🚀 go-pugleaf

The latest drama in the water supply arena of Victoria, BC is a
major contamination by the toxoplasma virus!  Apparently it
peaked late in 1994 and again in March this year.  At least 100
people are known to have become infected, including some 40 pregnant
women and 11 of their babies (skewed stats due to major screening
of pregnant women).

The investigation eliminated various prime sources of the virus
(food, contact with cat feces, etc.) and started suspecting the
water supply, becouse of the geographic distribution.  In July
they concluded that _most probably_ the source of the contamination
was one of our network of reservoirs.  HOWEVER! - they did not inform
the public of their findings until this week (September)!

The _authorities_ have stated that this was a freak occurrance -
that this sort of thing has happened only once before (in Panama)
and that testing and treatment (our water is chloraminated, not 
filtered - but then the reservoirs are in a relatively pristine
area) would not have avoided the occurrance.  They maintaine our
water remains among the safest anywhere - but they are decommissioning 
the suspect reservoir ahead of schedule in a couple of weeks, since
it is the closest to the urban sphere (see note below).

As part of the investigation, 7 cats were trapped near the
reservoir and 4 of these were found to have the virus, apparently
a normal level.  Another possible primary source would be one of
the many cougars (mountain lions) that live in the area.

Is there anyone out there who would care to comment on this
situation?

Thank you.




NOTE: Some of you may have seen some of my earlier postings regarding
      water conservation issues.  Our water board is hell-bent on
      raising dams and continuing to supply the historic squandering
      habits of the local institutions and gardeners, rather than
      paying more than lip service to serious conservation tactics.
      They are likely to try to manipualte this contamination into
      supporting their efforts to have one massive reservoir of
      some 100 million cubic meters (to supply a population of some
      300,000).
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| Harald Wolf     ay320@FreeNet.Carleton.CA      (that's .CA  |
| (604) 479-9489  ux363@FreeNet.Victoria.BC.CA   for Canada!) |
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