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Home My WebLink AboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1997-06-11, Page 6Page 6 -- Locknow Sentinel, Wednesday, June 11, 1997 FE•A•ToUoR•f•N•G• Fat Free Ice'Cream & . Sugar .free Ice Dream 528-2180 Plastic or I' Sisal Check our Prices DAUPHIN FEED & SUPPLY DUNGANNON WALTON 519 529-7951 - 529-3133 519 887-6023 1 800'665-5675 E. cob. contaminated water linked tQ gastrointestinal illness For the first time in bacterium for the presence North America,. a study of fecal contamination. has shown a link between The study looked at a gastrointestinal illness and group of 1..88 faun families the drinking of private well in southern Ontario: water contaminated by escherichia coli bacteria. Although long suspected, the link has neYer before 'been demonstrated. The epidemiological "These results are not , a . cause for alarm, although the study highlights the need for well owners' to test their wells regularly throughout the year," -says study conducted at the Jeff Wilson, a U of G epi .University of Guelph ' dermiologist whoconduct- found that farm families ed the study with Michael are twice•as likely to suffer Goss of the Centre 'for 'from gastrointestinal ill- Land and Water ness (vomiting and diar- Stewardship at U of G and rhea) if they drink private •, several postgraduate and well water contaminated graduate students. with E:, coli,an indicator . 'The study found that the contamination of the wells tended to be episodic in nature and was more prevalent in the summer than in the winter. the study, well- water samples were col- lected five timesaver the course of a year, from February. 1994 to February 4995. The samples were tested for the presence of E. coli and 'total coliform. bacteria at .the Palrnerston Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health. Nitrate and . , pesticide residues were also monitored dur- ing the study. • ' - Families -involved in .the For stddy ' agreed to ' keep diaries documenting gas- trointestinal illnesses and. • symptoms and filled out questionnaires about their wells and lifestyles. The study • was limited to an examination of gastroin- testinal illnesses. The 188 fail ilies in, the study were selected from 1,300 families who partici- pated in a 1991/92 Ontario farm ground-waterr quality survey, which found that 20 per cent of provincial wells exceeded the Ontario drinking -water objectives for fecal coliform bacteria. 'turn to page 8 Study increase in nitrate contamination in.well water, Rural wells in Ontario from almost nil in 1955 to by 1992,, that figure, was are more 'contaminated today's average of 50 kilo- just 14 per cent, according today than they were 40 grams per hectare across to analysis' of .water from, years ago, but not from all agricultural land. 1,300 wells tested as part nitrogen fertilizer, a Twenty-five tithes more of . the Ontario farm University of Guelpb study • nitrogen fertilizer is being ground -water quality sur- has found, sold. in :Ontario .now cam- vey. A comparison of well • :pared with 45 . years ago, In 'contrast,:' the itrci-. contamination in 1955 and . • but it has not affected well deuce Of E. colt rose from 1992 shows the incidence water composition, says almost 15 per cent of well of Escherichia call bacteria . Michael Goss of U of G's water . samples in '1955 to rose significantly; but .the. Centre for Land and Water .24.3 per cent. in '1992. presence of nitrate' has Stewardship. , Current studies at U of G basically, stayed constant. : In 1955, nitrate contain- are examining the '.trans - This , is, noteworthy : ination--more than 10,mil portation: of • bacteria '• because the average llgranis of 'nitrate nitrogen •• through the soil and .the Ontario farmer'suse of per Titre of water (the , health implications of nitrogen ' 'fertilizer grew :allowable :linu't in, Ontario. drinking E coliTcontami far drinking water -sup=; bated water, ' " plies) -- affected• 13:8. per The ,:greatest single cent of the 484 well -water source of nitrate • in the samples' tested by U. of G; soil= -about half -is decay :NOW and DISTI ICT. ThUtsdayJ.unei 7:00 PM 9:00 PM. , SaturdayJune:14t", 10:00 AM -12:00 . Noon Lucknow and District Sport Complex (Multi -Purpose Room) th.. ,There will be TWO swimming sessions• :'starting: Monday July-7-th:,to July 18th 'Monday July 28th to..August .8th ON REGISTRATION DAY: Please know:. • Prior.Years:Levet Attained Time 'Desired Which Session Health.Card Number (Child) REGISTRATION FEE Aquaquest •Levees 1-4 - $4(° per child Aquaquest l euels 5-12 - s5O00; per child Maximum 515006 . ' ` Swim Team 530°0. Bronze Medallion 6950° Bronze $750° Aqualeaders s 1 000° • 40 years: ing organic (plant) matter, whichbreaks' down or ".mineralizes" in the soil: Another . major , organic source : is animal manure. Over the • past • 40'• years, - appreciably more nitrogen from animal' manure has gone on to farmland than from nitrogen fertilizer. "If we want less nitrate contamination- in Ontario wells, we need to learn how to manage organic sources of nitrogen," says Goss, 'but' it's-, very diffi- cult to reach synchronicity between the plant'sneeds and the • natural : production of nitrate'' Crops have high nitro •turn to page 8 • ';it's raining, it's pouring but that was no deterrent to these cowboys who tipped their hats as they continued to give rides in Don Scott's replica stage coach during Western Day festivities last Saturday. (Livingston photo)