| Comments | In June of 1912, a typhoid epidemic began in Ottawa. Following a serious epidemic in the previous year, recommendations were made to improve the water supply including adding more hypochlorite of lime as a temporary measure, the construction of a new intake pipe as well as the construction of a proper filtration plant. The construction of a new intake pipe was finished and in use by April 13th, 1912. Two weeks later, water tests continued to show water contamination because the old intake pipe (which was in poor condition) was still being used. Relatively little action had taken place and in June, 10 cases of typhoid were reported. A month later, there were over 1,000 cases. The number of infections diminished by the end of September. In total, 1,378 individuals had been infected and 91 died as a result. |