Comments | Walkerton ON, May 19 - July 14, 2000. E. coli O157:H7 and Campylobacter jejuni bacteria contaminated Walkerton's drinking water supply through Well 5, sickening more than 2,300 people and killing six. The primary contamination source was manure spread on a farm near Well 5. Contributing factors to this disaster, as identified by the Report on the Walkerton Inquiry, included failure to use continuous cholorine and turbidity monitors, improper operating practices at the Walkerton Public Utilities Commission, and the provincial government's budget reductions to the Ministry of Environment. |