Huron Expositor, 1999-09-29, Page 6S -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, S.pt.mbor 29, 1999
News
Low-grade bacteria sees students
drinking bottled water in Dublin
By Tim Cumming
Mitchell Advocate Staff
The Huron -Perth Catholic
District School Board acted
quickly to inform parents
of the discovery of low-
grade bacteria in the water
supply at St. Patrick's
School in Dublin,
according to the Perth
District Health Unit.
"As soon as we found it
the school board took
action to correct the
problem," said Robert
Leach, Senior Public
Health Inspector. "As soon
as the school knew they
advised the parents of this."
Total coliform bacteria
was discovered in the water
from the school's well
during routine tests taken
by the health unit the week
before the first day of
school and on the first day
of school.
There was no sign,
however, of E. coli
bacteria, said Leach. This
suggests sewage had not
infiltrated the system.
"It was not sewage
contamination but it was an
indicator organism." said
Leach. "It was a low-grade
contamination, it wasn't
grossly contaminated but it
was certainly enough to
address."
. There are many
explanations for how the
total coliform could
infiltrate the well water,
said Leach. Rain water, for
instance, could carry the
fecal indicator from various
natural sources or there
could be debris in the
pipes.
The Perth District Health
Unit routinely samples and
tests waters at all schools at
the beginning of the school
year. as well as other
publicly -used water
supplies. Bacteria was only
found at the St. Patrick's
location, where the school.
has a drilled well.
"We see this as specific
to this school and well,"
said Leach. "It's not what
we consider as something
that would be right across
the water table."
The school has been
tested in the past without
showing any problems.
"This is- the-first-time
we've had a problem," said
St. Patrick's (Dublin)
Principal Marilyn Barsanti-
Innes.
The Health Unit first
sampled the school's water
on Aug. 31 and had results
at a level high enough to
warrant a resampling.
Samples were taken from
throughout the school on
Sept. 2 and although two
thirds were "completely
satisfactory", one third
suggested minor
contamination. Tests were
again taken on Sept. 7, and
confirmed total coliform
contamination.
The school board was
informed as soon as the
results came in on Sept. 8.
The school told students
not to drink the water,
covered water sources,
brought in a water coon,
system with safe drinking
water and put a
chlorination system on the
water pump.
"We will discontinue use
of the school well for
drinking purposes until
such time that the problem
has been rectified and a
consistent safe water
supply can be assured,"
said Barsanti-Innes, in a
letter to parents.
After the Health Unit
called the school on Sept.
8, the second day of school,
according to Barsanti-
Innes, "we immediately
Quoted
'It's unlikely,
certainly, at the
levels we found
that they would
be sick from it'
--Robert Leach,
health inspector
shut down the water
fountains and bagged them
up ... and got the message
out pretty quickly to all the
classrooms and sent the
letter home to parents."
Even if •children' had
drunk the water on the first
day of school they would
probably not suffer any
adverse health effects.
"It's unlikely, certainly at
the levels we found, that
they would be sick from
it." said Leach.
The Huron -Perth Catholic
District School Board is
going to begin digging this
week to investigate any
possible sources of the
contamination, said Anne
Marie Nicholson, Manager
of Assessment and Plant for
the board.
"We're going to be
digging the well," she said.
"Thai will tell us if there's
been some kind of
infiltration."
Infiltration into the well
could come from a crack or
a break in the seal, she
said.
The Perth District Health
Unit has taken three tests
since the contamination
was detected and the
chlorinator installed. A first
test on Sept. 9 gave
satisfactory results, said
Leach, but a Sept. 14 test
suggested low-grade
contamination and that the
chlorination system was not
yet working well. A later
sample on Sept. 22
revealed acceptable levels
of chlorine to kill the
bacteria. The school board
can use the well water for
drinking if another
satisfactory test result is
taken this week, said
Leach. The board, however,
has said it wants to identify
the problem in the well first
so it doesn't have to rely on
the chlorinator alone to
make the drinking water
safe.
SEAFORTH
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
Pork Carcass Competition
Held in conjunction with
SEAFORTH FALL FAIR
Oct. 7, 8 & 9
To register
Call Ross Ribey 527-1390
Before Oct. 3/99
Pigs will be assembled at O'Rourke, Transport,
Oct. 5th before 8 PM
1st 25 entiries only
Cash prizes & trophies
Auction of Ham & Loins
Friday Oct. 8th/99
8:30 p.m. Agriplex
SEAFORTH
FALL FAIR
BABY SHOW
Where: Seaforth Agricultural Building
When: Saturday, October 9, 1999
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Categories
0-6 months
6-12 months
12-18 months
To register please call
Sharryl Riley at at 522-0966.
Registration Deadline:
Thursday, October 7, 1999.
Natalie Dale photo
Ready to wrestle
As part of Grade 9 orientation
last Tuesday, studs took
part in q number of "messy"
game* at Seaforth District
High School. Here, Kyle
Lebold and Barry Young take
part in an orm wrestling
contest: The loser gets just a
littl messier when his arm
gets dippedin pudding.
Suns
GAS BA &
Convenience Store
23 Goderich St. E., Seaforth
527-2"5
FREE COFFEE
WITH GAS FILL -UP
Monday to Friday 6:30 AM to 9 PM
Saturday & Sunday 8 AM to 9 PM
Broad, Milk, Cigarettes, Pop, Chips
Snacks, Ice Cream and mar!
GRAY
INSURANCE BROKERS
INC.
Allan Carter, Broker
• Home • Auto
• Commercial
• Farm
522-0399 Seaforth
1-800-265-0959 Strathroy
FARM & MUNICIPAL
DRAINAGE
Specializing in:
• Clay & Plastic Tile Installations
• Backhoe & Dozer Service
• Septic System Installations
For Quality. Experience.
& Service call:
Wayne Cook
(519) 236-7390
R.R. 2 Zurich, Ont.
NOM 2T0
www.hay.neU-drainage
PARKER
PARKER
L I im1-rE fa
VANASTRA
FREE
OPEN HOUSE
FOR SENIORS
FRIDAY, OCT. 1
10:30 am.f1:30`am
FIND OUT WHY...
Physical activity is so important
in our daily lives - and how you
can be more active. Bring your
swimsuit end loin us tor a free
exercise Bass!
For more information call
VANASTRA RECREATION CENTRE
482-3544
Premium Savings Account
A great alternative
to a basic accord for cash savings or short term GIC.
dHigher interest rate
[if No minimum deposit
R No tees or service charges
Today's rate is 4.25
yi
Doug Etuon B. Math, cfP Rate is variable and competitive
Visit our website www.ictg.com
0.1nuesimerAGerilre
527-2222 26 Main St., South Seaforth Fax 527-0810
Serving Seaforth Since 1986
SEAFORTH CITIZENSHIP AWARDS
1999
THE SEAFORTH RECREATION AND PARKS COMMITTEE IS NOW
ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR THE CITIZENSHIP AWARDS IN THE
FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:
SERVICE TO SPORTS - A person that volunteers his or her tine to
sports organizations. or sports in general in Seaforth
CIVIC SERVICE - A person that belongs to a service club or community
organization in which he or she contributes many hours of time for the
betterment of the community.
HUMANITARIAN SERVICE - A person who is considerate of other
people, and is wilting to give his or her time to help others when needed
These awards are chosen based on the individuals contribution to the
community in a VOLUNTEER CAPACITY. To submit nominations. wnte
the name of the person you are nominating, which category you want the
person in, and explain why you feel he or she should win All nominations
can be mailed to:
Seaforth Recreation Department
P.O. Box 885, Seaforth. ON NOK IWO
FAX: 519-527-2770 or EMAIL c4threcetcc on ca
Deadline for nominations is Friday. October 15. 1999
Seaforth Golf &
Country Club
MILLENNIUM MEMBERSHIP
AT SEAFORTH GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
519-522-0985
NEW MEMBERS
BUY YOUR 2000 MEMBERSHIP NOW
AND PLAY FOR THE REST OF THE CENTURY FREE!
Renewing your membership? We're glad to have
you back with us for 2000 our 40th Anniversary!
Renew your membership before December 31 and
be eligible for the MILLENNIUM MEMBER'S
BONUS BOOK with over$100.00 in bonus
coupons to be used' in 2000!
Membership Rates for 2000 -
7 day adult $560.35 Weekday only $469.40
Jr. $202.60 including taxes.
Call the proshop for details - Help us
Celebrate 40 years in golf!
Rest of Season Weekdays only Greenfces & Cart
2 green fees and a cart for $50,00 •
including tax.
Enioy the fall at Seaforth Golf & Country Club
How To Use Eyedrops Correctly
By: Dr. Louis LaPlante
Treatment for certain eye conditions, diseases or
infections may require the 'use of eyedrops. This can be
difficult for the elderly, particularly if eye -hand
coordination is off an there is no one around to help. It is
even more of a task for farsighted people. Without glasses
on, the dropper bottle becomes hard to see and often
results in wasted drops down on the cheek. Here are some
simple tips about correctly putting drops in your eyes;
1. Sit down and look at the ceiling by tilting your head
backwards. Some arthritic persons may prefer to lie down
on a flat surface.
2. If you are putting a drop into the right eye first, turn
your head slightly to the left while looking up. This forms
a gully and the drop will be drawn into the eye by gr& ity
if it happens to land on the skin. Turn the head a little to
the right when doing the left eye.
3. To ensure the drop remains in your eye, gently pull
the skin of the lower eyelid between your thumb and
index finger to create a "pocket" for the drop. If you are
unable to master this, gently pull the lower lid down with
your index finger.
4. Gently release a drop into the pocket of yA r• eye. Keep
the eyedropper clean by not touching it to any, part of the
eye surface. If blinking prevents you from getting the drop
into your eye, try this: Close your -nye and pull down the
lower lid. Aim the drop into the inside corner of the eye.
Open your eye and let the drop run into the lower lid
while keeping the head back. •
5.Medication works best the longer it stays in contact
with the eye. To prevent it from escaping through the tear
duct gently press on the inside corner of your closed eye
with th'e-Itidex finger fora -couple of minutes. . _
6. Very important!! If you use more than one kind of
drop, wait at least five minutes between drops. This
ensures that one won't dilute the effect of the other.
Following these simple guidelines can help insure the
course of medication prescribed is complete. It also
helps reduce waste and hopefully reduces some
frustration.
Oct. 13: Watch Far: Dry Eye Syndrome
You will be excited to know that
there is a PLAYGROUP
starting up in Seaforth!
Wednesday momings starting
October 6th/99
(every other week)
9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Playgroup
10:30 - 11:00 a.m. Toy Lending (optional)
Northside United Church
SONGS STOlUES CRATTS
Come for coffee and conversation!
For more information please call
482-1418
or
1-800-561-7450