News Release                            For Immediate Release

                                                                                                                     August 12, 2009

Ground Water Monitoring Wells Test Higher Than Normal For Nitrate

The Grey Bruce Health Unit received notice from the Provincial Ground Monitoring Network (PGMN) that water samples taken from a monitoring well in the vicinity of Walkerton (Brant Township, Lot 1, Concession 1) returned test results higher than normal for levels of Nitrate in the ground water aquifer. These Nitrate concentrations are slightly above the accepted parameters identified in the Ontario Drinking Water Standards.

The PGMN wells are not for drinking water use but for monitoring purposes only. Municipal water systems, governed under the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002, are not part of this program.

The PGMN informs the local health unit whenever samples from monitoring wells exceed parameters set out by the Ontario Drinking Water Standards. Public Health will undertake any necessary actions or notifications should well monitoring identify any health risk.

Homeowners near these monitoring wells, who use private water wells for drinking water purposes, are encouraged to have their wells tested for Nitrate. Public Health does not provide a water testing service for Nitrate. Local telephone business directories list private water testing laboratories.

Risk of elevated levels of Nitrate in drinking water, in terms of methemoglobinemia (blue baby syndrome), appears to be restricted to susceptible infants less than six months, older children and adults drinking the same water appear unaffected.

The Provincial Ground Monitoring Network is a partnership between the Ministry of the Environment, all 36 Conservation Authorities and 10 municipalities. The program operates 410 monitoring wells province-wide. Information from well monitoring provides base-line groundwater level and quality as well as identifying emerging issues.

For further information, call Public Health at 519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456 or visit our website at www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca.

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For more information:

Lou D’Alessandro

Manager, Health Protection

Grey Bruce Health Unit

519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456 ext. 1223