Ontario citizens are waiting for new drinking water regulations to be announced by the Ministry of Environment. However, regulations are not open to public scrutiny and on their own force citizens to blindly trust their government. A SDWA provides for public involvement, which is key to protecting drinking water and enables the public, as well as government, to foresee problems that lead to Walkerton. Great Lakes United represents more than 150 environmental and health groups in the Basin. They are asking for Premier Mike Harris to enact a SDWA and repair Ontario's damaged reputation with local citizens and American tourists planning to vacation in Ontario cottages and campgrounds.
Bottled water is neither an equitable nor a cheaper solution.
Considering the findings of the latest study on Ontario's drinking water, this is one problem that isn't going to go away. Ministry inspectors found 131 of the 241 water treatment plants tested last month had problems that included faulty chlorination equipment, insufficient water testing and inadequate training for operators. A Safe Drinking Water Act for Ontario may be well worth contemplating. They might look alike but that's where the similarities end. Dave, the dependable pitchman for Lennox Heating doesn't say much, always has a smile on his face and nods a lot.