62. The Well (Walkerton E. coli outbreak)

Geezus... can't trust anyone

🇨🇦🇺🇸 I live in the Province of Ontario where the Walkerton water scandal occurred. Shameful as are all these type of scandals. I live off well water and have paid handsomely to ensure my water is privately treated by equipment that I have purchased and maintain.

Always a fan, and I know that there is a warning at the beginning advising listener discretion but could have done with a trigger warning for death of a toddler at the beginning.

Investigate what’s happening with 3M in Decatur Alabama. Brookhaven middle school

Thank you for another amazing episode!! This was such a huge story when I was growing up. But this type of stuff is still happening across Canada. Our first Nation communities in the northern part of Ontario water is so bad that they can't even shower because the water is so bad.

It is a very sad episode, but what makes me particularly angry is that absolutely nothing in there surprised me in the slightest. The anatomy of these multiple fatality incidents is always the same. On the end note of the podcast, I think there is a strong possibility that history will repeat itself. As Dr Trevor Kletz (the originator of process safety) once said: "Organisations have no memory; only people have memories and they move on" This event started with cost cutting and it sounds like the government are once again trying to cut costs.

This episode made me cry 😢 Not a fan. But it was a very well done episode, as usual.

I grew up close & remember this disaster unfolding vividly. Cheers to CC for linking Mike Harris to Doug Ford. As a frustrated Canadian it’s very affirming to have someone from the outside call the same bullshit you see. Shoutout to the commenter above who mentioned tainted water in First Nations communities across the province/country. This is still a problem in marginalized communities.

So sad, and such tragic deaths over something stupid. FYI, ACC, Escherichia is pronounced Esch-reek-kia. I learned that in microbiology class. Nasty little fuckers

Heartbreaking, then and now.

Another dirty, salty, juicy show ❤

As a Canadian you did a fabulous job of capturing the implications of the story including the fast forward to Doug Ford. Shit show.

Props to Canada for allowing assisted suicide, though.

I'm not crying you're crying!

People who want to cut or privatize environmental regulations to save money are wild to me. It's like saying you don't want to brush your teeth because toothpaste is too expensive, except instead of ending up needing to get expensive dental work done after a few years, you destroy your habitat and people die.

Aren't we all just a little bit in love with Monotone Man?

I live in Walkerton! Can’t wait to listen. It was a shit show here when it happened.

OMG I live in Washington Cty. I wondered if this would get brought up. Such a tragedy.

My god that intro is heart breaking

I remember this tragedy. I’m Canadian and listening to this is another reminder that we still have over 30 First Nations communities without access to safe drinking water. People don’t actually think we are caring and polite anymore do they?

This happened 2 towns over from where I lived. I was in high school and we were affected by this with our water.

I do remember hearing a little bit about this, but I was 15, so I also didn't know the extent of it. Thank you for your in depth reporting as always. It's a scary feeling sometimes, putting your faith in invisible societal mechanisms, and knowing that we're never all that far removed from history repeating itself.

Concerned Walkerton Citizens 😎 I remember the contamination stories of the '90s but never knew it was on *that* level.

As an Ontarian, this is going to be an interesting listen. I was pretty young went this all went down but I remember the feeling that something bad was happening

Well this one was a doozy for Earth Day

Polite tip: Schenectady is pronounced "skɪ-NECK-tah-dee"

I never know if I should listen right away, or save it for tomorrow 😭