Great Lakes cities face 'potential for tragedy': Outbreaks of waterborne diseases will increase without investment in infrastructure: agency

September 13, 2004
The Standard (St. Catharines - Niagara)
A1 / Front
Grace Macaluso

WINDSOR - The International Joint Commission was cited as warning in its 12th Biennial Report on Great Lakes Water Quality released today that Canadian communities along the Great Lakes could face another Walkerton-like tragedy unless Canada and the United States spend billions to upgrade wastewater treatment plants, warns, adding, "While problems occur infrequently, the waterborne 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. ... Microbial disease outbreaks demonstrate the fragility of barriers designed to protect public health. Research suggests these outbreaks are only a fraction of the actual number of gastrointestinal illnesses caused by microbial pollution each year."

While acknowledging that a "cascade of errors" 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.