Event Details

PHO Rounds: Drinking Water Safety: 25 Years After Walkerton

In 2000, the community of Walkerton, Ontario suffered a tragedy following bacterial contamination of their drinking water supply which led to seven deaths and 2,300 illnesses. The outbreak was primarily attributed to Escherichia coli O157:H7 and drew attention to the importance of safe drinking water. This year marks 25 years since the Walkerton tragedy occurred. This PHO Rounds will provide information and perspectives on the current state of drinking water in Ontario from experts in the industry.

Intended audience: Medical Officers of Health (MOHs), Associate Medical Officers of Health (AMOHs), public health inspectors, environmental health professionals, public health decision makers, city planners and drinking water professionals

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Identify how the Walkerton tragedy impacted drinking water safety in Ontario
• Assess current trends and future considerations affecting drinking water safety
• Describe the role of water professionals and how to build relationships to improve public health

Presenter(s): Ian Douglas and Michele Grenier

Ian Douglas has 35 years of experience in engineering design, research, and drinking water quality. He received degrees in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering from Western University initially working in the petrochemical and environmental sector. As Water Quality Engineer for 30 years, the City of Ottawa has been recognized as an industry leader in drinking water research and process optimization. He spent a 1-year work term at Health Canada working on drinking water guidelines and microbial risk analysis. In 2010, he was appointed as a member of the Drinking Water Advisory Council for Ontario. Over his career, Ian has presented over 75 conference papers on various aspects of drinking water treatment and risk management.

Michele Grenier is the Executive Director of the Ontario Water Works Association (OWWA). She is a Chemical Engineer and worked previously for the federal government, XCG Consultants, and Associated Engineering. Her expertise is in the planning, operation, optimization and maintenance of municipal drinking water systems, with projects completed at over 100 water and wastewater facilities across the province. In 2019 she was appointed to the Ontario Drinking Water Advisory Council (ODWAC), whose mandate is to provide advice and make recommendations to the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks on drinking water quality and testing standards.

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies or views of Public Health Ontario, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by Public Health Ontario.

Accreditation

Public Health Ontario Rounds are a self-approved group learning activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC). In order to receive written documentation for Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits, please check “Yes” beside the question “Do you require CME credits?” on the registration form.

College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) Affiliate Members may count RCPSC credits toward their Mainpro+ credit requirements. All other CFPC members may claim up to 50 Certified credits per cycle for participation in RCPSC MOC Section 1 accredited activities.

PHO Rounds are also approved by the Council of Professional Experience for professional development hours (PDHs) for members of the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (CIPHI).

For more information or for a record of registration for other Continuing Education purposes, please contact capacitybuilding@oahpp.ca.

Accessibility

Public Health Ontario is committed to complying with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require accommodations to participate in this event, please contact 647-260-7100 or capacitybuilding@oahpp.ca.