Dokis First Nation remained under a state of emergency Thursday after the community’s water system was contaminated earlier this week.

Residents of Dokis, a community of nearly 1,000 located near the southern shore of Lake Nipissing, have been without water in their homes since Monday, when a backup generator used to power the town’s reservoir during a power outage leaked diesel fuel into the system.

Bottled water has been handed out daily and additional water has been provided for uses such as flushing toilets, but public buildings including the band office have been closed until further notice.

One member of the community, who contacted the Star to report the situation but asked not to be identified, said day-to-day bathing was becoming a challenge for some residents.

Some have homes or cottages along the lake and can use that water, he said, but others may decide to leave and visit friends or relatives elsewhere.

"It’s three or four days, with no showers or no bath," he said. "There’s no community area to go for showers, so I don’t know what the plan is for that."

Band administration has kept residents informed to an extent, however, by means of a daily flier.

"The paper is in our mailbox every day, telling us what’s going on, but whether they tell us everything, that’s another thing," the community member said.

Health Canada is aware of the situation, a spokesperson told Postmedia Network, and has advised members of the community not to drink the water until the state of emergency has been lifted.

"It is Health Canada’s current understanding that a piece of equipment has malfunctioned inside the Dokis water treatment plant and caused diesel fuel to enter the water reservoir, which is located underneath the water plant," said Maryse Durette, spokesperson for Health Canada.

Health Canada has conducted testing for hydrocarbons throughout the drinking water system and the results are pending.

The Star was unable to reach a representative of the Dokis band council or administration for comment on Thursday. The answering service at the band office said it was closed until further notice. Emails to Chief Denise Restoule and administration were not immediately returned.

Responsibility for shared drinking water on reserves is shared by First Nations, which oversee day-to-day operations, and the federal government, which provides funding for services through Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.

The Star contacted Aboriginal Affairs and was told that a statement will be issued on the Dokis situation, but none was received by the newspaper.

ben.leeson@sunmedia.ca Twitter: @ben_leeson