Water Watch
HANDOUT
9
Cut and put in chronological order
A private lab notified the ontario Ministry of the Environment about coliform bacteria in Walkerton water samples in January and again in April.
The lab reported to the ministry, but ministry officials did not pass on the report to the medical officer of health for Walkerton.
The test results sat in the Walkerton PUC offices for 5 days in April.
During this time, hundreds of people fell seriously ill.
The sick people showed the symptoms of E. Coli infection. Symptoms include bloody diarrhea and in some cases kidney failure.
Health officials tried to search for the cause of the E. Coli. E. Coli is one of many strains of coliform bacteria. Not all kinds of coliform bacteria are harmful.
On May 20, the ministry got an anonymous phone call. The caller said that the local water was the source of the deadly infection.
Several people died of the E. Coli infection and many, many people got sick.
People in Walkerton had to stop using the local water and use bottled water instead.