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Death on tap: The poisoning of Walkerton
In May 2000, bacteria seeped into Walkerton's town well. The deadly E. coli then slipped quietly through a maze of pipes and into the homes of Walkerton, Ont. Unsuspecting residents thirstily drank the polluted water and bathed in their bacteria-ridden tubs. But soon after, they began experiencing common symptoms of infection; bloody diarrhea and throbbing cramps. Seven people would eventually die and another 1286 would fall ill. The investigation which followed exposed an alarmingly unstable waterworks system made fragile by government cuts.

	Town epidemic		What is E. coli O157:H7?		The whistleblower
	Four people have died and hundreds more are sick after drinking polluted water in Walkerton, Ont. (TV; runs 4:32)		Dr. Eleanor Fish explains what this deadly bacteria is and how it thrives in the body once ingested. (Radio; runs 7:52)		Dr. Murray McQuigge makes a stunning declaration about who is responsible for the tainted water tragedy. (Radio; runs 11:19)

	'A nightmare that won't end'		The hunt for E. coli O157:H7		And not a drop to drink
	One Walkerton restaurateur describes how it's not business as usual. (Radio; runs 7:10)		Microbiologists descend on Walkerton to track the source of the deadly E. coli bacteria. (TV; runs 17:54)		From dawn to dusk the Davidsons avoid turning on the troublesome taps. (TV; runs 11:23)

	'Words cannot begin to express how sorry I am…'		'We're ready to move on'		Walkerton Inquiry Report: 'This could've been prevented'
	Walkerton Public Utilities Manager Stan Koebel admits to falsifying records, faking tests and running a well without a chlorinator. (Radio; runs 1:33)		An out-of-court settlement has been reached with the people of Walkerton, Ont. (TV; runs 3:08)		One Walkerton resident says the blame fell rightly on the provincial government and the Koebel brothers. (TV; runs 4:05)

	Walkerton Memorial		Sentencing the Koebels		Is Canada's drinking water safer?
	"Dedicated to the indomitable spirit of the people of Walkerton, to all who suffered and those who died." (TV; runs 9:00)		Walkerton residents discuss the criminal case of Stan and Frank Koebel. (Radio; runs 22:03)		In rural Canada, providing clean drinking water continues to be a challenge. (TV; runs 4:20)

LINKS Topic from Les Archives de Radio-Canada on the same subject Walkerton, la mort au bout du robinet Related Topics from CBC's Archives Acid Rain: Pollution and Politics Troubled Waters: Pollution in the Great Lakes CBC.ca CBC.ca: Inside Walkerton External sites Ontario Ministry of the Environment: Water FAQ Town of Walkerton The CBC assumes no responsibility for the content of external links.

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