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IJC warns of
disease outbreaks unless billions invested in treatment plants
By Grace
Macaluse - Star Staff Reporter
Communities along the Great Laker could face another
Walkerton-like tragedy unless
Canada
and the United States spend billions to upgrade waste water
treatment plants, the International Joint Commission (IJC)
warns.
"Documented outbreaks of gastrointestinal diseases should
serve as a warning that residents of the Great Lakes basin
face serious, largely unacknowledged threats from an everyday
substance we all tend to assume is safe - the water we depend
on for recreation and drinking," the IJC said in its 12
Biennial Report on Great Lakes Water Quality released today.
"While problems occur infrequently, the water borne disease
outbreaks in Milwaukee, Wis., and Walkerton, Ont, make it
clear that the potential for tragedy remains if drinking water
is inadequately treated or challenged by high pollution
loads."
In
1993, an apparent failure in water treatment in Milwaukee,
Wis., caused an estimated 400,000 cases of diarrhoeal disease
and approximately 100 deaths, most caused by the
Cryptosporidium parasite, the report noted.
Less
than a decade later in the town of Walkerton located about
40km from Lake Huron, more than 2,300 people were sickened and
seven died after heavy rains compromised a municipal drinking
water well and water treatment processes failed, leading to an
outbreak or E. coli bacteria.
 "Microbial
disease outbreaks demonstrate the fragility of barriers
designed to protect public health," the report said. "research
suggests these outbreaks are only a fraction of the actually
number of gastrointestinal illnesses caused by microbial
pollution each year."
While
acknowledging a "cascade of error" led to the tragic outcome
in Walkerton, the IJC warned that outbreaks of waterborne
diseases will increase if both countries do not invest in
aging infrastructure.
In
Ontario, a study on the Walkerton inquiry said that improving
the province's delivery system could total at least $1
billion. "The investment costs to shore up the nations' water
treatment facilities are high, but the potential costs of not
doing so are even greater," the IJC stressed.
Despite
Ontario government legislative measures aimed at preventing
another Walkerton, the commission pointed to ongoing threats
to drinking water such as population growth, large scale
livestock farm operations, urban development and climate
change.
"Systems for waste collection and water treatment and
distribution around the Great Lakes are inadequate or in
decline," the report said.
Reverse Osmosis can cure any abnormalities in water by
forcing the water through membranes that capture 99% of
particles and then using Ultraviolet Light treatment to kill
any remaining germs. There are various products from Water
Islands
Reverse Osmosis bottled water using a
Water Cooler, whether you choose 600ml bottles or you can
purchase 5 gallon jugs from authorized dealers to
Reverse Osmosis Water Drinking Systems.
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