Uneven water standards putting some Canadians at risk: report

JORDAN PRESS
Postmedia News

A patchwork system of drinking-water standards across the country has left some Canadians at risk of contracting potentially deadly diseases, according to a new report.

The report from an environmental watchdog gave decent and good grades to several provinces, including top marks to Ontario and Nova Scotia, but reserved its harshest critique for the federal government, which received a failing grade.

The report, which is released every five years, evaluates each province, territory and the federal government’s performance on treatment and testing requirements, drinking-water quality standards, source-water protection, and transparency and accountability.

The federal government received an ‘F’ on the report card, the only failing grade handed out.

Ontario received an ‘A’; Nova Scotia an A-; Manitoba, New Brunswick and B.C. each received a B+; Newfoundland and Labrador received a B; while Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan each received a B-.

At the bottom of the list were Alberta (C-), the Northwest Territories (C), the Yukon (D+) and Nunavut (D).

Vancouver-based Ecojustice says the findings in its third report on drinking-water management in Canada show safety gaps still exist more than a decade after lax water-management standards contributed to the deaths of seven people in Walkerton, Ont.

The report, titled Waterproof 3, says the federal government has done little to improve drinking water conditions. It also cited a reluctance to create rigorous national drinking water standards.

Ecojustice says that government cuts, climate change and unprotected source water are the biggest emerging threats to the country’s drinking water system.