ctions, Salmonella, hepatitis and, of course, the potentially deadly consequences of the strain E. coli 0157:H7. More recently, low doses of UV have proven to be equally effective against protozoan organisms, such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium, which are resistant to chlorine treatment.
JoAnn Todd also received a crash course in UV as a result of the Walkerton crisis. JoAnn is managing director of Maple Court Villa, a 56-unit retirement residence. She heard rumors of a problem with the water on the Friday before the boil-water advisory came down. She even called the utility commission and was told the water was safe. Next, she advised the health unit that three residents were ill with nausea and diarrhea. "Many of our elderly residents have fragile immune systems," she explains. "More than half of our residents became ill, two of whom later died." When the boil advisory was issued, her kitchen staff had to throw out all the foods and juices they had prepared with the contaminated water, then start boiling water to replace the stocks. Notices to stop using the water were posted in residents rooms and bathrooms, and extra staff put on to deliver safe water to residents."
Before the week was out, JoAnn received a message from Rod Black, a representative from the same UV manufacturer that supplies Reed. His company was ready to donate a UV system, almost $10,000 worth of equipment to supply Maple Court with safe water. JoAnn, unfamiliar with UV, was skeptical at first, but after meeting with Rod and learning what UV could do, she was pleased and surprised by the gift. Just two weeks after the outbreak, Maple Court had its own water disinfection system. But again, authorities weren't prepared to permit use of any unfamiliar technology. In spite of the new system, JoAnn's kitchen staff was under orders to continue boiling water from May to December 2000.
Returning to 'peace of mind'
Bernie reports that, in 2000, his UV system sales rose 10-fold over any other year. "Usually we just sell UV to farms drawing their own water. But this fall, people in town started buying. The more we learn about our water, the more we realize how difficult it is to keep the water safe; there are so many factors involved and not all of them are in our control. The aquifer we draw Walkerton's water from has never even been mapped -- contamination could come from anywhere! Most people trust that the problem is solved, but for some, the UV system provides some extra peace of mind."
In the wake of the Walkerton crisis, Ontario investigated water treatment practices at every municipality in the province. Nearly half were ordered to take some form of corrective action. Meanwhile, Bernie has seen a burgeoning range of new water treatment ideas offered to his business. He said, "Some of these are, you know, pretty dubious. But I just ask, 'Where's the scientific evidence?' At least with UV, when my supplier tells me what a system can do, they have the data to back up their claims."
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