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Keeping
You Informed About Water Safety
Keeping
You Informed About Water Safety
During the year, drinking water issues
acquired an unprecedented awareness by the
general public. This was the result of the
Walkerton Outbreak, where E.coli 0157.H7
bacteria were isolated in the town's
municipal water system and an outbreak
caused a large number of human illnesses as
well as 7 deaths. As a result of this
outbreak, Health Unit staff addressed
thousands of concerns received from the
general public in regards to private
drinking water supplies. Water sampling kits
were made available to the general public
for self-testing of their water supply. A
total of 12,952 samples were processed by
the Health Unit and subsequently analyzed by
the Public Health Laboratories in Ottawa and
in Kingston. Homeowners with unsafe water
results were advised on proper procedures to
take to ensure a safe water supply. The
Drinking Water Protection Regulation,
proclaimed in August 2000, established
certain requirements affecting municipal and
large water systems. The Regulation requires
that the Medical Officer of Health of each
health unit be immediately notified of any
adverse water results. Staff did also
actively participated in ground water
protection initiatives in the United
Counties of Leeds, Grenville, as well as
address issues of ground water contamination
in certain municipalities. The Health Unit
has information that is available to the
public on various water related issues.
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A
total of 12,952 samples were processed by
the Health Unit and subsequently analyzed by
the Public Health Laboratories in Ottawa and
in Kingston.
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Leeds,
Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit -
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