Audio: What factors lead to First Nations boil water advisories? Recent study mines the data – CBC

February 05, 2018

Operator training, source water protection key to avoiding, reducing length of advisories

A recent study offers insight into the range of factors that must be considered as the federal government pursues its goal of eliminating long-term boil water advisories on First Nations by 2021.

“It’s going to be difficult. There’s no one solution,” said Ed McBean, a professor of water resources and university research leadership chair at the University of Guelph, and one of the authors of the report.

But the research indicates that infrastructure investments alone won’t do the trick.

McBean said that after analyzing a slew of historical data, it’s evident that operator certification and training are key to preventing advisories and limiting the duration when they do happen.

“It came out loud and long that well-trained operators would be helpful,” he said.

Read More: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/first-nations-boil-water-advisories-1.4517279