Environmental Science & Engineering - www.esemag.com - June 2004
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Source water protection is critical issue for public safety
The Ontario Water Works
Association and the Ontario
Municipal Water Association
(OWWA/OMWA) conference
at Niagara Falls ranged from ‘hands
on’ field operations to learned discourses
on epidemiology and disease
protection. Dr. K. Griffiths, of Tufts
University, provided insights based on
his medical and scientific backgrounds.
He stressed that the main
thing was to “keep the bad stuff away
from source waters” – a statement he
restated several times in his thoughtful
but highly humorous presentation.
He pointed out that disease lurks in
some recreational waters as well as in
drinking water sources. The lethality
of Cryptosporidium, he noted, was not
fully recognized until an outbreak in
Milwaukee killed many people, as well
as making over 400,000 seriously ill.
Watershed protection was of prime importance
yet had been neglected for years.
Dr. Griffiths also stressed the
importance of the multi-barrier
approach for source water protection
and noted that the list of medically
sensitive people was expanding with
diabetes becoming rampant. Not all
people are sensitive to these
pathogens, but monoculture, with its
megafarms and industrialized meat
production in highly concentrated
areas seemed to be a factor in the
growth of certain health problems.
Dr. Griffiths described a Texas river
that was found to be comprised of 50
percent animal urine and feces, but
stressed that these types of problems
were international in scope. “Never
ever stop killing bacteria”, he said.
One hundred years ago ten percent of
all children died before they reached
one year old.
2004 Fuller Award
The Fuller Award recognizes distinguished
service in the water supply
field. This year, the OWWA named
Judy MacDonald, now of Halifax, the
recipient of this prestigious award.
MacDonald is a graduate of the
University of Waterloo, Civil Engineering
and has extensive experience
in the Ontario drinking water industry
with a private consulting firm and at
the municipal, regional and provincial
government levels. She is currently
employed as a program manager with
the Nova Scotia Department of
Environment and Labour.
Norman J. Howard Award
Ian Douglas, Manager of Drinking
Water Quality for the City of Ottawa,
was honoured with the Norman J.
Howard proficiency award for his
leadership and outstanding service to
the drinking water industry.
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