This month marks 25 years since the Walkerton E. coli tragedy – the waterborne outbreak that caused seven deaths and sickened more than 2,300 people and led to sweeping changes to Ontario drinking water regulations.

Grey Bruce Public Health is encouraging residents to reflect on the lives impacted by the tragedy, the lessons learned, and Justice Dennis O’Connor’s enduring warning: “We should never be complacent about drinking water safety.”

It was during this week in May 2000 that the then-Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound Health Unit began investigating a gastroenteritis outbreak in Walkerton in southern Bruce County. A boil water advisory was issued on May 21, 2000, and the next day, the health unit received confirmation that the municipal water supply was causing the E. coli outbreak.

An inquiry into the tragedy, led by Court of Appeal for Ontario Associate Chief Justice Dennis O'Connor, produced 121 recommendations aimed at improving Ontario’s drinking water safety — from source to tap.
The outbreak led to a comprehensive overhaul of the province’s drinking water regulations and the creation of the Walkerton Clean Water Centre, a world-class facility that provides mandatory training for water system operators.

On May 21, 2025, Dr. Ian Arra, Grey-Bruce’s Medical Officer of Health and CEO of Grey Bruce Public Health, was among the featured speakers at the Walkerton Clean Water Centre’s webinar, “25 Years of Reflection: Honouring the Past, Protecting the Future.”

Dr. Arra spoke about the legislation, roles and responsibilities, inspections, and other measures in place to protect small and private drinking water systems in Ontario.

“Access to safe, clean drinking water is a vital component of Public Health. As we commemorate the 25th anniversary of the tragedy in Walkerton, it’s important to not only reflect on how far we’ve come in improving drinking water protections, but also the steps that can be taken to continue this journey of excellence,” says Dr. Arra.

Grey Bruce Public Health supports the recommendations in the 2025 Auditor General of Ontario report, “Safety of Non-Municipal Drinking Water,” that urge the Ministry of Health and Public Health Ontario to collaborate on a provincewide plan to raise awareness about the risks of consuming water that has not been frequently tested and the availability of complimentary microbiological testing for private wells and intakes.

The report notes that while 1.3 million Ontarians rely on drinking water from private wells, fewer than one-third of those users have tested their water in the past year — despite available, complimentary private water testing services. A 2024 study by Public Health Ontario and Queen’s University attributes the low testing rates to a lack of awareness of both the risks associated with not testing and available testing programs.

“Grey Bruce Public Health has implemented a locally developed plan aimed at increasing local access to Public Health Ontario’s publicly funded well water testing program. By partnering with local municipalities and initiating local courier routes, we now have water sample drop-off locations in 14 Grey-Bruce communities. However, despite these enhancements, local use of the service has remained less than optimal,” Dr. Arra says.

On this somber anniversary, GBPH is also emphasizing the critical roles Public Health Inspectors (PHIs), along with other water system operators, play in protecting drinking water.
For a sizable category of drinking water systems, PHIs, employed by local Public Health Units, conduct risk assessments, issue directives, monitor compliance, and respond to adverse results and complaints. PHIs also support private system owners in interpreting test results and consultation to improve the safety of their water.

“Public Health Inspectors have enormous responsibilities — and their work saves lives,” Dr. Arra says. “Grey Bruce Public Health is fortunate to have a dedicated, knowledgeable, and passionate team of PHIs. I am incredibly proud of the work they do each and every day to protect the health of Grey-Bruce residents.”

Senior Public Health Manager Andrew Barton added, “Public Health Inspectors have a critical role in safeguarding drinking water for residents of Ontario. Their dedication has contributed to the high compliance rates of Ontario’s regulated water systems, with over 98% of samples meeting Ontario Drinking Water Standards.”

Brian Bates, CEO of the Walkerton Clean Water Centre, says the 25th anniversary of the Walkerton tragedy is a sober reminder of the need for vigilance and a time for recommitment.

“At the Walkerton Clean Water Centre, our mission is to provide education as the first line of defense. That’s why we’ve released a new video to help private well owners understand the risks and responsibilities that come with managing their own drinking water supply, https://www.youtube.com/@walkertoncleanwatercentre.”