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The Toledo Drinking Water Advisory: Suggested Application of the Water Safety Planning Approach

Author

Listed:
  • Savitri Jetoo

    (Department of Civil Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L7, Canada)

  • Velma I. Grover

    (Engineering and Public Policy, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L7, Canada)

  • Gail Krantzberg

    (Engineering and Public Policy, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L7, Canada)

Abstract

On 2 August 2014 the city of Toledo, in Ohio USA issued a “do not drink” water advisory and declared a state of emergency. This was as a result of elevated levels of the toxin microcystin in the final treated water, a dangerous toxin produced by the algae cyanobacteria. The Toledo water crisis is a key focusing event that can advance dialogue on eutrophication governance in the context of public health. This paper examines the Toledo water ban with the aim of determining whether this crisis could have been averted. Further, we explore how this event can be used to stimulate action on eutrophication governance, to motivate action to protect water at its source. We use the World Health Organization’s Water Safety Planning Methodology to show that the crisis could have been averted with some simple risk management actions. We also show that a water safety planning approach could lead to well developed operational and maintenance planning resulting in a higher probability of safe drinking water.

Suggested Citation

  • Savitri Jetoo & Velma I. Grover & Gail Krantzberg, 2015. "The Toledo Drinking Water Advisory: Suggested Application of the Water Safety Planning Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(8), pages 1-22, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:7:y:2015:i:8:p:9787-9808:d:53064
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Tolulope O. Odimayomi & Caitlin R. Proctor & Qi Erica Wang & Arman Sabbaghi & Kimberly S. Peterson & David J. Yu & Juneseok Lee & Amisha D. Shah & Christian J. Ley & Yoorae Noh & Charlotte D. Smith & , 2021. "Water safety attitudes, risk perception, experiences, and education for households impacted by the 2018 Camp Fire, California," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 108(1), pages 947-975, August.
    2. Savitri Jetoo, 2019. "An Assessment of the Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) Using the OECD Principles on Water Governance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-23, June.
    3. Kelly Andrea Aguirre & Diego Paredes Cuervo, 2023. "Water Safety and Water Governance: A Scientometric Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-16, April.
    4. Alexandra Roeger & António F. Tavares, 2020. "Do Governance Arrangements Affect the Voluntary Adoption of Water Safety Plans? An Empirical Study of Water Utilities in Portugal," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 34(5), pages 1757-1772, March.

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