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Importance to Health

Raw water supplies can be contaminated with micro organisms or chemical contaminants. Harmful micro organisms or chemicals are important public health concerns. Harmful bacteria such as Escherichia coli O157:H7 have caused severe illnesses and deaths. Chemical contaminants such as lead can cause brain damage and accumulate in body tissues.

 

Roles of Environmental Public Health

The Environmental Public Health Program helps reduce the occurrence of illness related to the use of domestic water supplies within the Alberta Health Services - Calgary Region. This is accomplished by monitoring the physical, chemical and bacteriological quality of drinking water supplies to ensure that they meet established health & safety guidelines. The Environmental Health program is responsible for issuing public advisories to protect the public from using water supplies when the water supply is unsafe for human consumption.

Environmental Health also provides education to the general public on safe drinking water choices and works with the Provincial Laboratory for Public Health to provide free bacteriological and chemical water testing services for private water supplies.

 

 

 

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