HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-07-12, Page 9Huron health unit issues boil water advisory
A boil water advisory has been
issued for several communities in
southern Huron County following
the heavy rainfall Sunday.
The Twps. of Usborne, Stephen
and Hay, the Villages of Zurich and
Hensall and the Town of Exeter were
flooded when 6.5 inches of
precipitation fell in just four hours.
Senior public health inspector with
the health unit Klaus Seeger
reiterated that all dug wells should
definitely be tested and that applies
Flood waters contaminate food
Since foods exposed to flooded
water may constitute a health hazard,
the following recommendations are
intended as a guide in the disposing
of such contaminated foods.
1. CANNED FOODS
Canned food should be closely
checked for ‘leakers’ and ‘swells’.
Particular attention should be paid to
seams and joints for signs of
corrosion. Home prepared fruits in
jars and sealers which show
evidence of contamination should be
discarded.
2. SOFT FOODS
Soft foods, including all kinds of
meat and dairy products, should be
discarded if there is any evidence of
contact with flood water.
3. WRAPPED FOODS
Foods which have been wrapped
in moisture-proof wrappers should
be examined for breaks in the
wrapper. If the wrapper is leaking or
has been broken, the food should be
discarded.
4. OTHER ITEMS
All medicines, cosmetics and toilet
items; bottled drinks
have had contact with
should be discarded.
All food stored in
where the electricity has been off for
more than eight hours or where flood
waters have risen above the door
opening, should be discarded.
Frequent opening of the refrigerator
door greatly reduces this time.
Should flood water enter a freezer
unit, all food products in the freezer
should be discarded. IF IN DOUBT
-THROW IT OUT!
All discarded food and food
containers should be placed in
properly covered receptacles and
labelled as: “DANGER
CONTAMINATED PRODUCT -
DO NOT USE”.
Note:
Any undamaged food container
that can be washed should be washed
thoroughly and immersed in a
chlorine/water solution of five
which may
flood waters
refrigerators
Morris approves demolition
will send a letter to the
property owner, who is
using the building,
The hamlet of Walton will lose a
structure after Morris councillors
were told by Chief Building Official
Paul Josling, at the June 20
meeting, that the old library was
unsafe.
Council
adjoining
currently
advising that all belongings should
be removed from the structure so it
can be demolished. The township
road crew will do the work.
Approval was given to the
municipal restructuring fund
application which will help cover
amalgamation costs for Morris-
Turnberry. The cost estimate is
$513,451 with savings of
$160,344.24.
Council has filed an appeal against
a planned subdivision in East
Wawanosh Twp. Council was not
satisfied that concerns were
answered and there were no
assurances against adverse effects on
to anywhere in the county, not just
the latest victims of flooding.
With the flooding and potential for
inundation of private wells, the
Huron County Health Unit issued an
advisory to all well owners who had
not yet had their water tested. Water
should be boiled until test
have been received.
Seeger said Monday if
wells tested alright after
heavy rains this year, the water
should be fine. This advisory is for
results
private
earlier
and
ounces of bleach per one gallon of
water (128 ml of bleach per four
litres of water) for 15 minutes.
CLEAN-UP OF FLOODED
BASEMENTS
1. Personal Protection
When sewage, especially fecal
matter or decayed vegetation, is
carried by flood water, take special
precautions. The use of protective
gear i.e. rubber gloves, rubber boots
and face masks is recommended.
Once the clean-up process is over,
make sure that all parts of the body
that have come in contact with the
flood waters or area are thoroughly
washed and disinfected.
2. General Clean-up
Disinfection
a) Drain any flooded area using a
sump or other conventional pump
to an area away from the home and
septic field if there is an onsite
sewage system. This should be
done in stages, about a third of the
volume of water per day. This will
avoid structural damage which can
occur if the water is removed too
quickly.
Water in a flooded basement should
be disinfected every three to four
days if the house is occupied. This
can be done using a litre of liquid
bleach. An attempt should be made
to mix the bleach with the flood
water as thoroughly as possible.
b) Remove all damaged carpeting,
furniture, dishes, wall boards,
clothing, bedding, toys, etc. and
discard unless items can be
disinfected. Small refuse should be
collected and placed in plastic bags
for removal on regular garbage
pick-up day. Larger items will also
be removed at this time.
Any discarded items should not be
left accessible to persons who may
try to salvage them. Each article
should be labelled “DANGER -
DISCARDED FLOOD ITEM -
DO NOT SALVAGE.”
c) Floors, walls, appliances and any
item that can be disinfected should
Morris Twp. lands.
A grant of $500 was given to the
Municipality of Brockton,
Walkerton.
Clerk-Treasurer Nancy Michie
was instructed to apply for a waste
diversion grant so that more bins
REMEMBER...
Potted Nursery Stock and Perennials
can be Planted Anytime.
Our Perennial Display Garden
is a Must to See as the
Blooming Bed is Never the Same.
Ted’s Tasty Tomatoes are Still Available.
-OPEN DAILY FROM 9 TO 6-
CONSTRUCTION LTD.
R.R. 2 Bluevale
♦ • Licensed Septic Installations
• Screened & Field Topsoil
• Bark Mulch • Sand • Gravel • Fill
• Backhoeing • Bulldozing • Excavating
• Loading & Hauling
Give us a call 887-9061 Fax 887-9999
untested wells.
Though one clean test should
indicate the water is fine, Seeger
recommended checking it again in a
month.
The health unit reports that 40 per
cent of the 3,400 samples tested in
the past month have shown levels of
contamination.
In spite of the high number of
incidents, there have been no
reported cases of illness due to water
contamination to date.
be washed thoroughly with a
disinfecting solution of warm water
and chlorine bleach (household
bleach). The water - chlorine
mixture is five oz. of bleach per one
gallon of water (128 ml of bleach
per four litres of water).
Provide as much ventilation as
possible to each area that is cleaned
to ensure that fumes/ vapours do
not reach dangerous
concentrations. The basement
should be thoroughly aired and
dried after treatment and before
occupancy of the basement.
Central air conditioning units
should not be operated until the
basement is restored for occupancy
since air bome contaminants could
be dispersed throughout the house,
d) Once the area has been
thoroughly cleaned and restored,
contact the local utilities and
request that service be restored to
the residence if services were
interrupted. No attempt should
be made to try out or to operate
any electrical appliances until
the wiring in your home or build
ing has been inspected and found
safe.
3. Water Supply
a) If through taste, colour or odour,
you suspect that your drinking
water has been contaminated,
purify it before drinking by boiling,
or adding purification tablets, or
chlorinating using household
bleach. When bleach is used, add
two drops per litre of water (1/4
Teaspoon per gallon). Mix well and
let stand for 15 minutes.
b ) If you have your own private
water supply (i.e. dug or drilled
well) have the water tested for
potability before drinking.
Continue to boil or treat until test
results -return with no bacterial
contamination.
For further information contact:
Healthy Environments Team, Huron
County Health Unit, (519) 482-3416
or 1-800-265-5184.
could be placed at the landfill site for
the separation of materials with
more waste coming in from another
municipality.
A public meeting will be held in
conjunction with the county, Aug.
15, regarding the 9-1-1 road names.
Owners and operators of small
communal wells are reminded of
the free workshop to be held
tonight (Wednesday) at the Clinton
Town Hall Auditorium from 7 to 10
p.m. Experts from the Health Unit
and Ministry of Environment will
advise owners about steps to
undertake to ensure the safest water
possible.
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2000. PAGE 9.
Receiving recognition
Grey Twp. resident Dorothy Dilworth was presented with a
certificate by Twp. Reeve Robin Dunbar last week, naming
her senior of the year.
Former teacher receives
senior of the year award
Long-time Grey Twp. resident
Dorothy Dilworth received
recognition as senior of the year,
July 3.
Twp. Reeve Robin Dunbar
presented Dilworth with the
certificate for her years as an active
and integral part of the community
as a volunteer.
Dilworth is presently the chair of
the Ethel Community Centre and
spends countless hours volunteering
on behalf of the centre, including
organization of the bi-weekly euchre
parties.
She lives beside the only ball
PEOPLE AROUND
CRANBROOK
By Peter
Hagedoorn
Call
, ■
A YW
887-6935
Jim and Linda Minielly and
granddaughter Micheala vacationed
in Owen Sound over the weekend,
taking in the Owen Sound sidewalk
and garage sales, and Story Book
Park.
Upon arriving at their campsite
they discovered they had a
stowaway, the family cat. Boots in
their trailer. After getting her feet on
level ground Boots soon was purring
and enjoying her holiday.
Of course, the addition of the
stow-away cost cat food, litter tray,
kitty litter and a harness and leash.
park in the township and helps
to maintain it by cutting grass
and providing supervision of
activities at the park during times
when no organized events are
scheduled.
Born in Alma, Dilworth first
taught school in Moncrieff. She
retired in 1985 after 35 years of
teaching, 20 years in the same Grade
7 classroom. She supplied for an
additional 10 years.
Dilworth enjoys travelling,
playing cards, bingo, gardening and
watching her grandchildren’s
sporting endeavours.
From now on we shall check the
trailer before we go away!
The Cranbrook Walking Club
starts again Monday, July 10.
Anyone can join Monday through
Thursday, meeting at 8 a.m. at the
crossing Cranbrook Road and
McNabb Line (which by the way is
the only crossing). One can be a
regular. One can also join when there
is time und inclination. There is no
age limit one way or another and you
just participate at whatever pace you
are physically comfortable with. In
the past it was a fun walking
exercise together.
Saturday July 15 is the Cranbrook
Garage and Yard Sale Day from 9
a.m. - 3 p.m. Sunday is Twin Day.
Leslie and Yvonne Knight had the
pleasure of a visit from Rick and
Naomi and grandson Will. The
occasion was the wedding of
Yvonne’s niece Andrea Siemon and
Rick Moyer, which was held
Saturday, July 8 at the Lutheran
Church in Brodhagen.
ON...
Annuals,
Hanging Baskets,
Geraniums,
Perennials, Lilies
& More!
Emma’s Special (
on Nursery Stock
Continues!!!
The Place Hnere Gardeners Meet
’RR# 1 BAYFIELD, ONT. NOM IL0 482-3020