Minister releases annual drinking water report

Clyde Jackman, Minister of Environment and Conservation, today released the 2004-05 annual drinking water report entitled, Drinking Water Safety in Newfoundland and Labrador.

"This report describes the many activities that contribute toward ensuring safe drinking water and highlights the progress being made in safeguarding our drinking water," said Minister Jackman. "Drinking water safety is a priority for government and we continue to improve drinking water from public water supplies through the multi-barrier strategic action plan."

Some highlights of the 2004-05 drinking water report include: the designation of 35 new protected water supply areas; enhancement to reporting of water-related data through the web site and use of geographic information system (GIS); continued reduction in the number of boil water advisories; 224 on-site training sessions provided by mobile training units; over 19,000 bacteriological samples collected and analyzed; and almost 2,500 samples collected and analyzed for various chemical parameters including trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs).

"Reliable access to good quality water is extremely important to the people of this province and therefore government remains committed to building on the success of the multi-barrier strategic action plan and to taking necessary steps to ensure and improve drinking water safety," said the minister. "The people of the province can be assured that government will work hard to ensure clean, safe and secure drinking water."

The 2004-05 drinking water report is available on the Department of Environment and Conservation web site at www.gov.nl.ca/Env/env/waterres/Reports/Reports.asp

Media contact: Diane Hart, Communications, (709) 729-2575, 685-4401

2006 08 17                                 9:50 a.m.