[LookOutSugarLake] Finally!

[Huguette - Imagine-ere]

Worried about things that affect your water? Sorry for double posting  
but this is so important that I didn't want to miss anyone - There is  
now an opportunity for anyone concerned about the effects of anything  
affecting the quality of drinking water sources such as lakes,  
rivers, streams, to record their concerns online or by phone.

Huguette
For Immediate Release

Office of the Ombudsman

PR07-004

November 20, 2007

OMBUDSMAN TO INVESTIGATE DRINKING WATER SAFETY

VICTORIA – B.C. Ombudsman Kim Carter announced today that she has  
initiated an Ombudsman investigation into the fairness and adequacy  
of the public advisory and complaints processes regarding drinking  
water safety.

The Ombudsman’s office is British Columbia’s independent voice for  
fairness. It investigates complaints about public authorities,  
including provincial corporations, boards and commissions, and looks  
into their administrative actions and processes to ensure  
transparency and accountability.

“Recent complaints to my office have raised questions about the  
drinking water advisory and complaints processes in British  
Columbia,” said Carter. “Safe drinking water is an extremely  
important part of the lives and health of all British Columbians. It  
is important that we have well established, timely, and effective  
processes for notifying the public about problems and for  
investigating and responding to concerns and complaints from members  
of the public. Both of these procedures are integral to the  
monitoring and enforcement of water safety standards.”

The investigation will include a particular focus on small water  
systems having fewer monitoring requirements than larger systems.  
Specific areas to be addressed in the investigation include:



• The fairness and adequacy of the drinking water complaints process;



• Public notification methods when drinking water safety issues  
arise; and



• Data collection systems for tracking notifications and complaints.



In conducting the investigation, the Ombudsman will be in contact  
with many authorities who are part of the water safety system  
including the Ministry of Health, health authorities, and water  
suppliers. In addition a questionnaire is available on the Ombudsman  
website at www.ombudsman.bc.ca for individuals who wish to provide  
their input into this investigation.

People who have concerns or complaints about administrative fairness  
can write to the Ombudsman’s office, complete an online complaint  
form atwww.ombudsman.bc.ca, or telephone 1-800-567-3247.

-30-

Media Contact:

Janice Curtis, Executive Coordinator

(250) 356-1559 (direct)

1-800-567-3247 (toll-free)




-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://sensociety.org/pipermail/lookoutsugarlake_sensociety.org/attachments/20071121/8dac97d6/attachment.html