Environment and Conservation
March 25, 2009Drinking Water
Safety Report for 2008 Released
The annual Drinking Water Safety in Newfoundland and
Labrador report for 2008 was released today at the Clean and Safe
Drinking Water Workshop taking place in Gander. The report outlines the
accomplishments and activities for 2007-08 and highlights the province�s
319 designated protected water supply areas, 146 on-site training
sessions provided by the department�s mobile training units, and the
approximately 19,000 bacteriological samples that were collected and
analyzed.
"Drinking water quality continues to be a priority of
our government, and the results of the 2008 Drinking Water Safety report
speak to the positive measures we are implementing and the positive
results we are experiencing," said the Honourable Charlene Johnson,
Minister of Environment and Conservation. "We are the only province to
directly undertake drinking water quality monitoring of all of our
public water supplies, and I am pleased to release a report that
provides the public with comprehensive information about all aspects of
drinking water safety."
During 2007-08, more than 2,400 drinking water samples
(chemical) were collected in the province, and an additional three water
supplies were designated as Protected Public Water Supply Areas. This
designation ensures all activities within the protected areas are
controlled using a permitting process, and high-risk activities that
could impair water quality are restricted. Furthermore, as of April
2008, 91 per cent of the people in Newfoundland and Labrador who use
public water receive it from a protected source.
Minister Johnson said the release of the drinking
water quality report is timely in terms of the recent celebration of
World Water Day. "The release of our report coincides nicely with World
Water Day, which is held annually on March 22, as a means of focusing
attention on the importance of water and advocating for the sustainable
management of freshwater resources," said Minister Johnson. "This report
reflects our sustainable water management efforts in the province and
shows our continued commitment to this valuable resource."
The minister also presented the Operator of the Year
Award and the Volunteer Operator of the Year Award at the workshop and
conference. The recipient of the 2009 Volunteer Operator of the Year
Award is Gerard Lee from the Local Service District (LSD) of Barachois
Brook. Wayne Bennett, the Regional Operator for the towns of St. Paul�s,
Parson�s Pond and Daniel�s Harbour, was presented with the 2009 Operator
of the Year Award.
"Both awards were designed to recognize the
outstanding dedication of the many water systems operators in the
province who provide us with clean and safe drinking water," said
Minister Johnson. "They demonstrate ingenuity, proficiency, dedication,
and professionalism on a daily basis. We received 39 very deserving
nominations and were overwhelmed with the response and the letters of
praise submitted by these communities."
The eighth annual Clean and Safe Drinking Water
Workshop is taking place in Gander from March 24-26. It brings together
operators from every region in Newfoundland and Labrador and provides a
forum for the sharing of best practices and educational sessions on
water systems operations. The theme of this year�s workshop is Rural
Reactions and Remedies.
The Drinking Water Safety in Newfoundland and Labrador
report for 2008 is available at
www.gov.nl.ca/Env/env/waterres/Reports/Reports.asp
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Media contact:
Melony O�Neill
Director of Communications
Department of Environment and Conservation
709-729-2575, 689-0928
moneill@gov.nl.ca
2009 03 25 9:45 a.m.