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EOHU CHIEF SAYS WATER IS SAFE
LE TIGRE GÉANT FAIT DON DE BOUTEILLES D’EAU À LA BANQUE ALIMENTAIRE
GREGG CHAMBERLAIN gregg.chamberlain@eap.on.ca
to recent heavy rains that have raised the water level in the South Nation River, the source of Casselman’s drinking water. That means less concentration of manganese in the river water. Dr. Roumeliotis expects the concentration to drop even more as the water level in the river returns to normal with more rain between now and the start of autumn and cooler temperatures. «We are monitoring the situation very closely,» he said, adding that if there is any indication that manganese concentrations are increasing again the EOHU will warn the public. Dr. Roumeliotis has rescinded an EOHU advisory parents with babies who are bottle- fed to use bottled water to prepare infant formula. He said the advisory is no longer necessary though parents can continue to do so if they wish. He also noted that manganese is a natural mineral that the human body needs in tiny amounts «for our own nervous system to develop» and that there is slight chance of anyone in Casselman getting enough man- ganese from the drinking water to create a personal health risk. «It would take weeks, or even months,» he said, adding that the human body elimi- nates almost all excess amounts of minerals, vitamins and other substances on a regular basis.
The chief medical officer for the regional health unit says Casselman’s water is safe to drink even if it looks strange because of the higher-than-normal man- ganese content. “The levels are below the Health Canada level of standards, and have been as such for the last 10 days,” said Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, chief medical officer for the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU). Dr. Roumeliotis spoke during a phone inter- view early Tuesday evening while in Toronto for meetings with provincial officials over various health matters. He affirmed that the water coming out of the taps in Casselman is safe to drink even though it may still have a yellow tinge from an above-average concen- tration of manganese. The concentration of manganese in the water had reached a level of one milligram per litre last month, which exceeds the federal guideline maximum of 0.12 milligram per litre for drinking water. The spring and summer heatwaves earlier this year caused the water level in the river to drop below normal and that helped to concentrate the amount of manganese that is usual in the river water. But now, Dr. Roumeliotis confirmed, the manganese level is dropping thanks
The Casselman food bank received a large donation of bottled water from the local Giant Tiger to offer those families in need who are reluctant to drink the yellow tap water. —supplied photo
RÉDACTION EAP nouvelles@eap.on.ca
jaune est due à la présence de quantités de manganèse supérieures à la normale dans l’eau. Le limon du lit de la rivière est riche en manganèse et un faible niveau d’eau signifie une plus grande concentration de manganèse dans l’eau. Les autorités municipales, sur la base des informations fournies par le Bureau de santé de l’est de l’Ontario, ont déclaré aux habitants que l’eau était propre à la consom- mation. Cependant, certaines personnes hésitent encore à utiliser l’eau de leur robinet pour boire et comptent davantage sur l’eau en bouteille, jusqu’à ce que le niveau d’eau de la rivière Nation Sud revienne à la normale et que l’eau redevienne claire à mesure que le niveau de manganèse diminue.
La banque alimentaire de Casselman a reçu un don important d’eau en bouteille de la part du Tigre Géant. Le magasin Tigre Géant de Casselman a livré cinq palettes de bouteilles d’eau de quatre litres à la banque alimentaire CCS, pour les distribuer aux clients de la banque alimentaire qui hésitent à boire l’eau des robi- nets domestiques, en raison de la quantité élevée de manganèse contenue dans l’eau. Casselman tire son eau potable de la rivière Nation Sud. En raison de l’étiage récent de la rivière, l’eau qui sort des robi- nets a pris une couleur jaunâtre. Cette teinte
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