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	Walkerton - Five Years After - Drinking Water and Health Newsletter
		In their recently concluded trial, Walkerton utilities manager Stan Koebel and his brother Frank pleaded guilty to a charge of "common nuisance" for failing to monitor and treat the town's water supply properly.
		Walkerton is almost entirely dependent on groundwater for its domestic water supply and, beginning in 1949, deep wells were constructed for municipal service.
		It was found that Walkerton's municipal budget was providing inadequate funds for public utility oversight and unduly limiting proactive oversight measure, which may have either mitigated or altogether avoided the outbreak.
	www.waterandhealth.org /drinkingwater/fiveyears.html (1024 words)

	Walkerton-5 Years Later: Tragedy Could Have Been Prevented (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-09-17)
		Walkerton, a town of 5,000 people in southwestern Ontario, Canada's richest province, is a pleasant and comfortable community like many other towns in this rural region.
		However, the official inquiry into the events leading to the tragedy showed that if the system had been monitored properly and the operators had responded effectively to the signs of trouble, the severe outbreak would have been prevented or substantially reduced.
		Although the plea bargain agreement presents the Walkerton tragedy as something that no person, no matter how competent, could have prevented after rainwater washed manure into Well 5, water professionals must recognize that this characterization is wrong.
	www.awwa.org /Science/operators/story/OpflowStory.cfm (1173 words)

	Walkerton, Ontario - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
		Walkerton is a town and is the county seat of Bruce County, Ontario.
		It is located on the Saugeen River and is 75 km southwest of Owen Sound.
		For the incident of the water contamination in 2000 and seven resultant deaths, see the article: Walkerton Tragedy.
	en.wikipedia.org /wiki/Walkerton,_Ontario (126 words)

	Walkerton Outbreak
		As is the case in all instances of privatization of public services and utilities, regulation and accountability were drastically and dangerously reduced as staffing levels dropped and regulations were ignored.
		The people of Walkerton know differently and are placing the blame solely on the Tories angrily heckling and demanding answers from the premier when he visited their town.
		The Walkerton tragedy is not the result of bacteria run amok nor is it the result of "human error." It is the tragic but inevitable consequence of the deadly life-destroying policies of right wing politicians determined to carry out the political agenda demanded by big business.
	www.angelfire.com /sc3/walkertonoutbreak/preventable.html (434 words)

	Environmental Studies at York researches Psychosocial Impacts of Walkerton Tragedy
		"My perspective on the Walkerton tragedy is to look at the incubation period of the disaster, how multiple developments accumulate unnoticed over time, and how these developments interact to ultimately lead to the disaster," said Prof.
		He said the Walkerton study is quite complex and more and more critical things are being revealed as the inquiry unfolds.
		The bacteria is a result of mutational changes induced by a changed environment, such as the onset of acid rain or factory farming conditions that allow the bacteria to spread much more quickly from animal to animal than in the past.
	www.yorku.ca /fes/fesnews/ali_walkerton.asp (521 words)

	CELA Newsletter Article : CELA Represents Concerned Walkerton Citizens at Inquiry (Vol 25. No 3 & 4 July-December ...
		CELA represents the Concerned Walkerton Citizens, (CWC) a group of over 500 members, which was formed in the community shortly after the Walkerton tragedy arose.
		Their concern is to both discover the contributing factors and root causes of the tragedy that their community continues to endure, as well as to ensure that no such tragedy is ever repeated in the Walkerton community or anywhere else in Ontario.
		However, the importance of this kind of assistance for the residents of Walkerton cannot be under-stated, because a huge issue for them is the issue of trust in what the "authorities" and "experts" have to say.
	www.cela.ca /newsletter/detail_art.shtml?x=1352 (971 words)

	Criminal charges expected over Walkerton tragedy
		A Walkerton resident said yesterday that much of the blame for the tragedy extends far beyond the Koebel brothers.
		He said the tragedy was also the result of a provincial government “far more preoccupied with cutting red tape and saving money” than it was with public safety and human health.
		Some witnesses told the inquiry that the Walkerton system was overwhelmed by bacterial contamination caused by flooding and that nothing the Koebels could have done would have prevented the tragedy.
	foi.missouri.edu /internatfoinews/criminalchgs.html (564 words)

	Wake up to Wetlands and Water! \| Ducks Unlimited Canada
		IWWR presenting report to the Walkerton Inquiry on the importance of wetlands to aquatic ecosystem management and the supply of high quality water.
		One such opportunity is Canada's water quality issue, which was brought to the forefront by the Walkerton, Ont. tragedy that claimed the lives of seven people this past summer after deadly bacteria was allowed to enter into the rural community's water supply.
		In response to this tragedy, the government of Ontario is staging a public inquiry to review the circumstances surrounding the water contamination and to provide recommendations to prevent the occurrence of such an event in the future.
	www.ducks.ca /resource/general/wetland/walkerton/walkrton.html (406 words)

	The Walkerton tragedy and Ontario's water crisis-some political lessons
		The contamination of the water supply in the town of Walkerton was the greatest crisis for the Harris Tory government since the teachers' strike of the fall of 1997.
		That the tragedy in Walkerton was the direct consequence of government actions over the last several years, was in fact a crisis waiting to happen, reaffirmed many in their opposition to the Tories' right-wing, “free market” agenda.
		Behind these statements are concerns in ruling class circles that the Walkerton tragedy and the palpable failure of deregulation and privatization of water testing will fan opposition not just to the Ontario Tories—who have spearheaded the political and ideological offensive of big business—but feed anti-corporate and anti-capitalist sentiments as well.
	www.wsws.org /articles/2000/nov2000/walk-n04.shtml (2123 words)

	Walkerton -- Killed by privatization (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-09-17)
		Four adults and one child have died, nine people are in hospital in serious condition after their kidneys shut down, and thousands of people face serious health problems because of the contaminated water.
		The cutback and privatization agenda of the Harris government is behind the Walkerton tragedy.
		The best response to the tragedy at Walkerton is to make that demo as large and angry as possible.
	www.web.net /sworker/En/SW2000/333-01-Walkerton.html (513 words)

	John McCrae - Grassroots - Using Technology for Better Water Use - Page 3 (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-09-17)
		In May 2000, a deadly amount of E. coli bacteria contaminated the water system in Walkerton, Ont. A testing lab informed the Public Utilities Commission of the contamination, but mysteriously,the PUC (Public Utilities Commission) restrained the information from both the public and the government for five days.
		This puts Walkerton citizens minds at ease.This is the first and most important step taken to prevent another water tragedy like in Walkerton.
		Many citizens of Walkerton showed concern for the E.coli incident.The Walkerton water tragedy cost at least $64.5-million and an estimated $155-million, if human suffering was factored in.
	schools.tdsb.on.ca /johnmccrae/6/Page3.htm (398 words)

	CBC News Indepth: Walkerton
		Instead, Walkerton began the transition into the town "where those kids died from E. coli." It's not what anyone wanted, but it was the end result.
		Murray McQuigge stunned the country with his revelation on CBC Radio on May 25, 2000 that the Walkerton Public Utilities Commission knew there was a problem with the water several days before they told the public.
		When the local medical officer of health, Dr. Murray McQuigge, revealed that Walkerton had a problem with its water, he said the PUC knew the water supply was contaminated days before the public was informed.
	www.cbc.ca /news/background/walkerton (841 words)

	Diary of a Tragedy
		What is now known as the one of the worse water tragedies ever seen in Canada began in early May of 2000.
		Coli bacteria seeped into town of Walkerton's well system causing 2, 300 residents to grow extremely ill and eventually killing seven people within a space of a few weeks.
		While he was recovering in the ICU of a London hospital, the lack of information available to the general public created rumors that Walkerton residents were being rejected by towns in the surrounding area for fear that the epidemic would spread.
	www.angelfire.com /poetry/journalistkendra/walkerton.html (1501 words)

	2003-04-01 The Walkerton tragedy: a medical student perspective
		The Walkerton tragedy not only brings to attention the relationship between human health and global issues, such as food production and global warming, but it also alludes to burgeoning problems in the future.
		The Walkerton tragedy is not only about detection and treatment of contaminants in water, it is about the delicate and dynamic balance between humanity and our ecosystem.
		The Walkerton tragedy is about our misplaced values, our obsession with consumption and profit, and the inability to recognize the future consequences of our actions.
	www.oma.org /pcomm/omr/apr/03std.htm (1315 words)

	Walkerton Tragedy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
		The Walkerton Tragedy is a series of events that accompanied the contamination of the water supply of Walkerton, Ontario by E.
		The water supply for the town of Walkerton was operated by the Walkerton Public Utilities Commission, with Stan Koebel as supervisor.
		For years, the Walkerton Public Utilities Commission operators engaged in a host of improper operating practices, including failing to use adequate doses of chlorine, failing to monitor chlorine residuals daily, making false entries about residuals in daily operating records, and misstating the locations at which microbiological samples were taken.
	en.wikipedia.org /wiki/Walkerton_Tragedy (483 words)

	E. coli Tragedy in Walkerton,Ontario
		A Walkerton resident has retained a lawyer for a class action suit against local government, a government health agency, and the province of Ontario.
		The E. coli DNA taken from Walkerton's victims could be fingerprinted, and traced back to determine which local livestock operation carries identical bacteria.
		Unless lawyers choose to identify and go after the livestock facility responsible for the Walkerton tragedy, intensive livestock operations all across North America will be given the message that it's OK to continue business as usual.
	www.vegan.com /issues/2000/jun00/walkerton.htm (983 words)

	Responsibility for the Walkerton Tragedy: ... by Jhon McMurtry
		Now you’re seeing it with Walkerton whose people are sick and dying because their water has been poisoned by Harrisite policies.
		This time, however, there are facts that clearly show the connection between the Walkerton tragedy, and this government’s systematic violation of its responsibilities.
		For example, in 19% the Provincial Auditor, Eric Peters, formally specified that there must be 30 additional water treatment plants to sustain the province’s water-delivery infrastructure in an area containing 70% of the province’s population.
	www.ualberta.ca /~parkland/post/OldPost/Vol4_No3/WalkertonMcMurtry.html (772 words)

	John McCrae - Grassroots - Using Technology for Better Water Use - Page 4 (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-09-17)
		The unfortunate reality is that the problems that are in Walkerton are not unusual to that small town.
		With the huge majority of people that claims for serious illness or death still to come, total payouts could easily go beyond $60 million, with the province responsible for all except the first $17 million, which is covered by various insurance companies.
		This image represents the wells located in Walkerton and the flows, rainfall and the frequency throughout a two year time span.
	schools.tdsb.on.ca /johnmccrae/6/Page4.htm (435 words)

	Environment Probe Campaigns - The Walkerton Tragedy (2000)
		Ontario's systems are in such disrepair that, following the Walkerton tragedy, officials issued 47 boil orders to protect consumers from bacterial contamination.
		We will also be participating in the Walkerton Inquiry, which has been established not only to determine what went wrong in that community but also to help shape broader drinking water policies.
		With your support, we can help ensure that the tragedy in Walkerton is never repeated anywhere in Canada.
	www.environmentprobe.org /enviroprobe/campaign/ev2000_2.html (735 words)

	American Water Works Association (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-09-17)
		Many of the 93 recommendations in Part II of the Walkerton Inquiry were suggested by the committee.
		Each Walkerton household in the town of 5,000 spent about $4,000, on average, as a result of the contamination, for a total of $6.9 million
		Walkerton real estate values fell a total of $1.1 million as a result of the contaminated water supply
	www.awwa.org /communications/mainstream/2003/apr/Lead03_OntSection.cfm (772 words)

	Walkerton residents unsatisfied with charges in water tragedy
		Charges against the two brothers in charge of the water supply in Walkerton have sparked anger and brought back bad memories in the Ontario town.
		Davidson said some people in Walkerton are still suffering the effects of E. coli contamination from three years ago, such as problems with kidney function.
		During the inquiry into the Walkerton tragedy, the Koebels admitted they had habitually falsified water test results and faked daily log entries.
	www.cbc.ca /news/story/2003/04/24/walkerton_rxn030424.html (1216 words)

	Issues: Environment
		In August, four new cases of E. coli emerged, yet Walkerton residents were not informed about them until the cases were reported in the press.
		While the Ontario government finds money to pay $2 000 per day for a public relations consultant to help spin the Walkerton tragedy, the residents of Walkerton are left footing the bill for the costs of clean-up.
		Instead, the government has offered a loan to the municipality that would pay only about three months worth of bills, and is leaving the Walkerton residents with the task of fighting the insurance company.
	members.tripod.com /windsor_a2k/environment.html (559 words)

	Sustainability News (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-09-17)
		The tragedy of people in Walkerton dying from E. coli contamination is a sharp reminder of the risks of not living in a way that is environmentally, economically and socially sustainable.
		The cause of the contamination of the town's drinking water system is still under investigation, but local medical officials say that a deadly strain of an intestinal bug got into the water in the first part of May.
		The Walkerton case points out the sometimes deadly risks of failing to protect our water, and of waiting to detect problems that must be cleaned up afterwards, at a high cost in money, health and confidence in our governments.
	www.sustreport.org /news/walkerton.html (298 words)

	Mike Harris finally apolgogizes for Walkerton water tragedy
		Walkerton - Premier Mike Harris has finally apologized following the release of the official report of the Walkerton poison water tragedy, which blames privatization excesses by his Tory government as one of the main causes.
		Government cutbacks at the province's environment ministry undermined the province's ability to deal with problems at Walkerton's water utility.
		Release of the findings finally prodded the premier to apologize when the report was formally released in Walkerton.
	www.nupge.ca /news_2002/news_ja02/n18ja02e.htm (335 words)

	June 2000 editorial: The Walkerton tragedy is no longer an isolated problem
		In addition to the heartbreaking tragedy of children and the elderly being stricken, there are other factors which must be added to the pain, suffering and medical costs.
		A small, but prosperous town was virtually brought to a social and economic standstill by a tiny bacterium about two microns in size, while ironically, the biggest new growth industry in town was the news media.
		Walkerton is not alone in its water problems.
	www.esemag.com /0600/editorial.html (1433 words)

	Why won’t the McGuinty Government Proclaim the Sustainable Water and Sewage System Act?
		Impossible to imagine how loved ones of Walkerton victims must have felt about the results of so many studies whose conclusions were always the same.
		During the six years since the Walkerton tragedy, the McGuinty government--on the public record with promises to implement Justice O’Connor’s seven core recommendations--has been dragging its heels.
		This is the same government that in opposition were adamant in their condemnation of Premier Mike Harris and his government’s handling of Walkerton; the same government that had to be pushed to take action on safe drinking water when elected to public office.
	www.canadafreepress.com /2006/cover120506a.htm (673 words)

	Slash and burn policies of Harris government to blame in Walkerton tragedy
		That was the conclusion of a special inquiry set up to look into the tragedy that claimed the lives of seven people in Walkerton, Ontario during the summer of 2000.
		Last month, the citizens of Walkerton finally learned more about the causes of the disaster when Justice Dennis O’Connor handed down his final report.
		Up to 400 illnesses would have been prevented if Walkerton’s water manager, Stan Koebel, had promptly notified authorities that the water was contaminated.
	www3.telus.net /public/afl/LabourNews/feb02-19.html (325 words)

	E. Coli outbreak in Walkerton, Ontario - Healthwatcher.net - Protecting the public when the government fails to take ...
		The saga of Walkerton will hopefully be permanently engrained in the memories of all Canadians long after the lawyers and police investigations are completed.
		It should be remembered not just as a great human tragedy, but as a turning point in the battle to protect the public from harm due to a myriad of mistakes, some of them human perhaps.
		Unfortunately the citizens of Walkerton and your listeners are not aware of that fact.
	www.healthwatcher.net /Quackerywatch/Outbreak (2793 words)

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