WALKERTON RESIDENT PRAISES SASKATCHEWAN SAFE DRINKING WATER INITIATIVES

Walkerton, Ontario resident Bruce Davidson has praised the source water monitoring and protection initiatives resulting from Saskatchewan's Safe Drinking Water Strategy. Davidson was speaking at the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority staff conference in Moose Jaw yesterday.

"If anyone asks if what you do is important, tell them about my neighbours in Walkerton and about the cost of getting it wrong," Davidson said.

Davidson, keynote speaker at the event, is a spokesperson with Walkerton Concerned Citizens, established after the Ontario community was stricken by e.coli contamination in 2000, resulting in seven deaths and hundreds of people becoming ill.

Davidson specifically pointed to the Authority's Watershed and Aquifer Planning initiative. In seven key areas of the province, local residents are now participating in the creation of conservation and development plans for their local watershed or aquifer.

"Involving local people is essential," Davidson said. "Water does not belong to the government. It belongs to all the people."

Davidson also highlighted Saskatchewan's water education, ground water mapping and water quality and quantity monitoring initiatives. He also pointed to the province's 1-866-SASK-H20 Water Inquiry Line.

"Citizens can find it daunting to call their own government. This kind of referral line gives them one place to call."

"The referral line is an important part of the government's Save Drinking Water Strategy," Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Watershed Authority David Forbes said. "We are providing a source-to-tap strategy to protect the quality of our drinking water."

The Saskatchewan Watershed Authority was created in 2002 as part of Saskatchewan's Safe Drinking Water Strategy, with a mandate to manage and protect source water quality and quantity.

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For More Information, Contact:

Malcolm French Saskatchewan Watershed Authority Moose Jaw Phone: (306)694-3017 Cell: (306) 535-3836