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 town relies on wells for its water. The contamination followed heavy rains, and came at a time when part of the water treatment system was malfunctioning. There is suspicion that the E. coli came from animal manure in this food-producing region.
The Walkerton story raises a number of questions:
For years, sustainability experts have been calling for society to switch from a react and cure approach to one of anticipate and prevent. 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.
The risk of agricultural wastes getting into drinking water exists in many parts of Canada, and there are already many cases in which contaminants, including animal wastes, pesticide and fertilizer residues have affected water supplies. Many people need to be protected. More than one-quarter of Canadians, including four out of five rural dwellers, rely on ground water, often near areas where animal wastes are present.
Home