Canada experienced 92 waterborne diseases outbreaks between 1975 and 2001. In addition, at any one time about 1500 communities in Canada are unable to use their drinking water. The source of exposure in disease outbreaks is often not known, so the true disease burden attributable to water related exposure may be much higher. Researchers have investigated risk factors for waterborne disease. However, providing acces to surveiallance tools of use by frontline staff in the field as well as by surveillance professionals was key to making this type of system successful.
Objective
The objectives of this environmental health surveillance system were to provide a robust system for monitoring of water quality trends, and information to be used for mitigation of potential health problems, resource planning, risk analyses and decision making