Module 3

The Safe Drinking Water Act

Workbook

Financial/Managerial Series
This course includes content developed by the Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection in cooperation with the
following grantees:
RCAP Solutions, Inc.
Penn State Harrisburg Environmental Training Center
 Training Module 3
The Safe Drinking Water Act

Objectives:

By the end of the course, the learner should be able to:

Understand the four areas of responsibility of public water

systems under the SDWA: environmental compliance,
monitoring and reporting, record keeping, and public notification.

Recognize the contaminant groupings their utility must test for,

and know what an MCL is.

Identify whether or not their utility is meeting record keeping and

Consumer Confidence Reporting (CCR) requirements.

Know the public notification requirements and the difference

between Tier 1, 2 and 3 Violations, and understand what actions
can be taken to enforce regulations, and by whom.

Understand that there are different requirements between

treating and protecting ground water sources and surface water
sources.

Know it is important to stay on top of the ever-changing rules and

compliance deadlines set forth by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and the Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP).

Understand that a water system’s financial, managerial and

technical capacity directly impacts its current and future
environmental compliance and that it must operate as a business
and be managed appropriately.

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Table of Contents

Introduction p. 3
Water System and Regulator Responsibilities p. 4
Making Sure Drinking Water is Safe p. 7
Regulatory Compliance p. 13
Other Provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act p. 16
Summary p. 19
Resources and References p. 21

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Introduction

#1

This module is intended as a basic introduction to the responsibilities

of water systems under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

The goals of the module are:

You need to understand the four areas of responsibility of public

water systems under the SDWA: environmental compliance,
monitoring and reporting, record keeping, and public notification.

You will be able to recognize the contaminant groupings your

utility must test for, and know what an MCL is.

You will be able to identify whether or not your utility is meeting

record keeping and Consumer Confidence Reporting (CCR)
requirements.

You will know the difference between Tier 1, 2, and 3 Violations,

understand what actions can be taken to enforce regulations,
and by whom.

You will understand that there are different requirements

between treating and protecting ground water sources and
surface water sources.

You will know it is important to stay on top of the ever-changing

rules and compliance deadlines set forth by the EPA.

You will understand that a water system’s financial, managerial

and technical capacity directly impacts its current and future
environmental compliance and that it must operate as a
business, and be managed appropriately.

3
 #2

The law is based on a history of improving public health over the

years. For the amateur historians in our audience, a brief history of
public health leading up to the 1996 Amendments to the Safe Drinking
Water Act follows:

4000 year old Sanskrit Records demonstrate boiling water

directives (little was known about disease)
1799 - Philadelphia used wooden pipes to move drinking water
(connections of water quality and health)
1893 - The US Interstate Quarantine Act empowered the US
Public Health Service to control waterborne communicable
disease (early scientific understanding and protective legislation)
1942 - ―Manual of Water Works Practice‖ was established
1962 - Requirement that qualified personnel supervise and
operate water systems
1974 - Safe Drinking Water Act (first comprehensive drinking
water regulation, advanced scientific understanding and
protective legislation)
1986 - SDWA Amendments (set very high standards – caused
backlash to unfunded mandates)
1996 - SDWA Amendments (maintained tough standards but
provided regulatory relief)

Water System and Regulator Responsibilities

#3

An important point all water system board members must understand

is that, in addition to many other legal and financial issues, their
governing body will be held liable for environmental compliance. They
are responsible for providing safe drinking water to their customers.
The accountability does not rest just on the shoulders of the operators,

4
who are responsible for correctly reporting what is happening. Board
members can be held individually accountable in extreme cases where
they have acted criminally, such as falsifying documents.

An example of this occurred in Walkerton, Ontario. See the Walkerton

Timeline handout for details.

#4

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) delegates the authority to

enforce SDWA regulations to state regulatory agencies. This is called
primacy. In Pennsylvania, the primacy agency is the DEP.
Pennsylvania has its own Safe Drinking Water Act, administered by
DEP, which closely parallels and references the U.S. Safe Drinking
Water Act. However, there are parts of the PA SDWA that are more
detailed or stringent.

The EPA also provides an annual revolving fund to make funds

available at the local level to pay for new water systems, or
improvements to existing systems. In Pennsylvania, the primacy
agency administering the State Revolving Fund is the Pennsylvania
Infrastructure Investment Authority, also known as PENNVEST.

#5

How are public water systems (PWS) defined? A PWS is any system
serving 15 or more connections or an average of 25 or more people
per day for at least 60 days per year. PWS can be categorized into
one of the following groups. Each has its own requirements.

Community Water System (CWS) is a PWS that supplies water

to the same residential population year-round. The smallest
example of a community system might be a village or
manufactured housing community.

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 Non-Transient Non-Community Water System (NTNCWS) is a
PWS that regularly supplies water to at least 25 of the same
people at least 6 months per year, but not to their residences.
These include schools, factories and hospitals that have their
own water supplies.

Transient Non-Community Water System (TNCWS) is a PWS

that provides water in a place where people do not remain for
long periods of time. Examples include restaurants, rest stops,
and campgrounds that have their own water supply.

Any system that serves fewer than 15 connections, or 25 people, is not

regulated under the SDWA. This includes individual wells serving
single residences.

Refer to the Classification of Water Systems handout for additional

information.

#6

Nationally, 85% of all U.S. households are served by public water

systems. Currently, there are over 172,000 public water systems in
our country, and nearly 11,000 in PA, including 2300 community water
systems. 66% of them serve populations less than 500 people.

Do you fall into that category?

Nevertheless, these systems must comply with nearly the same

regulatory challenges as very large systems.

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Making Sure Drinking Water is Safe

#7

With regard to environmental regulatory compliance, community water

systems are charged with four responsibilities:

Meeting safe drinking water standards set by the EPA and DEP
Monitoring and reporting
Record keeping
Public notification

#8

The EPA regulates more than 100 biological and chemical substances,
and more are being added each year. Maximum Contaminant Levels
(MCL) are set for each substance. These are established by the EPA
based on human health and other scientific studies and are the
maximum allowable amount of the substance in the drinking water.
The EPA is continuously revising standards. Local systems should
review 40 CFR parts 136 to 149 of the Safe Drinking Water Act for the
most current regulations.

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 MCL Tip

How can I find specific Maximum Contaminant Levels for

regulated substances?
A list of these can be easily accessed on the EPA’s website by
going to www.epa.gov/safewater/mcl.html#mcls or at DEP’s
website, www.dep.state.pa.us, subject ―Drinking Water.‖ The
site includes a list of secondary standards for substances that
have recommended, though not required, MCLs. These
generally affect the aesthetic quality (color, taste, odor) of
water.

#9

The types of contaminants regulated by the EPA include:

Microbial contaminants (including Turbidity)

Chemical & Radiological contaminants

In addition, there are treatment technique requirements that apply in

lieu of MCLs. We’ll cover both of these briefly in the next couple
slides. More information is available from EPA or DEP.

#10

Microbial contaminant indicators may include:

Total Coliform bacteria

o Indicator of potentially harmful organisms

Fecal Coliform (E. coli)

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 o Bacteria naturally present in intestines of warm-blooded
animals
o Indicator of contamination by human or animal waste

Viruses
o Can cause diarrhea, nausea, and/or stomach cramps

Protozoa
o Disease-causing organisms originating in the intestines of
warm-blooded animals
o Includes Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium parvum

Bacterial Pathogens
o Such as Legionella can cause Legionnaire’s Disease

#11

Chemical & Radiological contaminants include:

Inorganic Chemicals (IOCs)

o IOCs are mineral-based compounds that can occur
naturally in water or can enter through farming, industrial
processes, and other human activities
o Regulated IOCs include arsenic, asbestos, copper,
cyanide, lead, mercury, nitrates, and certain radionuclides,
including radium 226 and 228, uranium, and gross alpha
particle radioactivity.

Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs)

o Sources of VOCs include discharge from factories, leakage
from gas storage tanks, and leaching from landfills.
o VOCs include industrial and chemical solvents, such as
benzene, toluene, and MTBE.

Synthetic Organic Chemicals (SOCs)

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 o SOCs are man-made, carbon-based compounds that can
enter water through runoff from cropland or discharge from
factories.
o SOCs include pesticides and herbicides such as atrazine,
alachlor, endrin, and lindane.

Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts

o Chemicals such as chlorine, chloramines, and chlorine
dioxide are disinfectants that have maximum residual
disinfectant levels (MRDL).
o Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs) form when disinfectants
added to drinking water react with naturally occurring
organic and inorganic matter in water.
o Regulated DBPs include total trihalomethanes (TTHM),
haloacetic acids (HAA5), bromate, and chlorite.

#12

Treatment techniques include:

Turbidity
o Cloudiness, measured by the amount of light transmission
o Indicator for water quality and effectiveness of treatment

Filtration and Disinfection

o Surface waters – continuous filtration and disinfection
o Groundwater – continuous disinfection only

Lead and Copper

o Achieve Optimal Corrosion Control treatment, which
minimizes lead and copper concentrations at the user’s tap

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 #13

Community water treatment plants must be run by certified operators.

While other employees may assist in the operations, unless certified
they must be supervised by an individual certified by the state. The
operator is responsible for devising a sample siting plan and getting it
approved by the primacy agency in Pennsylvania, the DEP. This plan
spells out where and when water samples will be collected and sent to
a certified testing lab. The operator must maintain records of sample
test results and show them on demand if a surprise inspection is
conducted.

#14

Records must be kept available for review for a specific length of time.
These include:
Copies of lab results (with name of person that collected the
sample)
Dates and locations of sampling points
Past and current violations, and steps taken to correct them
Sanitary survey reports
Annual water supply report
All other water quality information

#15

Record retention requirements vary with the type of reports:

Bacteriological analysis 5 years

Chemical analysis 10 years
Written reports 10 years after completion
(e.g. engineering, sanitary surveys)

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Variance and exceptions 5 years after expiration
Violation corrective actions 3 years

#16

Consumer Confidence Reports (CCR) are annual water quality reports

that a system must generate and provide to its customers. A CCR
identifies where the water comes from, what is in the water, and what
the customer can do to help protect their water. It also lists any
violations in the past year and health risks. It explains how violations
were corrected, and outlines any projects being planned to improve
the water system. These must be sent to customers by July 1 of each
year.

CCR Tip

Where can I find help in preparing a Consumer Confidence

Report?
Actually, the EPA offers free software that can be ordered or
downloaded from their website, www.epa.gov.

#17

Let’s take the time to complete a short exercise to see what you’ve
learned.

SDWA Exercise 1

1. SDWA stands for ____________________________.

2. 85% of all U.S. households are served by ________ water
systems.

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 3. MCL stands for ___________________________.
4. Ensuring compliance with the SDWA is the responsibility of the
water system ___________________.
5. The primacy agency that enforces SDWA regulations in PA is
the _________________________________.
6. The primacy agency that administers the State Revolving Fund
is _________________.
7. Community water treatment plants must be run by a
_____________ operator.
8. A CCR is a __________________________.
9. A Public Water System is regulated under the SDWA if it serves
_____ or more connections or an average of ______ or more
people for at least ________ days per year.
10. A restaurant with its own water supply would likely be
considered a __________.

Regulatory Compliance

#18

Engineering and treatment techniques must be approved by the

primacy agency (in Pennsylvania, the DEP). The DEP may set stricter
standards than the EPA, but cannot adopt or enforce less stringent
requirements.

If a system exceeds the Maximum Contaminant Level for any

regulated substance, it must report the violation immediately to the
DEP. In some urban counties water systems should report violations
to their county health department or county emergency management
agency. In either case, the regulatory agency will give directions to
correct violations, and will require notices (public notification) to be
sent out to customers.

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 #19

The Public Notification (PN) Rule ensures that all people who drink a
system’s water are informed about any violations that have occurred
and their possible health consequences. The PN Rule groups the
public notification requirements in 3 tiers, depending on the
seriousness of the violation or situation.

Violations fall into three categories:

Tier 1 Violations pose an immediate threat to human health. The

public should be advised within hours via broadcast media and
newspapers (24 hours max).

Tier 2 Violations do not pose an immediate threat, but customers

must be notified within a specific number of days to be
determined by the regulatory agency (30 days max).

Tier 3 Violations do not pose a direct impact to human health,

and notification may not be required for months. Follow the
directions of the regulatory agency (1 year max).

#20

Regulatory enforcement steps, from the discovery of a violation,

usually start with a Field Order by your local DEP sanitarian. If the
violation is not corrected, a Consent Order will be issued by the DEP.
Depending on the urgency, they will require a Corrective Action Plan to
be submitted within a specific timeframe. If a system still does not
take action, Civil Actions can be filed against the governing body for
noncompliance. Criminal Actions may be filed for falsification of
information. Violations rarely escalate into court proceedings.

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 Help Is Available!

The DEP and a number of agencies offer free technical

assistance to help small community water systems find
solutions to operational and compliance problems. Tapping
into these resources demonstrates a system’s concern and
commitment to achieving compliance. See the Resources and
References slide for more information.

#21

Independent of any regulatory actions, a citizen may take civil action

against a system for noncompliance after a 60 day notification of their
intent to file the civil action. Even if regulators are not pressing to
solve a violation, the threat of such action should spur systems to
resolve problems quickly.

#22

The federal government may step in during an emergency, or if state

and local authorities do not take appropriate action. The EPA can fine
local water systems up to $25,000 per day if they ignore emergency
orders.

15
Other Provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act

#23

In addition to MCLs and treatment standards, there are other

monitoring rules in place. Some of these are specific to the water
system’s population served, type of raw water source, treatment
process, or previous monitoring results.

#24

Systems that use groundwater as their source must establish a Well

Head Protection Program. Underground pollution plumes can travel
long distances over time. This requires a system to assess the
hydrology of the well head zone and perform a risk assessment of past
and future activities.

Examples of potential threats to well water are:

Underground Storage Tanks (UST)
Urban and agricultural runoff
Accidental truck and rail car spills
Karst Topography (limestone, sinkholes)
Inadequate water supplies and slow recharge rates

Groundwater systems are not required to provide filtration unless they

are influence by surface water, determined through a Surface Water
Identification Protocol (SWIP); however all regulated systems must
disinfect the water.

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 #25

Systems that draw surface water have even more rules to contend
with since surface water is more susceptible to pollution and
contamination. Special monitoring, filtration and disinfection
treatments will be required. These are specifically established for
each system.

#26

One requirement worth noting is the Lead and Copper Rule, which
requires systems to evaluate whether or not their water is corrosive
enough to potentially release these metals into their treated water.
Many homes have copper pipes and solder with lead content. Special
treatment to increase the pH may be required if tap water at the user
end is ever found to have elevated lead or copper.

#27

Governing bodies of water systems should be aware that there are

many new or updated rules and compliance deadlines their systems
may need to prepare for. Without going into the specific requirements
of each, some of the rules to be concerned about include:

Radon Deadline in 2005

Filter Back Wash Rule Deadline in 2005
LT1ESWTR Deadline in 2006
Radionuclides Deadline in 2005
Arsenic Deadline in 2006
Ground Water Rule Deadline in 2006
LT2ESWTR Deadline in 2007
Stage 2 DBPR Deadline in 2007

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The acronyms above stand for: Long-Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water
Treatment Rule, Long-Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment
Rule, and the Disinfection Byproducts Rule. More information on
these can be found in the EPA literature.

#28

Since many small water systems have found it difficult to operate as a

viable business, the most recent update to the Safe Drinking Water Act
requires new systems to be built in compliance with all existing and
future rules. Existing older systems must continuously improve their
management and financial capability to assure their future ability to
meet all regulatory rules, which the DEP has labeled ―Capability
Enhancement.‖ Strategic planning is an integral component of the
system’s management. This changes the responsibility focus from the
operator to the manager and governing body.

#29

Federal funds administered by DEP provide for outreach and technical

assistance providers to work with system governing boards and
system managers, in addition to operator certification training.

#30

If you have any doubt about your responsibilities under the SDWA, do
not hesitate to contact EPA or DEP. They have staff that can help you
better understand your responsibilities. DO NOT wait until you have a
violation to start asking questions.

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 #31

Let’s take the time to complete a short exercise to see what you’ve
learned.

SDWA Exercise 2

1. A ______ Violation poses an immediate threat to human health.

The public should be advised within hours via broadcast media
and newspapers.
2. A ______ Violation does not pose a direct impact to human
health, and notification may not be required for months. Follow
the directions of the regulatory agency.
3. A ______ Violation does not pose an immediate threat, but
customers must be notified within a specific number of days to
be determined by the regulatory agency.
4. Independent of any regulatory actions, a ________ may take
civil action against a system for noncompliance after a 60 day
notification of their intent to file the civil action.
5. Systems that use groundwater as their source must establish a
____________ Protection Program.
6. The EPA can fine local water systems up to _________ per day
if they ignore emergency orders.
7. Engineering and treatment techniques must be approved by the
________ agency. In Pennsylvania this is the ________.
8. Improving a system’s management and financial capability to
assure the future ability to meet all regulatory rules is known as
___________________.

Summary

#32

The key points of this module are:

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Public water systems are charged with providing safe drinking
water to their customers in compliance with the Safe Drinking
Water Act, and requirements set forth by the EPA and DEP.

Public water systems have specific monitoring and reporting,

record keeping, and public notification requirements.

There are over 100 substances regulated under SDWA, and

more are added each year.

Water system board members are accountable for their system’s

compliance.

Consumer Confidence Reports (CCR) must be sent to all

customers annually. Free software is available from the EPA to
prepare them.

Sanitarian field orders, DEP consent orders, civil lawsuits and

criminal prosecutions are all means of enforcing SDWA
regulations.

Systems that use groundwater as their source must establish a

wellhead protection program. Those that use surface water as
their source have more stringent monitoring, filtration and
disinfection requirements.

Additional information can be obtained from EPA and DEP.

Systems that do not stay on top of maintenance and fiscal

obligations will find themselves at greater risk of being out of
environmental compliance. A well managed, fiscally sound
organization will have much greater capability to meet
compliance requirements.

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Resources and References

#33

The following are references and resources you can use when you
have questions:

The U.S. EPA’s website www.epa.gov. Go to topics related to drinking

water.

The PA DEP’s website www.dep.state.pa.us, keyword ―Drinking

Water.‖

EPA guide, ―Small Systems Guide to Safe Drinking Water Act

Regulations‖

Penn State Harrisburg Environmental Training Center, (717) 948-

6388.

Sanitarians from your regional DEP office.

DEP Capability Enhancement Facilitators, contact Dennis Lee at the

state DEP headquarters by calling (717) 772-4058.

RCAP Solutions, Don Schwartz, PA/NJ Program Manager, (814)861-

6093.

National Environmental Training Center for Small Communities,

located in Morgantown, WV. Phone (800)624-8301.
www.netc.wvu.edu.

NETCSC’s ―Managing a Small Drinking Water System: A Short Course

for Local Officials‖

The complete list of training modules includes:

Module 1, Water Supply System Basic Operations
Module 2, Responsibilities of Governing Boards

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Module 3, The Safe Drinking Water Act
Module 4, Dealing with Consultants, Technical Assistance
Providers, Regulators, and Funding Agencies
Module 5, The Basics of Accounting and Finance for Small
Water Systems
Module 6, Business Planning for Small Water Systems
Module 7, Budgeting and Capital Improvements Planning
Overview for Small Water Systems
Module 8, Rate Design Overview for Small Water Systems
Module 9, Bidding, Purchasing, and Leasing
Module 10, Project Management Overview for Small Water
Systems

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Appendix A: Classification of Water Systems Handout
Classification of Water Systems

Purpose of Classification
Different types of water systems have different treatment requirements. Water systems are
classified on this basis. Regulatory requirements vary from one class to another, and operator
certifications are specific to certain classifications of systems.

Definition of Public Water Supply System

US-EPA defines a Public Water Supply System as “a system for the provision to the public
of water for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances, if such
system has at least fifteen service connections or regularly serves an average of at least
twenty-five individuals daily at least 60 days out of the year.”

Water System Classifications

Community Non-Community

Small Large Transient Non-Transient

Community or Non-Community

A Community Water System is defined by US-EPA as “a public water system which serves
at least 15 service connections used by year-round residents or regularly serves at least 25
year round residents.” Examples include:

 Municipally owned and operated water systems

 Systems owned and operated by authorities
 Investor owned water systems, such as Pennsylvania-American Water Company,
United Water, and Philadelphia Suburban
 Privately owned systems serving residential developments or manufactured housing
communities

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 A Non-Community Water System is a public water system that serves at least 25 people,
but doesn’t serve them continuously year round.

Non-Transient or Transient
Non-community water systems are further broken down into Transient and Non-Transient systems.

A Non-Transient Water System is defined by US-EPA as “a public water system that is not
a community water system and that regularly serves at least 25 of the same persons over 6
months per year.”

A Transient Water System is defined by US-EPA as “a non-community water system that

does not regularly serve at least 25 of the same persons over 6 months per year.”

Size Classifications of Community Water Systems

Small Water Systems - water systems that serve 3,300 persons or fewer.

 Small water systems are not required to meet all the same requirements as larger systems.
Most of the differences relate to frequency of sampling and testing for some contaminants.

 Small systems may also be eligible for special assistance from US-EPA and groups like the
American Water Works Association (AWWA) to help them meet their needs with the limited
resources generally available to small systems.

Generally, water systems that serve more than 3,300 people are classified as Large Water
Systems. For certain specific regulations, a system must serve more than 10,000 people to
be considered a “Large Water System.”

 Large water systems have to meet more stringent monitoring requirements

under certain regulations.

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 Appendix B: Walkerton, Canada Waterborne Disease Outbreak Timeline

2000

May 12: Torrential downpour washes bacteria from cattle manure into shallow town well.

May 17: Residents complain of bloody diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, fever -- symptoms of
E. coli poisoning.

May 18: Tests of water sampled May 15 reveal E. coli contamination. Water manager
Stan Koebel fails to notify public or public health office.

May 19-21: Hundreds fall ill; Koebel does not mention knowledge of E. coli in water to
health authorities.

May 21: Public health unit begins independent water testing, issues boil-water advisory.

May 22: First death directly linked to E. coli.

May 23: Health unit tests reveal water contaminated with deadly E. coli O157:H7. Two-
year-old girl dies, more than 150 people seek hospital treatment, another 500 complain of
symptoms.

May 24: Medical officer of health, Dr. Murray McQuigge, declares E. coli outbreak
Canada's worst. Two more die.

May 25: Fifth person dies. At least four children in critical condition. McQuigge declares
tragedy preventable. Outside agency takes over water system. Stan Koebel leaves town,
goes on sick leave.

May 26: Tory Premier Mike Harris denies government cuts to blame for tragedy, points
finger at changes made by previous NDP government. Proposed class-action lawsuit
launched. Provincial police begin probe.

May 29: Sixth death. Province admits knowing for six years water system flawed;
announces new rules to protect drinking water.

May 30: Seventh death.

May 31: Under opposition pressure, Harris orders public inquiry.

June 2: Federal, provincial governments announce financial aid for those affected by
outbreak.

Aug. 26: New drinking-water laws take effect.

Oct. 16: Public inquiry under Justice Dennis O'Connor begins.

Nov. 15: Water utility's secretary-treasurer tells inquiry that Stan Koebel believed
townspeople had food poisoning or flu.

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Nov. 16: Province says Walkerton's water clean, but leaves it to health unit to lift boil-
water advisory.

Nov. 17: Koebel resigns with $98,000 severance package.

Nov. 30: Mayor David Thomson bursts into tears at inquiry, recalling when he learned
Stan Koebel withheld crucial information that might have curtailed the tragedy.

Dec. 5: Health unit lifts boil-water advisory.

Dec. 6-7: Frank Koebel, water foreman and Koebel's brother, stuns inquiry with testimony
about drinking on the job and routine falsification of safety tests and records.

Dec. 18-20: Stan Koebel testifies about his reasons for falsification of safety tests and
records, and why he didn't alert authorities to E. coli in water.

2001

Jan. 15: Court begins hearing request to certify class-action suit.

Feb. 1: Tentative settlement reached in class-action suit. Province admits no liability but
guarantees compensation plan.

March 19: Judge gives final approval to class-action settlement.

March 27: Province picks up $15 million tab for fixing town's water.

April 23: Walkerton council agrees to pay Stan Koebel $82,000 for severance and
vacation plus $5,000 in legal costs.

May 1: Deadline for opting out of class action passes. No one does.

May 20: Memorial service held commemorating anniversary of boil-water advisory.

June 17: Governor General Adrienne Clarkson pays tribute to victims by unveiling a
memorial stone on a fountain.

June 25: Dr. Richard Schabas, former medical officer of health, testifies he repeatedly
told the government that funding cuts would compromise public health.

June 26: Brenda Elliott, former environment minister, tells inquiry that the government
acted as a team when making decisions around funding cuts.

June 27: Norm Sterling, also a former environment minister, testifies he was assured by
his senior bureaucrats that any risks to public health caused by layoffs and budget cuts
were manageable.

June 29: Premier Mike Harris testifies he was never warned of risks to human health
posed by funding cuts to the Environment Ministry.

July 3: Inquiry faces first challenge when three local Environment Ministry officials argue

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judge has no right to find fault with their conduct. Judge dismisses challenge.

Aug. 15-27: In closing submissions, lawyers defend their clients, with government
blaming Stan Koebel for tragedy and Koebel saying blame must be spread.

Aug. 27: Inquiry wraps up Walkerton hearings.

2002

Jan. 14: O'Connor hands report to government.

Jan. 16: Some details of the report are leaked to The Canadian Press.

Jan. 17: The Ontario government announces it will release the first part of the report on
Jan. 18, 2002, four days ahead of schedule, because of the leak. Attorney General David
Young says he has asked the Toronto police force to investigate the leak.

Jan. 18: The report is released in Walkerton. It says the chain of events that led to the
disaster began with Stan and Frank Koebel, two brothers responsible for the town's water,
and was compounded by government budget cuts that undermined the ability of the
Ministry of the Environment to pick up on the brothers' shortcomings.

Nov. 23: An arbitrator awards former public utilities foreman Frank Koebel a $55,000
compensation package by the municipality for his job loss.

Dec. 22: Ontario study finds half of provincial water plants are still violating safety laws
implemented after tainted water tragedy.

2003

April 23: Twelve criminal charges announced against brothers Stan and Frank Koebel.

Premier Harris announces a public inquiry into the affair—not the proposed
legislative inquiry, + police investigation. "I am a politician, and since I am
ultimately responsible and accountable, it’s hard to take it out of my hands,"
Premier Mike Harris

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