who previously declined connections from the original watermain project but now would like to be connected; and
• Households experiencing poor water quality from individual wells, confirmed by the MCA Department of Health. 

Construction began in early September and is actively underway. To date, DIHE has successfully completed four residential home connections. Additionally, one long-line connection is in the final stages of preparation and is expected to be issued for tender by the end of next week.

As we move through the waiting list, each request is carefully reviewed to ensure all required documentation is properly completed and submitted.

For those community members who are planning to build in the near future, this project does not cover new construction water service connections. You are encouraged to begin the connection process by completing the following steps:

1. Request new street address from DIHE for the property, for use in lot location and hydro connections.
2. Submit a completed waterline connection form with all required signatures.
3. For existing homes: agreeing to decommission private wells.
4. Confirm property ownership (PC holder).
5. Review and resolve any easement issues (e.g., if the line crosses another property, all landowners must provide consent).

Once the waterline connection is ready, DIHE will provide service from the main waterline to the property line, including the internal connection valving. From that point onward, it becomes the homeowner’s responsibility to hire a qualified contractor and cover the cost of installation from the curb stop to their residence.

For community members who may feel uncertain about working with contractors, DIHE can assist by providing a list of approved contractors who have successfully completed similar work in the past. This support is intended to help ensure that all connections are completed safely, efficiently, and in compliance with local standards.

DIHE remains committed to expanding access to safe, reliable water service for our community. We look forward to continuing this important work and supporting more families in securing clean water.