2002-03 Drinking Water Safety report released

Tom Osborne, Minister of Environment and Conservation, today released the 2002-03 Drinking Water Safety report. The annual report outlines activities during the 2002-03 fiscal year under the Multi-Barrier Strategic Action Plan for drinking water safety in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Minister Osborne said ensuring drinking water safety for the people of the province is a priority for government. "The people of Newfoundland and Labrador deserve safe and good quality drinking water. Government will build on efforts made to date to provide high-quality drinking water from all public water supplies in the province."

The minister said government will continue to implement the Multi-Barrier Strategic Action Plan which focuses on protecting the province's drinking water on a variety of levels. "This action plan involves four government departments working together to ensure that adequate safeguards are in place at each stage of the public water supply system to help minimize the chance of pathogens and other contaminants entering our water systems."

Minister Osborne also reminded water providers to be pro-active about drinking water safety, including participating in community- based operator education and training programs. "The delivery of operator education and training programs has been successful to date, and government will continue to provide a program to municipal officials and operators of water supply systems," said the minister. "We must work together and all do our part in the multi-barrier approach to ensuring clean and safe drinking water. "

The minister added that results from drinking water quality monitoring and testing will continue to be made available to the public in a timely manner. The 2002-03 Drinking Water Safety report is available on the Department of Environment and Conservation's web site at: www.gov.nl.ca/env/Env/waterres/Surfacewater/DWS-Report/2003/Report.asp

More general information on water resources and direct links to water quality data can be found at: www.gov.nl.ca/env/Env/water_resources.asp

Media contact: Sonia B. Glover, Communications, (709) 729-2575.

2004 03 01                                        12:10 p.m.