Environment and Conservation
March 16, 2007

Progress Continues to Ensure Safe Drinking Water

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador remains committed to work hard to ensure clean, safe and secure drinking water for the people of the province, and today released its 2005-06 annual drinking water report entitled, Drinking Water Safety in Newfoundland and Labrador.

"This report describes the many activities and progress made to ensure safe drinking water," said the Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Environment and Conservation. "While the key indicators of drinking water safety continue to improve, there is still work to be done. Drinking water safety is a priority and this government will continue to use our multi-barrier strategic action plan to make improvements to drinking water from public water supplies."

Some highlights from the 2005-06 drinking water report include: the designation of 11 new protected water supply areas; 359 on-site training sessions provided by mobile training units for municipal water and wastewater system operators; approximately 21,000 bacteriological samples collected and analyzed; over 3,000 samples collected and analyzed for various chemical parameters including trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs); and a reduction in the number of boil water advisories.

"While the number of boil water advisories is a concern, it is important to point out that our proactive approach toward advisories has ensured the absence of disease outbreaks in this province," said Minister Jackman. "Reliable access to good quality water is extremely important to the people of this province and government is taking necessary steps to ensure clean, safe drinking water."

The 2005-06 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

- 30 -

Media contact:
Diane Hart
Director of Communications
Department of Environment and Conservation
(709) 729-2575, 685-4401
dianehart@gov.nl.ca

2007 03 16                                                    9:30 a.m.

 


SearchHomeBack to GovernmentContact Us


All material copyright the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. No unauthorized copying or redeployment permitted. The Government assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of any material deployed on an unauthorized server.
Disclaimer/Copyright/Privacy Statement