Before a boil water advisory for Hillsburgh residents was lifted last week, Erin fire chief Jim Sawkins was already praising the town’s response during a July 13 council meeting. “Our first priority last night was to get the message out, to get them to stop drinking their water,” the chief said of department’s July 12 response to the advisory. “Before I left last night, after buying them seven pizzas, I said, ‘You know what, you should be proud, the town is proud. You guys came together very quickly and did this,’” Sawkins told council of a conversation he had with the 25 volunteer firefighters who hand-delivered notices to affected residents.
Zhiibaahaasing First Nation water operator wins national leadership award
A water operator in an Ontario First Nation is being nationally recognized for his hard work and dedication to his community. Jonathan Riberdy has been awarded the 2021 National First Nations Water Leadership Award for his work to make safe and clean drinking water a reality for Zhiibaahaasing First Nation in Ontario. The water leadership award was created in 2018 by Indigenous Services Canada.
Mapleton water operator backs the quality of the town's drinking water
The Township of Mapleton’s water operator has defended their operation as safe but accepted some improvements can be made to the system. The Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA), the largest water and wastewater operator in Canada, delegated to Mapleton council Tuesday evening to clarify some findings from a recent meeting. OCWA is the operator of Mapleton’s water systems as well as nearby Wellington North, Shelburne and Grand Valley among other municipalities.