Background On May 23–24, 2000, close to 660 people in

Walkerton, Ontario, had ailments such as bloodydiarrhea, vomiting, severe stomach cramps and fever(Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound Health Unit, 2000).

It was discovered that the drinking water Well, bythe cattle manure, contained the deadly E. ColiO157:H7 bacterial strain.

Timeline of Events Walkerton was served by three Wells in May of

2000, identified as Wells 5, 6 and 7

Stan and Frank Koebel were the general managerand foreman of the Walkerton Public UtilitiesCommission, respectively.

During Stan’s absence from May 5 to May 14, he leftinstructions with Frank to replace a non-functioningchlorinator on Well 7.

Timeline of Events cont’d On May 15, Stan returned and turned on Well 7, presumably

believing that his instruction was carried out by Frank.

When Stan realized that the non-functioning chlorinator onWell 7 had not been replaced, he continued to allow Well 7 topump into the Walkerton system, until Saturday, May 20.

Unfortunately, during that time, Well 5 was shut off on May15, making the unchlorinated Well 7 supply the only source ofwater for Walkerton during the week of May 15.

Environmental Health and Effects

Over 2,300 people became illand 7 died as a result of theEscherichia Coli bacterialinfection. (BruceGrey-OwenSound Health Unit, 2000).

Vulnerable groups of the E.Coli O157:H7 were childrenand elderly.

Risk Assessment The Inquiry Commission found that a number of

Ministry of Environment programs and regulatedpolicies were deficient (Walkerton Inquiry, 2002, p.4).

The Commission found that the Ministry did notfollow procedures for the chlorination and monitoringof drinking water.

Risk Management The assistance of major hospitals in London and

Toronto were requested in treating Walkertonresidents.

The assistance of Health Canada in conducting anepidemiological investigation.

The Ontario government announces it will spend $25million on safe drinking water and clean air in theprovincial budget.

Risk Communication Hospitals were told to boil the water before usage and

to discard any food prepared or washed withWalkerton tap water.

The Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound Health Unit advisedresidents to boil their drinking water or use bottledwater until further notice.

Jamaica’s Agencies and Policies Responsible for Regulating Water

Pollution National Environment and

Planning Agency (NEPA)

National Water Commission(NWC)

Ministry of Health (MOF)

Water Resources Act (1995)

National Irrigation Corporation

Water Resources Policy

Office of DisasterPreparedness and EmergencyManagement (ODPEM)

Natural Resources ConservationAuthority (NRCA)

ReferencesBruce-Grey-Owen Sound Health Unit (2000). The Investigative Report of the

Walkerton Outbreak of Waterborne Gastroenteritis, May–June, 2000. (ReleasedOctober 10, 2000 during public meeting, Walkerton, ON.)

Hrudey, S. (2006). Googlecom. Retrieved 19 June, 2016, fromhttp://www.aeespfoundation.org/sites/default/files/pdf/AEESP_CS_1.pdfIn-text citation: (Hrudey, 2006)

Walkerton Inquiry (2002). Brief of part one report of the Walkerton inquiry.http://walkertoninquiry.com/ The Walkerton Inquiry, Dennis R. O’Connor,Commissioner.

Iwlearnnet. (2001). Iwlearnnet. Retrieved 22 June, 2016, from http://iwlearn.net/iw-projects/1254/reports/jamaica-national-report.pdf

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