Small municipalities struggle to meet new water regulations

As government tighten the rules over water supply in the post-Walkerton era, the consequences might not be what we expect .
The September 2003 newsletter of the Canadian Water Quality Association reports:
“Outhouses may be on the verge of a comeback in the face of expensive provincial water regulations. West Grey, Ontario council heard of the high cost of testing, which was required after one municipality well showed a problem. Mayor Delton Becker said he knew of at least one municipality that has removed the water and sewer from a small rural meeting hall and built an outhouse.”
West Grey is apparently spending $300 per weekend to send its water testing results to a private laboratory by courier. Mayor Becker said, “Once you get the boil-water order, it never seems to come off…. “It’s another instance where regulations have taken over the brains of the ministry.”